Frequently Asked Questions

Camcorder Battery run time
Finding the correct battery
Types of rechargeable battery, NiMh, Li-ion, Li-Poly
Looking after rechargeable batteries
Battery charging information
Mobile Phone Battery run time

Run time of camcorder batteries.The run time or standby time of a battery depends on a number of factors and is not listed on our site because these factors can vary. For example most camcorder batteries fit several models of camcorder, some of which will run a battery down faster than others because they have more features, such as a TFT colour screen or a spotlight. Therefore the same battery will last far longer between charges than the same battery on another machine. The best measure of the run time of a battery is to compare it to your existing battery. If the standard battery is 800mAh and we have a replacement available which is rated at 2400mAh then this battery will give roughly three times the run time of the original. Therefore if you know that the existing battery gives 90-100 minutes of run time then the replacement would give up to 400minutes.

I can't find my camcorder/camera listed on the site but I think I recognise the battery. Because of the huge number of different camcorders which are available you may not necessarily find your machine listed on our site, this does not mean we cannot supply the battery as often the same battery will fit dozens of different models. Look at the part reference number on your existing battery rather than the model number of the machine and you will find the battery far more easily. If you are in any doubt please do not hesitate to contact us and we will check compatibility for you. There is an e-mail link at the top of every page on the site we aim to respond to e-mail queries within a maximum of 24 hours.

Different Types of Rechargeable Batteries

Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
Nickel Metal Hydride batteries replaced NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) which were the first common type of rechargeable batteries in early domestic camcorders and mobile phones. Ni-Mh batteries are superior to NiCd not only because they don't contain cadmium which is environmentally unfriendly in terms of disposal at the end of its life and is now obsolete. They are also are less prone to the "memory effect" problem, and a discharge every week or so is ample, unlike NiCd which need to be run down every other charge to retain their capacity. They also have a higher capacity in relation to their size and weight

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)
The majority of batteries in modern camcorders, digital camera and mobile phones are Li-ion. Li-Ion gives exceptional capacity for its size and weight, hence batteries have become smaller and lighter than early NiMh batteries without compromising their capacity. Li-ion does not suffer from "memory effect". This means that you can top up the charge whenever it is convenient. One disadvantage with Li-ion batteries which is particularly relevant to camera and camcorder batteries is that they self discharge in storage. By nature of the way in which they are used (i.e. Christmas and summer holidays) it is common to dicover that a battery which has had relatively little use will not work after several months of storage. If the battery charge is low when it is stored it could quite feasibly discharge to a level from which it cannot then be re-charged and is therefore useless. The best way to overcome this problem is to fully charge the battery before storage, therefore allowing for the inevitable self discharge and preventing the battery from running completely flat.

Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly)
There are also Lithium Polymer batteries, but these are very similar to Lithium Ion, except that they can be moulded into more varied shapes, and so be squeezed into smaller phone casings. They can also be lighter still.

Looking after rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders. Maximising battery life.

Looking after your battery.

Initial Charge Cycle: New batteries should be charged for 14-16 hours continuously. All batteries require a "break-in" period, so don't be alarmed if your battery doesn't hold a full charge right away. A new battery may show false full charge as indicated on your phone or charger after a short charging period, if this happens ignore the charging indicator and leave the battery charging for the recommended period. Also the battery may not power up the phone when brand new because of low voltage, it is not unusual for the phone to require several minutes charge before it begins to show that it is charging. For the first 3 - 5 cycles, please be sure to charge the battery fully and drain it fully before recharging. This will properly condition the battery and will ensure that it will operate at its maximum capacity.

Memory Effect: If you have a NiMh battery that is only usually discharged to 50% of its capacity, it will eventually not run below that 50% and in effect will lose the part of its capacity which is not used. Therefore it is advisable to allow a NiMh battery to discharge occasionally.

How to maximize the life of your Battery: Don’t leave your rechargeable batteries dormant for extended periods. Camcorder and Digital Camera batteries in particular are often left unused for months at a time, and if left in a discharged state for a long period will sometimes not then accept a charge, it is advisable to charge them before storage. Batteries that sit idle for extended periods of time without charging begin to lose their ability to hold a charge and will self-discharge, so remember to charge them again before use. Always store batteries in a cool, dry place away from metal objects. Li-ion batteries will deteriorate if store in a warm environment.

Mobile Phone Battery, Camcorder and Digital Camera Battery Charging Information.

Mobile Phone Batteries should be charged fully before use, please allow 16 hours for an initial charge. Subsequently batteries should take up to 2 hours for a full charge.

Camcorder & Digital Camera Batteries should initially be charged for 12-16 hours and subsequently according to the instructions supplied with the machine as charging times vary according to the type of charger used.

Cordless Phone Batteries should be fully charged on receipt for 16 hours, subsequently they will last longer if the handset is not left charging on the base permanently.

Please note: All rechargeable batteries have a residual charge when they are new and therefore need to be fully charged before use. When you start to charge the battery for the first time it may show that it is fully charged after only 5 to 10 minutes but it isn’t. Leave the battery charging for the period suggested above. This is normal behaviour for new rechargeable batteries but does not persist.

Mobile Phone Battery Standby Time.

The length of time Mobile Phone Batteries will last between charges varies widely according to the model of phone and the capacity of the replacement battery. Older phones from the pre-colour screen, camera, MP3, Internet days tend to have a much longer battery life between charges than more recent phones which have all of these bells and whistles. The extra functions of modern phones increase the demand on the battery and also, by nature of the phone having far more features the phones are often used far more than in the days when a phone was just for calls and texts. Another factor relating to older phones is that the handsets themselves are often larger so the batteries are also larger and therefore of a higher capacity which means they will have a longer run time.

As a very rough guide the average run time between charges in a modern phone which is switched on permanently would be around 2-3 days. Some phones will give a longer run time and factors such as the amount of phone usage and signal strength will also have a bearing on this. Many older handsets will last as much as a week between charges. Phone manufacturers often quote ridiculously high figures for battery run times, as much as 270 hours standby, and whilst such figures may be possible under laboratory conditions when the phone has perfect signal and doesn't make any calls, such figures are unrealistic in the real world.

Battery life deteriorates with age, mobile phone batteries in constant use typically last 18 months to 2 years.