Basic Grip Questions

I just got the BG-E3 grip for my Rebel XT/350d and I had a few simple questions.

1) I noticed that there is an on/off switch on the grip itself to make the buttons active or not. Is there any battery drain if I leave the grip switch to ON even though my camera is off?

2) I have a few original Canon batteries plus some Sterlingtek batteries. They have different mAH ratings. Is there any problem with mixing ratings (a 720 mAH with a 1700 mAH)?

3) If I do mix the mAH ratings, what will the battery meter show when one gets low and the higher rating still has some charge left? Will it show I'm running low or that I have plenty of charge?

4) The sterlingtek batteries don't come with the handy cover and little blue square to indicated full or dead (like canons do). So how does everyone keep track of which batteries in their bag are full and which are dead?

Thanks

1. no
2. it's not recommened, but I do not think any harm will be done
3. no, the battery meter is approximate and not very reliable when you are low on battery.
4. use an elastic band or some kind of other marking system. I had 4 sterlingteks I used. and kept my spares charged all the time unless I just switched them out.

For #1, leaving the grip switch on doesn't directly cause any battery drain. But keep in mind that if you set the camera down in your bag, there's a possibility that the grip shutter release button could get pressed inadvertently and that will cause the battery to drain.

mabas9395 wrote in post #3874478
I just got the BG-E3 grip for my Rebel XT/350d and I had a few simple questions.

1) I noticed that there is an on/off switch on the grip itself to make the buttons active or not. Is there any battery drain if I leave the grip switch to ON even though my camera is off?

2) I have a few original Canon batteries plus some Sterlingtek batteries. They have different mAH ratings. Is there any problem with mixing ratings (a 720 mAH with a 1700 mAH)?

3) If I do mix the mAH ratings, what will the battery meter show when one gets low and the higher rating still has some charge left? Will it show I'm running low or that I have plenty of charge?

4) The sterlingtek batteries don't come with the handy cover and little blue square to indicated full or dead (like canons do). So how does everyone keep track of which batteries in their bag are full and which are dead?

Thanks

1. No drain. I leave it off if not in use.
2. I stick to the same rating for both batteries. (I sold my one canon battery and used the money to buy 6 3rd party ones that last twice as long!).
3. Battery meter is awful, cahnge when it shows half empty.
4. I have all mine marked by number, so 1a 1b, 2a 2b, that way I know that the next full one will be the next number up, so if using 2, then 3 will be the charged ones.

mcmadkat wrote in post #3874658
4. I have all mine marked by number, so 1a 1b, 2a 2b, that way I know that the next full one will be the next number up, so if using 2, then 3 will be the charged ones.

Excellent idea ...... even better than my red/blue/green/yellow dots system used on my AA sets for my old Olympus E100RS.