PREPARATION OF BATTERIES
Using the Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries
Properly
œ Periodically 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.
œ If 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.
œ Your 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 èç or êç earlier than usual.
œ If any symptoms such as these occur, first discharge the batteries completely (see page 124)
and then recharge them until they are fully charged again.
* Memory effect
Memory 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
œ New batteries must be recharged before they are first used.
œ Even if recharged batteries are stored and not used, they will slowly loose their charge. They
must be recharged before they are used again.
œ If 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 batteries will
return to normal after they have been used and recharged two or three times.
œ The 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 the normal time required, 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.
œ During recharging, the battery charger and batteries will be warm. This is normal and does not
indicate a malfunction.
œ During 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.
SX114/EX, /E, /U (VPC-SX560EX, VPC-SX560E, VPC-SX560 GB) Wed. Nov., 15/2000
23 English