[Nike]

Sorry for posting, but I've read the manual & can find nothing specific relating to my question:
Am I OK to keep topping the battery up so it is always 'full' when I start out on a trip?
Or
Should I let it run down to empty & then charge it?
If the second course, then I will need another battery (which I will get eventually, anyway).
Need to know if the topping-up I am doing at present is harming the battery in any way though.
Many Thanks
Nick

[Steve N]

You will definitely shorten the life of your battery if you top it up rather than recharge from empty.
I read an explaination why but I can't lay my hands on it at the moment. It was possibly in the bumf with my D80.
Get yourself a spare soon as poss.

To prevent topping up, some manufacturers have rechargers that actually run the battery completely down before charging, to prevent shortening the batteries life.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Steve N

You will definitely shorten the life of your battery if you top it up rather than recharge from empty.
...

That is right,,
A second battery is a better idea

[Steve N]

I've just found the info.
Pull out the paper that came in the battery box.
Nikon EN-EL3e
Just past halfway down the English language bit it covers this.

[Nike]

Thanks for the replies. I don't seem to have the paper to which you refer.

Any batteries worth considering as alternative to £50 for a genuine Nikon one, or is not worth the risk?

[Steve N]

The general concensus is that most generic copycat batteries are (usually) just as good for a fraction of the Nikon brand price.

[Brammers]

[quote=Steve N;4696401]You will definitely shorten the life of your battery if you top it up rather than recharge from empty.
[quote]

No!!!

Digital SLRs use Li-Ion batteries. Li-ion batteries do not suffer from 'Memory Effect'. This myth is handed down from the days when Ni-Cd batteries were the main type of rechargeables.

Li-ion batteries actually benifit from not being fully discharged.

See:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_effect
http://www.apple.com/batteries/
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Battery-Powered/battery.html
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11686

I'm amazed that Nikon got this so wrong! It really says to let the battery run down? You're sure you've read this right?

[senu]

I also thought that Li on and NimH batteries unlike NicD do not suffer from memory effect: ( and overcharging)
After all we do leave cordless phones "permanently" on charge

What is clearer is that there may be another reasons why regular "topping up" rather than allowing some measure of charge-recharge cycles can affect a batteries' service life

Canon 30Ds manual discourages storing fully charged batteries or leaving them unused in camera for a long time as that reduces service life
The 350D/400Ds should not be charged for more than 24 hrs consecutively

It is clear that some measure of care is needed even if "memory effect" is not the main issue affecting long life

[Yandros]

Ok, I've consulted the oracle - namely Thom Hogan's Complete guide to the D200...

As stated already, Lithium Ion batteries don't usually exhibit memory effects.
However, it's not recommended that you run the battery right down, or repeatedly top it up if it's at 90% or more capacity.

Repeated 'topping up', will reduce overall battery capacity slightly.
Repeated 'deep charges' tend to reduce overall battery life.

Neither action is worth losing too much sleep over, but if you want to optimise your battery life, recharging when your battery is at 20-80% charge is recommended.

There you go - a definitive answer

The best way to keep to these guidelines is to run a pair of batteries in rotation, that way you've always got at least one on full charge. On the occasions when I need maximum juice for a days shooting, I'll top everything up and not worry about it though.

[Nike]

Many thanks for the replies.
I'll get another battery, but not wait for the camera to stop working before I swap them over.
I've found an equivalent battery on Picstop for £15.

[mansell]

I ordered a £15 third party battery from amazon last week to go into my Grip (when it arrives), so far I've had no problems with it.