Charging Batteries?

[Gadd]

What is the proper way to get the most out of my batteries. To use them until they go dead or to put them on the charger before they die? Will one give me longer overall battery life, or does it make no difference?

 

[Kurt]

Li-ions like to be topped off and stay at max voltage. Ideally this means charging them just as they start to seem weak. That said, I get many months of running mine down to "dead" and charging them. They are not generally actually dead, just lower than the threshold to power the coil, about 2.7 V (I think). If you remember to put them on the charger before the LED flashes, fine, but I have not seen much of a need, and I have some batteries that have been in rotation for 18 months and are still charging and hitting great.