Can Lithium Ion batteries be recharged without being used up?

[clicknext]

What the question means is, can I use it half way, then charge it up again without getting a negative effect like with the old ni-cad batteries?

 

[Wintermute76]

That's what I've heard. Had my Sony camcorder batteries for 2 yrs and been using them in my F707 with no problems. Sometimes I run them down, sometimes not.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: clicknext
What the question means is, can I use it half way, then charge it up again without getting a negative effect like with the old ni-cad batteries?

I don't think recharging it when it's half full will hurt anything, I think it's when you completely discharge them that you have a problem.

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: clicknext
What the question means is, can I use it half way, then charge it up again without getting a negative effect like with the old ni-cad batteries?

I don't think recharging it when it's half full will hurt anything, I think it's when you completely discharge them that you have a problem.

Do Li Ion batteries have this problem? Or only ni-cad?

I've previously been told that recharging a half full ni-cad battery will shorten its life span. (something called the memory effect or something)

 

[Rastus]

You can recharge any battery, but you need to know when to stop. Overcharging a battery that isn't rechargable can cause a violent reaction.

 

[Walleye]

deep cycling a battery that isnt meant to be deep cycled is bad for it too. that's why you kill car batteries if you leave the lights on too many times. you can still store energy for 5 seconds, but it wont hold a charge after that.

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: Rastus
You can recharge any battery, but you need to know when to stop. Overcharging a battery that isn't rechargable can cause a violent reaction.

Really? So how do you know when to stop and can you use any charger?

 

[habib89]

from what i understand only ni-cd batteries have the memory issue.. for nimh batteries and li-ion batteries, i think it's ok to charge whenever you want.. i'll sometimes discharge my nimh batteries fully, but usually i'll just charge them when i need them

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: clicknext

Originally posted by: Rastus
You can recharge any battery, but you need to know when to stop. Overcharging a battery that isn't rechargable can cause a violent reaction.

Really? So how do you know when to stop and can you use any charger?

I used to recharge my AA walkman batteries with a 7.2 volt Ni-Cd pack that I used with my RC cars. I knew to stop when they got so hot that I had to drop them.

It worked, but not very well, and I really can't recommend that anybody try this procedure. Looking back on some of the things I've done, I'm amazed I wasn't maimed or killed.

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: clicknext

Originally posted by: Rastus
You can recharge any battery, but you need to know when to stop. Overcharging a battery that isn't rechargable can cause a violent reaction.

Really? So how do you know when to stop and can you use any charger?

I used to recharge my AA walkman batteries with a 7.2 volt Ni-Cd pack that I used with my RC cars. I knew to stop when they got so hot that I had to drop them.

It worked, but not very well, and I really can't recommend that anybody try this procedure. Looking back on some of the things I've done, I'm amazed I wasn't maimed or killed.

Usually Li-Ion batterys and chargers have circuitry built in to prevent overcharging. At least all laptop Li-Ion's do.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: clicknext
What the question means is, can I use it half way, then charge it up again without getting a negative effect like with the old ni-cad batteries?

I thought the big problem with older batteries was if you didn't charge them up all the way they would never then fully charge. They would 'remember' that partial charge point and never go above that. It's not how far down you run them but how much you charge.

 

[sciencewhiz]

the problem with LI-Ion batteries is they have a limited number of recharge cycles. So you still don't want to recharge them too often, but you don't have to worry about a memory.

 

[clicknext]

Is there an approximate number of recharge cycles, or is it completely different for all?

 

[sciencewhiz]

I've heard 150 for laptop batteries, I don't know for other things.

 

[Howard]

Li-ion batteries have zero memory effect, so you can recharge them at any energy level, although deep cycling will still damage them, I think. And the memory effect still afflicts NiMH batteries, although to a much smaller degree than NiCds.