Is it better to completely drain my rechargeable batteries every time?

I think its time to replace my batteries from how long should my energizer AA rechargeable batters last for?

• I'm just wondering because 2 of the 4 AA batteries that I use in my wireless keyboard some how feel smaller than the other 2. And the charge load seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Now I leave the keyboard on all the time but it seems like recently I have to charge them every few weeks and just recently I had charged the batteries up and once again they're dead. So back in the charger they went. I'm seeing some conflicting evidence some sites say forever where as others say 7 years. I've had these batteries for almost 5 years now I think. The charger usually takes about 10 hours to completely cycle through one charge. I put the batteries in a little green light comes on I come back the next day the light is off. Okay battery spec time 4 energizer recharageable batteries size AA 2450 mAh nickel-metal hydride about 5 years old no expiry date that I can see I posted this literally last week and the batteries are back in the charger thankfully I can type with an on screen keyboard. Is this normal for batteries this old? I've cleaned the ends on both the batteries and in the keyboard with an eraser.

• Answer:

  it is not so many the years, but rather the number of charge cycles, and how hard you use them. Wireless keyboards and mice are not a big draw, so rechargeable batteries used with pretty well only them will have an overall longer live than if you used them hard, such as with a camera or motorized toys. 5 years is good.