Digital cameras 101

[lablover]

I'm using 2500mah batteries that are about 14 months old. Sometimes the camera sits for weeks without use.
Then the batteries drain, and I have to recharge.
I have a MAHA c204W recharger and I do use the recondition function. I have 3 set of batteries that I rotate, and none have been charged more than 6 times.
This last time the batteries were reconditioned, and charged fully on 7/9. Then on 7/16 I took about 4 pics and the camera dies, saying replace batteries.
Camera is a Canon S2IS, about 14 months old. It's set to turn off after 2 munutes of no use.

Does this sound normal???

THANKS

[admin]

I'm using 2500mah batteries that are about 14 months old. Sometimes the camera sits for weeks without use.
Then the batteries drain, and I have to recharge.
I have a MAHA c204W recharger and I do use the recondition function.

Does this sound normal???

I'm curious. Are the batteries you're using the ones that came with the charger?

The reason I ask is that I'm having similar problems. Didn't think much about it until you mentioned this and abother person told me they had the problem too (all of us are using the same charger).

I'd suspect the batteries before thinking there is something wrong with the S2.

[lablover]

Actually 2 set of the batteries came with the another charger I bought. Another set were some Panasonic batteries from Wal-mart.
The original charger took 12 hours to charge, so I bought a MAHA c204w charger, which is highly rated, and charges much quicker.

I doubt it's the camera, maybe bad batteries.

[ShutterbugGail]

It could very well be the batteries, but three sets?!? Depending on the brand, you should at least 500 recharges. It could be the charger. I think they should be doing better than you say.

Why not call the company where you bought the charger?

But before doing that or before buying more rechargeables, though, one way to make sure it is not the camera is to buy a set of non-rechargeable batteries. I'd try with the more powerful Oxy-type batteries (rather than litium which are not recommended in the S2).

Let us know how you do.

[lablover]

I did talk to the MAHA technical folks and they suspect that one (or more) of my batteries had an internal short in it. If that was true, that short could cause the remaining 3 batteries to be drained quicker, and cause my problem.

I ordered 4 new 2700 mah batteries, and got a discount on the price.

He also stated that when charging batteries to let then stay in the charger "for a little while" after the charger indicates the charging is complete.

[Deb]

Thank you Lablover for updating us. Glad to hear your problem was resolved.  

[pentachris]

He also stated that when charging batteries to let then stay in the charger "for a little while" after the charger indicates the charging is complete.

Think of charging your batteries in the same way as you might think of filling a glass with water.  You can pour the water very quickly until you get near the top - then you have to trickle the water in slowly if you want to fill it to the rim.  When the charger indicates charging is complete, what it's actually telling you is that rapid charging is complete.  Rapid charging can only charge the batteries about 95%-97%; the rest must be done in trickle mode, and that's what the charger switches to after rapid charging to "top off" the batteries.

Newer types of rechargable batteries aren't as temperamental as older ones about charging them all the way and emptying them completely to preserve battery life.  But it still helps a little to do so, especially in the first few charging cycles.

[Jackie S2 IS]

I will often get "Change the Batteries" (and the camera won't turn on) right after changing them.  Like you, I finally replaced all my rechargeables, but I continue to have the problem.  

I will now try cleaning all the contacts, including those in my charger, to see if this solves it.  

I can usually trick the camera into finally turning on by opening the battery compartment, moving the batteries in and out a little bit, and then trying again.  This is very frustrating when trying to catch something in motion or transient.

Jackie

[helen]

and what about going to a camera / battery or something store and have the batteries checked? With my mp3-player I did so and they were very friendly and fetched their battery tester checked them o.k. Finally they stated that the contacts of the device needed to be cleaned and did so; all at no charge. Now it is working fine.