PREPARATION OF BATTERIES

Using the Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries Properly

œPeriodically clean with a dry cloth the terminals of the nickel metal hydride batteries ((+) and (–)) and the terminals located in the battery compartment of the digital camera.

Do not touch the battery terminals or the terminals in the battery compartment of the digital camera with your bare hands. Doing so will allow contaminants from your hands to adhere to the terminals and oxidize and increase the contact resistance. If the contact resistance increases, the usable life of the batteries will diminish.

œIf you repeatedly remove the nickel metal hydride batteries before they run out and recharge them, or place them into the digital camera before they are fully recharged, then a “memory effect”* may occur.

œYour digital camera is designed to handle the effects from voltage fluctuations caused by the

“memory effect” of nickel metal hydride batteries. Nevertheless, there are times when the remaining charge indicator may show (or )earlier than usual.

œIf any symptoms such as these occur, first discharge the batteries completely (see page 120) and then recharge them until they are fully charged again.

* Memory effect

œMemory effect is a phenomenon where the battery performance temporarily lowers. In general, the battery voltage during use drops below its normal voltage until it is fully discharged and recharged again.

NOTE

œNew batteries must be recharged before they are first used.

œIf recharged batteries are stored, they will slowly loose their charge. They must be recharged before they are used again.

œIf the batteries are used for the first time or if they have not been used for a long time, they may not be recharged completely even when the recharge indicator goes off. (The supplied nickel metal hydride batteries should take approx. 200 minutes to be completely recharged. If the indicator lamp turns off much earlier than this, the batteries are not fully charged and will soon run out of power.) The batteries will return to normal after they have been used and recharged two or three times.

œThe batteries may have reached the end of their service life if the recharge indicator keeps on flashing even if the batteries have been inserted correctly, or if they overheat while being recharged. However, if the same conditions appear with new batteries, or if the recharge indicator does not go off after approximately 300 minutes, it may indicate a problem of the battery charger. In such a case, stop using it immediately and take it to the dealer for service.

œTwo discharged batteries must be recharged at the same time.

œDuring recharging, the battery charger and batteries will be warm. This is normal and does not indicate a malfunction.

œDuring recharging, the battery charger may create interference with a radio or TV. In such a case, make sure to plug the battery charger into a power outlet on a circuit different from the one of the radio or TV.

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