Intentionally Depleting Battery?

I have heard that most new camera batteries only get up to their full potential after a few cycles of use and recharge. I just got 2 new batteries in preperation for a spring vacation and I won't have time to take enough pictures to truly drain the battery the normal way.

Is there any problem you can think of by just leaving the camera on over night and let it drain the battery that way? If I do that a couple of times, the battery should be able to hold its maximum charge.

A couple issues I've already thought of:

1) Should I remove the CF card, any potential damage there?
2) Would it cause any damage to the camera's or lens's electronics?
3) Could image on the LCD be "burned-in" if I just left if there for many hours?
4) Is there really any significant difference between the charge of a brand-new battery and a broken-in one?

These questions and anything else you can think of would be helpful.

what kind of camera are you talking about? if it is a 1 series, then yes - you will definitely benefit from 3 cycles, however the charging unit will help you using the 'refresh' button. this is because the 1 series uses NiMH batteries.

if it is any of the other EOS line that uses Li-ION batteries, you don't want to deplete them. Additionally, Li-ION batteries don't like to be fully depleted so i'd personally recommend against it.

Sorry for not being clear. I have a 350d with some Canon and Sterlingtek Lithium Ion batteries.

So it sounds like I shouldn't try to pre-deplete them. Thanks.

My understanding is that NiCad needs to be fully drained at first as they have an internal memory that gets shorter if you don't fully depleat them but that Li Ion's do not and you do not need to fully depleat them.

350D uses Lithium.. and there is no "memory" issue or need to drain batteries fully before a recharge.

If you manage to completely drain a Lithium Ion battery, chances are that you'll kill it completely. These batteries hate deep discharge, like topping off, and usually have some kind of circuitry in the pack to prevent overcharging (which can be explosive!) and deep discharge (which is usually fatal to the cells).

David