Any tips/tricks for keeping track of which batteries are charged and which are used?

[tirediron]

I was shooting a dance event last night and because of the room layout and the fact that the videographer and I were pretty much in each other's pockets, I left my bag, and just filled some pockets with spare memory cards & batteries. As I was swapping flash batteries at intermission, it became very obvious that I needed some way to keep track of which were used and which still charged. I use rechargable AA batteries in clear, plastic "four-pack" holders...

 

[Light Guru]

Put numbers on your batteries.

 

[JAC526]

labeled tupperware containers?

Or ziploc bags?

 

[SCraig]

Put a piece of plastic tape over the contacts (I use strips of red duct tape). When you use the battery rip the tape off. Any batteries that have tape are hot, those that don't are used. Same trick for memory cards.

Another trick is hot ones in one pocket, used ones in another.

 

[Light Guru]

Put a piece of plastic tape over the contacts (I use strips of red duct tape). When you use the battery rip the tape off. Any batteries that have tape are hot, those that don't are used. Same trick for memory cards.

Another trick is hot ones in one pocket, used ones in another.

Seems like unneeded work.

With numbered batteries you just start with number one and when you go through that you just put in number two. You always know what number is next by simply looking at the number on the battery you just removed.

 

[sandraadamson]

I have a Tamarac pro 12 bag that I take to weddings along with my pelican case. The Tamarac bag has tons of pockets thus why I love it I have a pocket for charged batteries and one for used and I also use the 4 Pak clear battery cases. Once used I simply drop the used in the used pocket of my bag. So they never get mixed up with my new charged batteries. The bag is quite large but not too large to take with me on my shoulder to all locations for my weddings. It also hold two camera setups and 5 lenses it's great! I used to use a waist belt where I had one case attached for new batteries and another for used batteries but I found it too heavy for a 14 hour wedding weighing me down so I got the Tamarac bag and I've not looked back.

www.sandraadamson.com www.sandraadamson.blogspot.com

 

[cgipson1]

I use these! If the batteries are in + side down.. they are charged...

If they are in + side up... they are used and need charging!

Amazon.com: PowerPax SlimLine 4 AA Battery Caddy Yellow: Electronics

 

[SCraig]

Seems like unneeded work.

With numbered batteries you just start with number one and when you go through that you just put in number two. You always know what number is next by simply looking at the number on the battery you just removed.

And if it's dark and you can't read the numbers, as when shooting a dance? Been there, done that. Won't happen again.

 

[cgipson1]

Seems like unneeded work.

With numbered batteries you just start with number one and when you go through that you just put in number two. You always know what number is next by simply looking at the number on the battery you just removed.

And if it's dark and you can't read the numbers, as when shooting a dance? Been there, done that. Won't happen again.

yep... my solution works even in the dark.. by feel!

 

[Overread]

Consider the location as well. For example put used batteries in a specific compartment on your bag, whilst keeping unused ones in a different section - making it so that the unused battery section is always the easiest part to access. If you always keep them in one place then you always know that when you grab batteries from that spot they will be usable.

 

[Tony S]

My charged batteries are in the plastic cases in one particular pocket of the small bag I carry with one end of the case colored with a marker, when they are used they get swapped out with a fresh set and the depleted ones go in a separate pocket for only those batteries with the positive end under the colored end of the case. This way when I look at the case I can see which end of the battery is visible to double checkthe charge condition of the batteries in the case. I don't number or color code the batteries because when I run them through the conditioner once every couple of months I match up batteries of like charge together in new sets.

 

[tirediron]

I use these! If the batteries are in + side down.. they are charged...

If they are in + side up... they are used and need charging!

Amazon.com: PowerPax SlimLine 4 AA Battery Caddy Yellow: Electronics

F***ing brilliant! That's exactly what & how I needed! Order for fifteen submitted to eBay! (Amazon.ca didn't carry them).

 

[tirediron]

Consider the location as well. For example put used batteries in a specific compartment on your bag, whilst keeping unused ones in a different section - making it so that the unused battery section is always the easiest part to access. If you always keep them in one place then you always know that when you grab batteries from that spot they will be usable.

Yeah, normally that works just fine, but this was a case where I had to leave the bags off to the side, and all I had were my pockets (which were already full of cards, etc).

 

[tirediron]

Put numbers on your batteries.

Dude, I can't count to 'eleven' with my pants up... when I dealing with four sets of batteries (20 cells)...

 

[cgipson1]

I use these! If the batteries are in + side down.. they are charged...

If they are in + side up... they are used and need charging!

Amazon.com: PowerPax SlimLine 4 AA Battery Caddy Yellow: Electronics

F***ing brilliant! That's exactly what & how I needed! Order for fifteen submitted to eBay! (Amazon.ca didn't carry them).

Glad you like them! I have used them for years... they are great for staying organized.