Quick answer
Charge the LP-E17 with a Canon charger designed for it, top it up before long shoots rather than running it flat every time, and store it partly charged in a cool, dry place. If you shoot with an EOS R8, R10, R50 or R50 V, keep at least one spare so you are never swapping mid-session.
EOS R8
Which cameras take the LP-E17?
Canon lists the LP-E17 as compatible with the EOS R8, EOS R10, EOS R50 and EOS R50 V. If your body is not on that list, the pack will not seat or power it, so check the model number printed on the camera before buying a spare. Because these are all smaller mirrorless bodies, the battery is deliberately compact, which is why carrying a second pack is more practical than trying to stretch one cell through a full day.
How should I charge it day to day?
Use a charger made for the LP-E17 rather than a generic brick, and charge at room temperature. You do not need to drain the pack completely before recharging; partial top-ups between shoots are fine and often more convenient. If the pack feels hot after a long burst of video, let it cool before putting it back on the charger.
What storage habits protect the battery?
For storage longer than a few weeks, leave the pack partly charged rather than full or empty, and keep it away from heat, direct sun and damp cupboards. A dry cabinet or a sealed box with a desiccant pack works well in humid conditions. Before a shoot, top it up so you start with a known charge level instead of guessing.
What shortens an LP-E17's working life?
Frequent deep discharges, charging a hot pack straight off a long recording session, and leaving it in a hot car are the habits that age a battery fastest. Extreme cold also cuts runtime temporarily, though the capacity usually returns once the pack warms up. None of these are instant failures, but they add up over months of use.
When should I replace it?
Replace the pack when it no longer holds a useful charge for a normal session, when it swells or the casing feels uneven, or when the camera reports a communication error. A swollen pack should be retired immediately and not charged again. Buying a second Canon pack gives you a reference point: if the older cell lasts noticeably less than the newer one under the same conditions, it is time to swap it out.
LP-E17 care checklist
Charge level before storage
Leave the pack partly charged for long storage instead of full or completely empty. Top it up the night before a shoot.
Heat exposure
Avoid charging a hot pack and never leave it in a hot car or direct sun. Let it cool to room temperature first.
Spare pack strategy
Carry a second LP-E17 for full-day shoots rather than relying on one cell. Rotate packs so wear is spread evenly.
Replacement signals
Retire the pack if it swells, reports a communication error, or holds far less charge than a newer one. Stop using a swollen pack immediately.
Product facts
- LP-E17 Battery Pack: Canon-branded LP-E17 Battery Pack listed as compatible with the EOS R8, EOS R10, EOS R50 and EOS R50 V. Confirms fit before you buy a spare, and means one pack type covers several current EOS bodies.
