Canon 430EX battery

[sharp8888]

Hi, Please help. I just bought 430EX and connected to the Canon 30D hot shoe and never take it off. I turned the flash off, and when I turn it back on I can only take a few shot and my batteries are dead. I used Duracell Nimh 1.2V (4), does Alkalkine batteries really make a different or should I take the flash off the camera every time I finish using it? , Thank you, I would really appreciated some advice.

Sharp

[b1gdaddy]

The only time this happend to me was when one of the cells was dead. Try another set of Nimh's.

[Big Mike]

Make sure the batteries are fully charged.

I'm not aware that leaving the flash on the camera would create a big power drain...although, batteries will slowly drain over time.

[Tee Why]

If you take several shots with the flash, the batteries need to recharge. Leaving the batteries without being charged will only make things worse. Try keeping them stored out of the flash to prevent any charge being drained (if any) and recharge them prior to shooting.

[dsoo]

Hi, Please help. I just bought 430EX and connected to the Canon 30D hot shoe and never take it off. I turned the flash off, and when I turn it back on I can only take a few shot and my batteries are dead. I used Duracell Nimh 1.2V (4), does Alkalkine batteries really make a different or should I take the flash off the camera every time I finish using it? , Thank you, I would really appreciated some advice.

Sharp
was it subject to extreme heat or cold(not saying the baking oven or arctic, but inside a car under the sun is extreme enough)? that would affect the charge stored in batteries too. I always try to keep them like the films(sorry I understand this is a digital forum) at room temp. It's very tempting to leave them in the car trunk when the camera bag is getting heavier.

Dan

[sharp8888]

I left the camera in the basement. It should be around 5-10C. I tried brand new from the package Duracell Nimh 2500mh, but it was still the same. Now I put a pure energy recharable batteries alkaline batteries. The batteries seemed to last longer. Is this a flash defects? Should I exchange for another one while I still have 5 more days before the return policy is over. Thanks.

Sharp

[Curtis N]

I tried brand new from the package Duracell Nimh 2500mh,You charged them first, right?

NiMH batteries need to be charged before use.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but this has happened before.

[sharp8888]

No, I didn't charged them before I used them, but I will try recharging them before use. Thank you for the advice. I hope it work. Thank you.

Sharp

[Az2Africa]

You charged them first, right?

NiMH batteries need to be charged before use.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but this has happened before.


You can use the Sanyo Eneloop batteries straight from the package. But, I still give them a charge anyway.

[sharp8888]

Hi,

So when you buy brand new AA batteries, you have to recharge before use? I thought they are fully recharge already? I know that you have to recharge Canon 30D brand new battery before use, but on AA as well?

Sharp

[Big Mike]

So when you buy brand new AA batteries, you have to recharge before use? I thought they are fully recharge already? I know that you have to recharge Canon 30D brand new battery before use, but on AA as well?
What do the instructions on the package say?

It's likely that the batteries have been drained due to the time they have spent in shipping and sitting in a store...if they are even charged up to begin with.

Either way, it would make sense to charge them up before using them anyway.

[Curtis N]

So when you buy brand new AA batteries, you have to recharge before use? I thought they are fully recharge alreadyIf they are rechargeable batteries (NiMH), then yes. They will discharge slowly even without being used, around 1% per day. So even if they are charged at the factory they are nearly dead after being shipped and stored at a retailer for a few months.

On the other hand, Alkaline batteries are sold fully charged and will hold that charge for several years.

I second Mike's recommendation to read the package instructions carefully.

[sharp8888]

What is the major different either than the voltage between Nimh and Alkaline batteries? Because Canon 430EX manual recommended Alkaline AA. Is there a different in term of performance and last longer? Thank you for the information.

[Curtis N]

The biggest difference is the NiMH is rechargeable and Alkaline is not. Flash units eat batteries quickly, so using rechargeables will cost you less in the long run.

Despite their lower voltage, NiMH batteries will also recycle your flash unit faster after each shot. In fact, the 430EX manual might specify different recycling times for different battery types.

These two factors tend to heavily favor NiMH batteries for anyone who uses flash on a regular basis. However, if your flash will often go unused for weeks or months at a time, and fire relatively few shots with each use, then Alkalines might be the way to go.

The best of both worlds is to have a few sets of NiMH which you can charge before use, and a spare "emergency" set of Alkalines for those times you need to need to use it without warning and are caught with dead batteries.

[sharp8888]

Thank you for the information, you said "The biggest difference is the NiMH is rechargeable and Alkaline is not." (Curtis N)
But I notice there is pure energy alkaline and it is rechargeable battery.

[sharp8888]

http://www.pureenergybattery.com/products.html

[vondo]

While I've never used "PureEnergy" I did use earlier Rayovac Renewal rechargeble alkalines that made similar claims. IMO, they are suck compared to NiMH. The lost capacity very quickly and died often. They lasted longest if they were recharged very often.

Notice these batteries say "up to 100 charges" while NiMH often say "up to 1000 charges." Now I don't buy either number, but the ratio is probably correct. I probably got 15-20 shallow charges from the Renewals before they went into the trash.

NiMH supply less voltage but can supply a lot of current, which is why they are great for flashes and digital P&S cameras.