I had a couple of these (Li-ion) that i tossed on a shelf for about 2 years and forgot about. When i came across them i put them on the charger just for kicks. They seem to give about a 70% charge now and are useful for shorter taping sessions.
True, that doesn't help you right now, but if you've got a little extra storage space you might want to hold on to them for future use.
They are NP-F960s for vx2000/pd170/z1u/etc. A friend of mine that works with some government video company gave me about 10 of these batteries because the company was about to trash them...because they got new and better toys...(stupid people...but from now on he's giving me all their "trash") ...anyway...9 out of 10 work great...the 10th one won't hold a charge...so I was just trying to figure out what to do with it.
NiCad batteries can develop "whiskers" of crystalline substance as they discharge and age. These will actually short out the battery. The symptom is a battery with zero voltage (usually there is some residual voltage in a discharged battery). These can be revived by using a jolt of energy from a capacitor (or you can give them 2-3 quick "zaps" for two seconds each with an auto battery charger. I actually built a NiCad rejuvenator that uses a high voltage strobe light unit to zap the battery. Works every time. However, you have to keep the battery on trickle charge from that point on when not in use and make sure not to let it discharge all the way.
NiMh and Li-Ion chemistry is different and zapping won't help. Also, deep discharging of Li-Ion -- something that was sometimes recommended to rejuvenate NiCads -- is a bad thing and will harm the battery. Best bet is to try more than one charger, if you have more than one.
So . . you've got 9 out of 10 working. I therefore presume you have a charger "working" them - good. They are Li-Ion batteries, just read the SONY stuff, so are are about $XX bux in front! Dispatch the "dud" with care and attention to the Planet. Move on .. you got a result with 9! If a Li-Ion is phut, then I think you are flogging a dead quadruped . .
I've been able to "reset" a LiIon battery memory by discharging it through an incandescent light. I put a 12-Volt automotive taillight across the 7.2V battery leads and let the bulb run the battery down slowly. Don't let it discharge until the bulb is dark or you risk a cell reversal.
Well, Grazie - it was in an article in "Nuts and Volts" magazine describing the construction of a Li Ion battery charger with a "recondition" circuit. I've only needed to try it once, and it worked for me.