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Batteries
by Steve BallewIt is well known that an issue many paranormal investigators have on investigations is sufficient battery power. A widely publicized claim is that entities will use any available power source to help manifest themselves. While I am not here to discredit this claim, I will offer several other possible explanations as to why at times batteries seem to drain unexpectedly.
1: NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) Rechargeable Batteries
As soon as rechargeable batteries are topped off they begin to lose their charge. NiMH batteries can lose as much as 20-30% of their charge in one month or less. NiMH batteries also have a 66% efficiency. Many high drain devices like digital cameras have a set point built into their circuitry that indicates when a battery will not provide sufficient power, this point is not when the battery is completely exhausted but when the battery can’t provide a certain voltage. NiMH batteries only provide 1.2v rather than the 1.5 of standard alkaline batteries thus there is a shorter drop time for NiMH before a camera or other device will indicate that the battery is “dead”. These claims lead to batteries that have sit in a charger or backpack for even a week or two rather unreliable in instant and readily available power.
To avoid this problem before an investigation, make sure to top off all your batteries a day or two before hand. I have created a pre-investigation checklist that breaks down individual batteries into sets of four marked on each battery. This ensures that all the batteries of a set are charged equally and to avoid charging batteries with different levels of charge.
2: Lithium-Ion Batteries
I have read a claim that states that Lithium batteries are the ideal choice for paranormal investigators because the salt content in them keeps the spirit from drawing power from them. I have to disagree with this assumption because most camcorder batteries are lithium ion cells and these batteries are notorious for “loosing” a charge while the activity is “jumping”. I believe the real reason lithium batteries are a better choice is related to the chemistry contained in them. Lithium ion batteries (the rechargeable type) are 99% efficient and loose only about 5% of their stored energy in a month’s time. The non rechargeable lithium batteries are also very efficient and unlike NiMH have a 1.5 volt output thus they will last longer in cameras and other high drain devices.
3: Battery Chargers
Another reason for unexpected drain can be the battery charger itself. Not all battery chargers are created equal. Most chargers have circuitry built into them that shuts off the charging process when a certain back flow of energy is received from the batteries, the problem is this back flow level is not necessarily the max charge level for the battery itself. Most rechargeable batteries will come with a charger and it is usually advisable to only use that charger with those batteries because they have been matched to that specific battery. Use of other rechargeable batteries in that charger can lead to undercharged batteries. It is also advisable to never leave batteries in their charger for longer periods of time than the directions indicate, this will also lead to reduced capacity and quicker rundown time.
4: Storage of batteries
How batteries are stored will also effect their capacity. Storing both lithium and NiMH batteries at full charge capacity will often lead to diminished capacity due to chemical reactions going on in the batteries. It is always best to store batteries in partially charged state say 50% charge to prevent loss of capacity. Also batteries should be stored in a cool dry place to prevent discharge.
In summary while I am by no means discrediting the claim that entities will use battery power to manifest themselves, scientifically I am offering several reasons why it seems that batteries seem to go out more often during investigations.
References
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-19.htm
http://www.energizerbatteries.com/productdetail.asp?device=DIGCAM&prodcode=11692