How to maintain my digital camera?

How do you maintain your rechargeable batteries ? I have a few for my digital camera but do not use them very often ? How do I ensure its long life?

• Answer:

  Depends what type of battery it is. Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) need very little preventative maintenance, it is the most robust chemistry. Discharge them fully before recharge, do not 'top up'. Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMh) are slighlty less robust than NiCd (but have higher capacities), but need no discharge before charging. Your battery is most likely to be Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) or Lithium Ion Polymer (LiPo) which has the highest performance, but is the most fragile. They have a finite life whether you use them or not, but generally the harder they work the shorter their life. They hate high temperatures, and long periods of deep discharge. Don't store them fully charged for long periods (e.g. 6 months)- they prefer a partial charge of about two thirds for long periods of storage. It's too late for you now, but when they are new, work them hard for the first 5 cycles, charge and discharge them fully so that they develop their full capacity. Only use good quality chargers specifically designed for that battery pack, or battery chemistry and capacity - Li-Ions really hate over charge (google/image 'Lipo fires' if you don't believe me). Look after your cells and they will reward you. Neglect them and they will sulk, and ultimately, die - I speak as a designer and user!