Can I store a camera battery in an unplugged charger?

Asked 11/21/2014

4 views

2 answers

0

I have a Nikon EN-EL14 spare battery and an MH-24 charger. To save space in my camera bag, I’d like to keep the spare battery in the charger when the charger is unplugged. Is that safe, and can it drain the battery over time?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

5

An unplugged charger may, or may not, discharge the battery if it isn't plugged in to the wall. Depends entirely on the charger's circuitry and may change without notice, even if it's exactly the same model of charger (the model number guarantees it will charge the battery. It doesn't guarantee how it charges the battery)

However, if your battery is symmetrical just put it in the charger the other way round. I put my spare batteries in their chargers like this - takes up no extra space, and nothing is going to discharge itself if the contacts don't line up. The occasional charger has positioning lugs that get in the way, 10 seconds with the wire clippers takes care of that problem.

Originally by user31541. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user31541

11y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes—storing a battery in an unplugged charger is generally safe, but it may slowly drain the battery depending on the charger’s circuitry. Some chargers draw a small amount from the battery even when unplugged, so charge loss over time is possible.

If you only want to use the charger as a holder, avoid contact between the battery and charger terminals. Simple ways to do that are inserting the battery reversed if the design allows, or placing a small piece of paper between the contacts.

For longer storage, keep an eye on charge level. Lithium-ion batteries shouldn’t be left fully depleted for extended periods; avoid letting them get too low. If you have multiple batteries, rotating their use is a good idea.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

Your Answer