Maintenance
1.Charge the Digital Camera Battery prior to use. Please note that the outputs are disabled during charging even when the unit is in the ON position. This allows all types of DCB chargers to be used. Options include standard, worldwide, fastcharger, carcharger and solar chargers. For solar customers the output control can be overridden with a modification at the factory, but the cell warranty is shortened to 90 days on units modified in this way. (Constant short cycle charging due to the sun going in and out during the day while discharging can cause premature cell failure.)
2.When the battery becomes warm during charge, it is full. Some chargers have indicators to indicate charging status, the standard charger does not.
3.A completely discharged 40 watt unit should be charged for 16 hours (standard charger). The Solar charger will charge the 40 watt Digital Camera Battery in a single day of bright sunlight. The Fastcharger will charge the 40 watt Digital Camera Battery in about 3 hours anywhere in the world. (The Fastcharger includes a US 120VAC power cable, but any electronics store worldwide will offer local AC power cables.) Times for the 80 watt unit will be double.
4.When the unit no longer performs to the expected level return it to the factory for Power Cell replacement. Include the charger when returning any Digital Camera Battery for ANY reason. The cost is $75 (DCB40WB) which includes the replacement Power Cell, return ground shipping (continental U.S.), as well as testing of the unit and charger. If there is any problem with the standard charger, it will be replaced at no cost.
5.If your Digital Camera Battery becomes damaged to the point it no longer functions, return it to the factory. Repairs will never exceed ½ the current list price. If the cost exceeds ½ list price the unit will be replaced for ½ list price and will have a Full 1 Year Warranty. For customers outside the U.S. contact your local dealer for other repair options since shipping costs may not be economical.
If you are wondering why we test the charger regardless of the problem, it is because that is the only component beyond our control. Lightning, high line voltage and physical abuse may not show any signs of damage yet cause all kinds of problems. Our standard charger is designed to be economical but is susceptible to environmental conditions and shorting. We would rather give you a new standard charger than have you dissatisfied with a Digital Camera Battery. All of our other chargers can withstand continuously shorted outputs and wide input voltage ranges. (We don’t know of other manufacturers of battery packs having chargers that can withstand this type of abuse.)
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