LP-E6NH Batteries not holding charge

[Tronhard]

I have several sets of Genuine Canon LP-E6NH batteries and, after very little use, the potential for charging has dropped by one and even two bars.  Older batteries do not have this issue - it is apparent on my R5 and two R6 units, so I don't think it's the camera.  These batteries are about a year old, but have been used only a couple of times.

If you have any ideas on this I would be appreciative.

[johnrmoyer]

I know very little about batteries, but I have read that recent batteries may improve with more charge/discharge cycles while older batteries would deteriorate. I do not know that this is true. Some battery chargers claim to "recondition" batteries to improve their performance.

[Peter]

That goes for NiMH batteries. For example the old 1Ds.

[Waddizzle]

I have been running into the same issue.  I have had camera batteries lose a LOT of charge just sitting in a camera bag for a month of no use.  I only get out on the weekends when the weather is good.

[Tronhard]

Considering these batteries come at a premium price - in NZ, they are up to $265 each for a genuine one, then I don't expect them to lose 2 of 3 recharge performance bars in a few months - especially used only about 3 times.

[jaewoosong]

Most Li-ion batteries works best when charge is between 20-80% full, however, most folks will top off the battery, which strains the battery, and don't fully cycle through the battery and always topping off (i do this too).  All li-ion battery health will degrade over time and how you use/store the battery makes a big difference.

To maintain the health of any li-ion battery (i don't do any of this so i suffer the consequences)

1) remove the battery from camera (there will always be a vampire draw, especially on R5/6 to power top lcd which isn't good for batter health)

2) use the battery between 20-80% full

3) long term store the  battery at 70-80% full.

4) charge before battery gets below 20%

I don't do any of the above and all my iphones will degrade to less than 90% battery health in just 1 year.  My camera batteries fare no better with minimal use.

[Tronhard]

I think your  30-80 rule is great advice and I know enough to have been doing exactly that myself - I also run my EV on that principle. Yet the Canon batteries I refer to have dropped to 60% charge capacity in only a few months.  I also have been using some some of the LP-E6N batteries and they have been behaving much better, but the best of all in terms of holding charge are the LP-E6 batteries.  From that, I suspect that the more energy density is crammed into a battery, the faster it degrades.  I have just got some Kingma LP-E6NH compatible batteries to try against the original, and so far they are holding their capacity much better and are about 1/5 the price.

[jaewoosong]

Your battery degradation is very odd, even my older LP-E6N only lost 1 bar after 1 year.  My 16 month old LP-E6NH (very little use) still had 3/3 bars.

[Tronhard]

Looking at the dates stamped on the batteries, they are all marked within a very shot time period.  Perhaps a flaw in a batch - I don't know, but I'm not impressed.

[shadowsports]

I just ordered 2 more today.  Hope they dont exhibit this behavior.

LP-E6NH OEM Battery Availability - Canon Community