battery life question

[IXUS]

would constant charging of the battery (e.g when the camera hasn't signaled low battery yet) decrease the battery life of an nb-1l (stock s230 battery)?

[JohnMN]

What kind of battery is an nb-1? Don't think I've come across that type before. Is it nicad, nickel metal hydrate or something else?

JohnMN

[IXUS]

it's this one on http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000068DBB/103-8803308-2555842?vi=glance

it's also lithium ion

[JohnMN]

Ixus,

I haven't used a lithium ion battery but unless it suffers from 'memory effect' where it remembers how much charge was used last time, then I don't see a problem with it. Maybe other users of this particular make of battery could comment on it. I have found using the Ni-MH batteries not to be a problem even if I only use a little of the charge and then recharge them fully a few days later. No problems so far.

JohnMN

[klee]

IXUS,

Li-Ion batteries are the best rechargeable type batteries. Its in the premium league hence the cost. In theory its virtues are non-existent memory effect although in practice all one can say is that its pretty damn good at not having a shorter life span than that intended by its designers.

As with all things electronic - best practice is to drain it before recharge. By design Li-Ions are suppose to allow us worry free recharge when you know its 3/4 used up and know you have a long day ahead - so recharge it knowing that you are doing it minimal damage relative to Ni-Cd batteries. That was its intention and the premium you paid for, so use it.

Always make sure you have the juice when you need it. My NB-1L battery of my IXUS (the original!) bought in 2000 has come to its end life just this week. One thing I noticed which may be relevant (correct if I'm wrong) but there was a period of quiet when I didn't use the camera and I think this is actually detrimental to the battery. So even in quiet periods, try to use the battery.

KLee