How do I know when my NiMH batts are dying?

[ShutteringFocus]

I have a 550EX and I loaded it with a set of Energizer 2500 NiMH batteries.

When will I know if these are getting low? Will I notice slower recycle times? I don’t think I would notice them...since the time would gradually get slower as the batteries died wouldn’t it?

Is there some way to tell how much battery supply is left?

[Eric DeCastro]

2500 will last a long time, but yes i think the recycle times will start taking longer, but I have never been able to kill a set of 2200. but I also keep spares at events, just in case.

[robertwgross]

After you use that flash and those batteries for a while, you will get used to how long it takes for the flash to charge up with fresh ones, with half-dead ones, and almost fully dead ones. Your ear will get trained to the sound.

---Bob Gross---

[lostdoggy]

After you use that flash and those batteries for a while, you will get used to how long it takes for the flash to charge up with fresh ones, with half-dead ones, and almost fully dead ones. Your ear will get trained to the sound.

---Bob Gross---

You mean annoying whirling high pitch sound???

[robertwgross]

You mean annoying whirling high pitch sound???

It's not exactly a symphony of violins, but a person does get used to it after a time.

You can change the pitch by using older batteries.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

When the cycle time is noticably longer they're slowing down. When the green light on the flash never changes to red, they're gone. I went thru 4 sets of 2400 MAH at a wedding, using a lightsphere, the LS is incredibly inefficient.

[ShutteringFocus]

Got my question answered today.

I was shooting a 4th of July gus macker tournament and it was very cloudy and dark out, so I busted out the new flash. It was working beautifully, and suddenly the flash wouldn’t recharge. So I loaded up the new batteries. Got home and checked the juice level on the old ones and they were dead. Looks like the Energizer 2500s run hard until they are completely gone.

[blundar]

With a flash diffuser on (like an Omnibounce, or a Lightsphere, or a Lumiquest minisoftbox) a set of freshly charged 2500s will last approximately 300 flashes. The flash will sometimes get erratic and other times just quit all at once when the batteries get low.

I always bring 1 extra set more than what I think I am going to use. I usually bring 4 sets when I expect to use up 3 sets (900 photos).

[photoshooter]

i shoot stock car races every fri night when the die they die no warning of course cant hear the buzzzzzz over the race cars either