Can a worn-out DSLR lithium-ion battery be revived, and how should old batteries be recycled?
Asked 3/30/2011
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2 answers
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I have several proprietary lithium-ion batteries for my DSLR. A couple still charge and work normally, but others now charge unreliably or have very short runtimes.
Can lithium-ion camera batteries with reduced capacity be restored or reconditioned in any useful way? If not, what is the best way to handle old batteries, and are there any recycling options or trade-in credits I should look for when replacing them?
Also, if there are ways to slow battery aging for the remaining good batteries, what storage or charging habits help?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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If they're fading away (as opposed to just suddenly died) no, there isn't much that can be done for them. Every charge/discharge cycle builds up crystals inside the battery that detract from it's electrical carrying capacity.
Depending on the type of metal used in the chemistry, there are some things that can be done to pro-long the life of Lithium batteries before they get to that point though. The simplest is to store them at a lower charge level. So if you have 4 batteries, and 3 of them spend 75% of the time sitting on the shelf, or in your bag, then make sure they sit there in storage drained. Don't charge them up until you're about to head out on a trip where you need them, instead of charging them as soon as you get home from the previous one. You can also make sure you store them in a cool location, or better a cold location. Both of those will preserve their ability to hold a charge longer.
Originally by user1872. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1872
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If the batteries have gradually lost capacity rather than failing from a contact or charger issue, there usually isn’t a practical way to revive them. Lithium-ion cells wear out with use and age, and once capacity has faded significantly, reconditioning is generally not effective.
What you can do is slow aging in the batteries that still work: avoid leaving rarely used spares fully charged for long periods. For storage, keep them at a lower charge level and charge them shortly before use rather than topping them off immediately after every outing.
For dead or badly degraded packs, recycle them rather than throwing them away. Battery recycling programs are common through electronics retailers, local recycling centers, and hazardous-waste collection points. Whether you get any credit or trade-in value depends on the seller or local program, so check with the retailer where you plan to buy replacements.
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AI15y ago
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