Samsung Camcorder Batteries & Chargers

Like any other Samsung camcorder accessories, your battery will gradually wear out over time. So if you are finding it difficult completely charging any of your Samsung Camcorder batteries, this might be a good time for a replacement. Before you take the plunge on a new battery pack, stop and check out the current battery to see if it can be salvaged. If your battery pack is a Ni-MH, or Nickel-Metal Hydride Camcorder battery, there's a chance that it's suffering from a condition known as "Battery Memory" effect. This happens to a battery when it has not been properly discharged once or twice within a two week span. This may cause the battery to "remember" the lowest level of charge as a new top-charge, so the battery may not charge above this new high point.

Keep in mind that it's not just Samsung batteries that do this. As a company they have been making durable consumer electronics for over 40 years. So even Sony and Panasonic camcorder batteries may only last a few years.

How to Handle a Samsung Camcorder Battery That Won't Charge

A good way to prevent your Samsung Camcorder Ni-MH Battery from falling victim to this "Memory Effect" is to drain your battery without the power adapter occasionally. Once drained, add a full charge to the battery again. This will likely reset your Samsung battery pack and may help it to charge properly again.

But with a lithium ion, or Li-Ion, Samsung Camcorder battery pack, completely discharging the battery pack is unlikely to fix the issue Many Li-Ion battery packs are only going to last you about 2 to 3 years when used under standard conditions, so if your current Samsung battery is approaching 2-3 years of age, it may be time for a new battery pack.

What's Inside a Samsung Camcorder Battery

Most Samsung Video Camera batteries are either Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), Nikel Cadmium (NiCad), or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). The chemicals inside the battery determine a great deal about how it is charged and how long the battery will last.

For the most part, Samsung Camcorder compatible Li-Ion batteries provide longer battery life and don't suffer from the effects of "Battery Memory", which can lead to shorter battery life in NiCads and NiMH batteries. In fact, most Samsung lithium battery packs can last up to roughly 500 cycles from low-power to full charge.

It's always a good idea to treat your Samsung batteries as carefully as you do your Camcorder itself. Try to avoid any sudden collisions with tabletops or other objects as well as dropping anything on the battery pack. Damaging the battery can result in a Samsung non-working battery pack or possibly even personal injury from chemicals leaking from a damaged battery case. Keep it dry too. If your Camcorder or battery gets accidentily dropped in water, immediately get it out, remove the battery from the Camcorder and dry as much water off of the casing as possible.

A New Camcorder Battery Should Hold a Healthy Charge

When you buy a new battery you would exepect it to last for some time without any problems. Even with extensive use, it should be able to hold a charge for the full duration. If not, try cycling it all the way up, then down to around 15% capacity a few times. Each time you do so, power down your Samsung Camcorder and remove the battery pack from the device. This should synchronize the power manager within the battery to the Camcorder power management controls. Once completed, you should start to see your Samsung batteries lasting a little longer than they used to.