Are “InfoLithium” batteries really memory-free?
[03/10/01] Sony states in their camcorder manuals that their “infolithium” lithium-ion type batteries do not suffer from the “memory” effect familiar to users of NiCd batteries. That is, you can feel free to charge them regardless of their current charge state, from empty to full, and you do not need to charge them fully before using. My experience is that the indicated battery life when full will drop about 5% from the initial value, if you make repeated shallow charges, but it recovers fully if you do a deep discharge-charge cycle. In my experience the lithium batteries are worry-free, IF you use them regularly. However, I have found if you fully charge an infolithium battery and store it for several months, it will loose significant capacity. This is apparently due to a passivation layer effect which is reversable, by discharging the battery at the normal use rate: see this article. [03/12/02] Several people have reported that they have “killed” their Sony infolithium batteries by l
