Problem associated with nicad batteries, caused by repeatedly recharging the battery before it is discharged to its optimum level. It manifests itself by batteries lasting for a shorter and shorter time between recharges. Avoided by only recharging batteries once they will no longer power the camcorder. Some battery chargers have a built-in discharger (or refresh facility) to avoid this problem. Dischargers can also be bought as accessories. Slow, overnight chargers can also be bought to help eliminate the problem.

An effect caused by continuall recharging a battery before it is fully discharged. As a result it only remembers the amount of capacity charged and the full capacity of the battery is not reached.

The shortening of a battery's life by recharging it before it is fully discharged. This is a big problem with *some* Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries, less so with Nickle Metal Hydrides (NiMH) and not a problem (allegedly) with Lithium Ion (Li-ion] batteries. Everything you want to know about batteries but where afraid to ask can be found here.

If a battery is repeatedly only partially discharged before recharging, the battery will “forget” that it can further discharge. The best way to prevent this situation is to fully charge and discharge your battery on a regular basis.

Loss of power storing capability in NiCad (video camera) batteries which occurs when batteries are habitually discharged only partially before recharging. To avoid the memory effect, always fully discharge batteries before recharging.

A phenomenon in which a cell, operated in successive cycles to less than full, depth of discharge, temporarily loses the remainder of its capacity at normal voltage levels (usually applies only to Ni-Cd cells). Note, memory effect can be will be induced in NiCd cells even if the level of discharge is not the same during each cycle. Memory effect is reversable.

The life of a battery may be gradually shortened if it is recharged before it is completely discharged. Memory effect most commonly occurs with Nickel Cadmium batteries, is less of a problem with Nickel Hydride batteries and even less with Lithium Ion batteries. Back to the top.

A phenomenon associated with some rechargeable batteries that sometimes occurs when the battery is recharged without first being fully discharged. Memory effect shortens battery life and reduces run-time between charges.

If nickel-cadmium batteries are recharged before they have been fully discharged, cadmium crystals can form at their negative electrode. This results in an unwanted second discharge stage. The battery stores this stage as a discharge stage for the next cycle in its memory, even though capacity is still available 'below this'. During the next discharge process, the battery only remembers this reduced capacity. Any further incomplete discharge cycles which follow will aggravate the situation still further and the performance of the battery will continue to fall. Nickel-cadmium cells should therefore be discharged fully at occasional intervals. This prevents the 'memory effect' from occurring and prolongs the service life of the cell or battery. This effect does not occur with nickel-metal-hydride batteries. Consequently, these batteries can be discharged and recharged without problem.

A property of a battery that causes it to lose its capacity for full recharging if it is repeatedly recharged before it is completely discharged. Memory effect most commonly occurs with nickel-cadmium batteries. The term derives from the fact that the battery appears to have a memory for the amount of charging it can sustain.

The property of nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries that causes them to lose their capacity for full recharging if they are discharged repeatedly the same amount and then recharged without overcharge before they have fully drained. The term derives from the fact that the battery appears to have a memory for the amount of charging it can sustain. The effect was first noticed in aerospace applications and has been widely misused with regard to the batteries used in portable computer devices. The memory effect is very rare in computer NiCad batteries, especially modern ones.

A phenomenon in which a cell/battery operated in successive cycles to the same, but less than full, depth of discharge temporarily loses the rest of its capacity.

Results when NiCad batteries are not fully charged or drained before recharging, causing the batteries to lose their charging potential. More information pertaining to batteries can be found here.

Nicad batteries should have all their capacity used or discharged before recharging, in order to maximize battery life. Lithium-ion batteries are free from this memory effect and can just be topped up as required.

See Nicads.

A limitation of Ni-Cad (Nickel-Cadmium) rechargeable batteries that causes a reduction in battery life if you recharge your phone before it is completely discharged, or use the phone before it is completely recharged. The battery develops a ?memory? of the length of time between chargings, and shorter charging periods can reduce the call and standby time you get from a single battery charge.

'Memory effect' is experienced primarily by NiCAD batteries and it occurs when a battery is not fully discharged and/or fully recharged. It will 'think' its available power usage is less and less and will eventually become unusable.