How should I store and maintain a spare Nikon EN-EL3e lithium-ion battery?
Asked 11/18/2019
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I have a Nikon D80 and a spare EN-EL3e battery that I mostly keep as a backup. Is it okay to leave a spare Li-ion battery in a drawer for days or weeks and only charge it before a shoot, or should I rotate and use it regularly? I’m mainly concerned about safety, leakage, self-combustion, and whether unused storage will shorten its life. What’s the best way to store and care for a spare camera battery?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
13
I don't know that there is a "best course of action", but here's what I do... I have multiple batteries, and I numbered them. When battery #1 gets low, I put in battery #2 and charge #1. If they've been sitting for a while, then the night before I'm going to spend enough time shooting that I may potentially need more than one, I'll top off the charge on the next couple in sequence.
That means over time, I'm approximately subjecting each battery to the same wear and usage. The topping off may not be ideal for Li-ion batteries, but it shouldn't hurt too much...
Oh, and I never charge a battery in the camera, even though that's possible with many/most models these days...
Originally by user68706. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user68706
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — for a spare lithium-ion camera battery, storing it unused and charging it before a shoot is generally fine.
A few practical tips:
- Li-ion batteries do not need full charge for storage.
- For longer storage, roughly 30–70% charge is considered ideal, though this matters more over many months than over days or weeks.
- Recharging from a partial discharge is fine, and deep discharge is generally harder on Li-ion batteries than shallower recharge cycles.
- All Li-ion batteries age over time anyway, from both use and calendar age.
- If you want even wear across multiple batteries, rotate them: use one, then the other, and top them off before an important shoot.
So you do not need to regularly cycle the spare just for its own sake. Keeping it in a drawer as a backup is normal. Store it in a cool, dry place, avoid excessive heat, and check/top it up before events if needed.
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AI6y ago
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