1DMKII First time battery charging procedure.

[GenEOS]

:?: :?:
OK, the MKII is in. I am working with it tethered to the wall while the battery makes its first charge.
I have read numerous threads about proper first time cycling.
Can someone detail how I should do this?
I will have it charging all night and then what?

[KennyG]

Don't use the refresh straight away. Charge from new until you see the light blink. Get at least a couple of full discharges in the camera before you do a refresh. After that, do a refresh about every fourth or fifth charge.

Don't worry if you have to do the occasional top-up from a part charged battery, it does not do any long-term harm.

[scottbergerphoto]

The procedure as outlined and tested at www.robgalbraith .com, requires three complete cycles of refresh and charge before use. The results were that batteries pre-treated this way had 1/3 more capacity then batteries not conditioned. Batteries that were not initially conditioned, never made it to more then 70-80% full capacity even if subjected to the three cycle process afterwards.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-4059-4110&print=true
Scott

[Wickedfn4u]

Does the 10D charger have a refresh button on the charging unit?

[scottbergerphoto]

Does the 10D charger have a refresh button on the charging unit?
No :(

[NILOLIGIST]

I thought that I should refresh it after each use. I have used it when the battery isn't fully discharged, I use refresh and then charge.

NiL,

[Tom W]

Just out of curiousity, what kind of battery is in the 1D Mk II? Lithium Ion, NiCD, or NiMH? Or something new and unheard of? :)

[belmondo]

I seem to recall reading that the refresh (discharge) takes 8 hours while the charging only takes two hours. It looks like an overnight process. I do know that I pressed the refresh button yesterday right after lunch, and it was still 'refreshing' at supper time. I don't know if this says anything about how long it takes to perform that particular function, or if it says more about how often I eat.
:oops: :wink:

[GenEOS]

I have since gotten a procedure recommended by Chuck Westfall of Canon, through a sportsshooter.com thread.

It was recommended to charge fully, shoot it for a day and then refresh it at night, do this three times. Then top it off when needed, doing a refresh monthly after this.

I am going to get another battery and just get into a habit of doing this monthly.

To the posters asking about the type of battery, The MKII takes a NiMH battery specific to the 1D series. I wish they were LiON though.....they are lighter!

-DT

[belmondo]

Better...
This way we can get 'active' a day or two earlier.

[scottbergerphoto]

I thought that I should refresh it after each use. I have used it when the battery isn't fully discharged, I use refresh and then charge.

NiL,
That may retire your battery sooner then you would like. Each battery has a finite number of cycles in its useful lifespan. After the initial conditioning 3 cycles, once a month is probably enough. I believe this is in the link above.
Regards,
Scott

[Canuck]

Does the 10D charger have a refresh button on the charging unit?

Nor does it have the memory issues like the NiMH being that the 10D uses Li-Ion. That does away with the need for refreshing. Ni-Cads are most like NiMH batteies.

[Tom W]

Does the 10D charger have a refresh button on the charging unit?

Nor does it have the memory issues like the NiMH being that the 10D uses Li-Ion. That does away with the need for refreshing. Ni-Cads are most like NiMH batteies.

Interesting - I knew that NiCD's had memory issues, but I didn't know that that was true with NiMH as well. I'll have to keep an eye on those AA batteries I use for flash and such.

[KennyG]

The procedure as outlined and tested at www.robgalbraith .com, requires three complete cycles of refresh and charge before use. The results were that batteries pre-treated this way had 1/3 more capacity then batteries not conditioned. Batteries that were not initially conditioned, never made it to more then 70-80% full capacity even if subjected to the three cycle process afterwards.
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-4059-4110&print=true
Scott

This does not bear out the experience of a lot of 1D and 1Ds owners. The refresh is quite brutal and, despite what RG's site says, most owners have found the best route is to get three discharges for brand new batteries in-camera before doing a refresh.

Comment from one user - "The two that died the fastest are the two that I did three cycles BEFORE using them. I drain them to the point they no longer take pictures and once a month or so do a refresh. They are almost 28 months old and I think it is time to find someone to repack them with higher capacity cells."

I tend to go on what other pros tell me personally rather than take web advice, and I have used the in-camera discharge method for my 1D and 2 batteries. Time will tell I suppose.

[CyberDyneSystems]

....geez...

And all I did is charge it and use it....

I think I'll stick to that policy for now...

Anyway.. I found some generics for $19.00 ... :mrgreen:

So I ordered four!

[charlesu]

....geez...

And all I did is charge it and use it....

I think I'll stick to that policy for now...

Anyway.. I found some generics for $19.00 ... :mrgreen:

So I ordered four!