Editing Memory effect (section)

===Temporary effects===

====<span id="VoltageDepression"></span>Voltage depression due to long-term over-charging====
A common process often ascribed to memory effect is voltage depression. In this case, the output voltage of the battery drops more quickly than normal as it is used, even though the total capacity remains almost the same. In modern electronic equipment that monitors the voltage to indicate battery charge, the battery appears to be draining very quickly. To the user, it appears the battery is not holding its full charge, which seems similar to memory effect. This is a common problem with high-load devices such as [[digital camera]]s and cell phones.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Voltage depression is caused by repeated over-charging of a battery, which causes the formation of small crystals of [[electrolyte]] on the plates.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} These can clog the plates, increasing resistance and lowering the voltage of some individual cells in the battery. This causes the battery as a whole to seem to discharge rapidly as those individual cells discharge quickly and the voltage of the battery as a whole suddenly falls.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} This effect is very common,{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} as consumer [[Trickle charging|trickle chargers]] typically overcharge. [[Nickel–metal hydride]] batteries, for example, are known to experience this form of capacity loss{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} often mistakenly attributed to memory effect.<ref name="Duracell"/>

=====Repair=====
The effect can be overcome by subjecting each cell of the battery to one or more deep charge/discharge cycles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~dmh/ptialcd/battery/index.htm|title=Batteries as sources of electrical power|website=www2.eng.cam.ac.uk}}</ref> This must be done to the individual cells, not a multi-cell battery; in a battery, some cells may discharge before others, resulting in those cells being subjected to a reverse charging current by the remaining cells, potentially leading to irreversible damage.

====High temperatures====
High temperatures can also reduce the charged voltage and the charge accepted by the cells.<ref name=GEnote />

====Other causes====
* Operation below 32&nbsp;°F (0&nbsp;°C)
* High discharge rates (above 5C) in a battery not specifically designed for such use
* Inadequate charging time
* Defective charger<ref name=GEnote />