[Leica] Re: Hong Kong eBay Batteries

[glehrer at san.rr.com (Jerry Lehrer)]

Robert und Frank,

I have been told by electronic engineers that lithium-ion batteries are 
EXTREMELY sensitive to the environment in which they were
manufactured.  They said that a NASA type clean room with low humidity 
and temperature is required.  Also a very high purity of
components is needed.  That might account for the high prices for the 
genuine Leica batteries.

My daughter has had experience with both types in her Leica digital.  
I'll ask her about their charging longevity.

Jerry



Robert D. Baron wrote:
> Earlier today Frank Dernie wrote:
>
>> Recently there was a thread regarding thepoor  longevity of the 
>> Leica  M8 replacement batteries being offered by a Hong Kong or 
>> Chinese ebayer.
>> I replied that both mine died during my Umbrian Holiday earlier this  
>> month. But....
>>
>> Whilst I was away I received a Leica communication for M8 buyers of  
>> tips and information. One item mentioned that some non-Leica  
>> batteries were lower capacity and the normal caution about  
>> malfunction. Another item was an explanation how to resolve an issue  
>> with the battery indicator on top of the camera falsely reporting a  
>> newly charged battery as almost discharged. This was the  
>> characteristic which led me to believe my two batteries were kaput.
>> I completely discharged my batteries in the camera by setting the  
>> economy timer to off, as advised in the Leica solution for their  
>> battery. I then completely recharged them. They now behave again as  
>> new again according to the camera top indicator.
>
> This is of interest to me, because (a) I bought four of the cheap 
> batteries and soon all four of them no longer seemed to take a full 
> charge, and (b) I received and read the same email from Leica M8 Support.
>
> After I read the Leica email I looked at the eBay batteries and 
> observed they are 1700 mAh versus the 1900 mAh of the Leica branded 
> batteries. Whether this could make a real difference I have no idea 
> but Leica seem to think it might.
>
> I then did what you did, with one of my eBay batteries: I ran it down 
> in the camera overnight and then re-charged it.  It then showed as 
> being fully charged on the camera's battery charge indicator.
>
> However: I remember reading a thread on the LUG or another list 
> wherein the poster had done the same thing with success but the next 
> time he went to charge the battery it would not take a full 
> charge....until he re-did the overnight full draining process.
>
> So, it will be interesting to see if these 'home conditioned' eBay 
> batteries will now work as advertised or if they will continually need 
> to be completely drained before they will take a full charge.
>
> We will be looking forward to your reports!