The SD880 uses a Canon CB-2LW charger and a rechargeable NB-4L battery

The Canon PowerShot SD880 IS comes with a NB-4L lithium-ion battery and a CB-2LW charger. The charger is a small wall unit with two metal contacts on top where the battery slides in. You plug the charger into any standard outlet, insert the battery with the metal contacts facing down, and wait until the green light stops blinking and stays solid — that takes roughly two to three hours for a full charge from empty.

The battery itself is small enough to fit in your palm. It has two metal contact points on one side. These contacts must align with the two metal pins inside the charger. If the battery doesn't slide in smoothly, you've likely got the orientation wrong — flip it 180 degrees and try again.

Key Takeaways

  • The NB-4L battery slides into the CB-2LW charger with metal contacts facing down until it clicks into place.
  • A full charge from empty takes two to three hours, and the green indicator light stays solid when charging is complete.
  • You can charge the battery inside the camera using a USB cable if you have a CB-USB charger, though this is slower than the wall charger.
  • Lithium-ion batteries perform best when you avoid letting them drain completely and don't leave them sitting unused for months at a time.

Step-by-step charging with the wall charger

Remove the battery from the camera by opening the battery compartment door on the bottom of the camera. Press the small tab inside the compartment and the battery will pop out slightly — pull it the rest of the way out by hand.

Plug the CB-2LW charger into a wall outlet. You'll see a small green light on the charger. Insert the NB-4L battery into the top of the charger with the metal contact side facing down. The battery should slide in smoothly and click into place. If it doesn't click, remove it and flip it around.

The green light will blink while the battery charges. Once the light stops blinking and stays solid green, the battery is fully charged. Unplug the charger and remove the battery by sliding it out of the top.

Charging the battery inside the camera with USB

If you have a CB-USB charger cable (sold separately), you can charge the NB-4L battery while it sits in the camera. This method is slower than using the wall charger — it typically takes four to five hours — but it's useful if you're traveling or don't have access to a wall outlet.

Insert the battery into the camera's battery compartment and close the door. Connect the USB cable to the camera's USB port (usually on the side or back, under a rubber cover). Connect the other end to a USB power adapter plugged into a wall outlet, or to a computer's USB port. The camera will show a charging indicator on its screen or with a light on the camera body.

Leave the camera powered off while charging via USB. The battery will charge more slowly if the camera is on, and you risk draining the battery faster than it charges.

Signs the battery needs replacement

The NB-4L battery typically holds a charge for 200 to 300 full charge cycles before its capacity begins to noticeably decline. After two to three years of regular use, you may notice the battery drains faster than it used to, or the camera powers off even though the battery indicator showed charge remaining.

If the charger's green light never stops blinking, or if the light doesn't turn on at all when you insert a fully charged battery, the battery itself may be damaged or the charger may have failed. Try a different battery in the charger if you have one available. If a different battery charges normally, your original battery needs replacement. If no battery charges, the charger itself is likely faulty.

Replacement NB-4L batteries are inexpensive and widely available from camera retailers and online sellers. Make sure any replacement is labeled as compatible with the SD880 IS, as Canon made several similar-looking batteries for different camera models.

How to extend battery life between charges

Turn off the camera when you're not using it rather than leaving it in standby mode. The SD880 IS draws power even when powered off if you leave the battery in, though the drain is minimal. Remove the battery if you won't be using the camera for more than a week.

Avoid using the camera's flash repeatedly in quick succession, as flash consumes far more power than taking regular photos. If you're shooting in low light and don't need the flash, turn it off in the camera's menu. Similarly, using the camera's zoom and autofocus drains the battery faster than keeping the lens at a fixed focal length.

Keep the battery away from extreme heat or cold. Lithium-ion batteries perform poorly in freezing temperatures and can be permanently damaged by prolonged exposure to heat above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're shooting outdoors in winter, keep the camera in an inside pocket close to your body to keep the battery warm.

Storing the battery long-term

If you're putting the camera away for several months or longer, remove the battery and store it separately. A battery left in the camera will slowly discharge even when the camera is off, and a completely dead battery can sometimes fail to charge again.

Store the battery in a cool, dry place — room temperature is ideal. A partially charged battery (around 50 percent) stores better than a fully charged one. If you're storing the battery for six months or longer, charge it to about half capacity every few months to keep it healthy.

Keep the battery away from metal objects that could short the contacts, and don't store it in a sealed plastic bag where moisture could accumulate. A small plastic case or the original battery case works well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different brand charger with the NB-4L battery?

Third-party chargers designed for the NB-4L do exist and generally work, but Canon's CB-2LW is the safest choice. Off-brand chargers sometimes charge more slowly or inconsistently. If you buy a third-party charger, check the reviews to confirm it's designed specifically for the NB-4L and the SD880 IS.

What does it mean if the charger light blinks red instead of green?

A red blinking light usually means the charger has detected a problem — either the battery is inserted incorrectly, the battery is damaged, or the charger itself is faulty. Remove the battery, wait 30 seconds, and reinsert it with the contacts facing down. If the light stays red, try a different battery if you have one. If all batteries show red, the charger needs replacement.

Is it safe to leave the battery charging overnight?

Yes. The CB-2LW charger stops charging once the battery is full and won't overcharge it. Leaving the battery in the charger overnight after it's fully charged won't damage the battery or charger. However, unplugging the charger when charging is complete saves a small amount of electricity.

Can I charge the battery in a different Canon camera?

Only if that camera also uses the NB-4L battery and came with a compatible charger. The NB-4L was used in several Canon PowerShot models, but not all. Check your other camera's manual to confirm it uses the NB-4L before attempting to charge the SD880's battery in it.

How do I know when the battery is fully charged?

The green light on the CB-2LW charger stops blinking and stays solid green when the battery reaches full charge. This typically takes two to three hours from a completely empty battery. Once the light is solid, the battery is ready to use.