BATTERY CHARGING *Tips*
from The Radio Guy ...


Most of the newer 2 & 4 AA/AAA Battery Chargers are designed to charge
both NiCd and NiMN (nickel metal hydride) batteries ...

** BUT **
ALL the batteries in the charger at one time ** MUST ** be exactly the same:

* Type - either ALL NiCd or ALL NiMH - never a mix of the two Types

* SIZE - either all AA or all AAA - and the SAME number of mAh (marked on each battery)

* Brand - never charge or use different Brands of battery together

It's best to buy, charge, use, and eventually discard batteries in groups of 4 -
each time you buy a new set - LABEL them with a marker or tape - then
charge and USE them as a "matched set".

About 15 minutes after you start charging a set of batteries ...
* FEEL * each individual battery to check for excessive HEAT ...
one HOT battery in a group of four indicates the HOT battery probably has a problem!
Consider tossing all four batteries of that set.

IMPORTANT:
Try NOT to disturb or remove a battery before the charger indicates "Charge Complete" ...
* FEELING * them for temperature is OK - pulling them out to feel them is bad!
If you pull one out and break the circuit - the charger will probably RE-start it's
cycle and possibly overheat the cells.

The "old" advisories to use all the charge and completely "run down" the batteries
before recharging them is sort of old-school ...
"memory effect" has been designd out of the newer batteries ...
AND the Camera is going to Auto shut-down long before the batteries are
completely discharged.
RE-charge when you've used a set for most of a day, shot 1-200 photos,
shot 50 or more *flash* pictures, -or- when the Camera either *QUITS*
or tells you "Low Battery".

"Overnight" - 12 to 14 hours total - is about enough time for a set of batteries to
stay in a charger ... NOT a good idea to charge batteries any longer than that!
(And ... don't "store" batteries sitting IN the charger ... some chargers will run down batteries
if they are allowed to "sit" in the charger when it's not plugged in!'

If you have a "set" of batteries that always seem "HOTer" than most of your
"sets" do when they come off the charger - the Hotter than average set is
probably going bad and should be replaced.

And remember - "rechargeable" batteries don't last for ever ...
a couple of years old and you've got your money's worth.

Happie *shooting*!

/s/ Phred