How To Extend The Life Of A Camcorder Battery

The smartest thing to do when you purchase a brand-new digital camcorder is to master all the functions and parts of it. By learning everything, if anything out of the ordinary occurs; it is less likely to end up being a problem.
For instance, if you are knowledgeable at least in some very basic things about your digital camcorder battery, you should not have a problem when something goes wrong with it and you have to replace it or describe it to the service center over the telephone.
A digital camcorder battery can be a very significant issue. When we speak about the rechargeable batteries that go along with your camcorder, the most basic thing to know is how to extend the battery life and avoid having to deal with any costly repairs due to improper management of your digital camcorder battery, or even end up missing out on some great shots that you would have preferred captured.
Buy batteries that are fresh. Do this by going to a store with a high battery turnover such as a busy toy store or electronics department. Choose from the center of the rack, as store employees are taught to put new merchandise in the very front or back of the displays.
Take batteries out of items that rarely get used. Put them in a zippered plastic bag. You can tape the bag to the item if possible or you can store them elsewhere, away from heat and light. Don't let them touch anything metal as they can lose power.
Buy zinc-carbon batteries for items like clocks, flashlights and calculators. Choose heavy duty zinc carbon batteries for small radios, and small lights like penlights. For items that are used constantly or have a high draw such as toys, boom boxes, camera flashes and tape recorders, use alkaline batteries.
Don't mix old and new batteries when you use them. The new ones will be stronger and can cause the older ones to leak battery acid. Battery acid is extremely caustic and will cause burns on your skin and anything else it touches. Wear gloves and use caution when removing leaking batteries. Make sure to dispose of batteries properly.
Avoid extreme temperatures. Battery life will be longer if they are kept away from extreme heat or cold. Room temperature or approximately 72 degrees is the best temperature for batteries. While it may not always be possible to protect batteries from the elements, especially when traveling, it is best to keep them covered and in a spot where they will not be exposed to either heat or cold air.
Remove the battery from the camcorder when not in use. Even though a device may not be on, keeping a battery inserted into the camcorder may cause it to run low. Separate the two and store them separately in the camera bag.
Avoid overcharging the battery. Another common problem with battery life on a camcorder battery is that they are left on the charger for several hours at a time, often overnight. Overcharging batteries can actually make them weaker over time and lessen their ability to hold a charge.
Read the battery instructions. Most camcorder batteries come with instructions on proper charging. The owner's manual for a camcorder can also contain this information. It will indicate how long the battery will need to be charged for and the expected life of that battery.