If you just got an Olympus WS-853 voice recorder, here’s a quick guide to how to charge it correctly. Or, if you have been using the recorder for a while but have some questions about the battery, we will also cover some important things about the battery and charging process of the Olympus WS-853 digital, so you don’t have to find a manual.
How to Charge Olympus WS-853 Digital Recorder
Charge the battery from your PC/laptop
Step 1. Turn on your PC
Step 2. There’s a lever on the back, slide it up, and the USB connector will pop out
Step 3. Make sure the WS-853 recorder is not working, connect it to your PC’s USB port
Step 4. Press the OK button on your recorder, and your recorder screen will show it’s charging.
Charge the battery with a USB charger
Step 1. Connect your recorder to a USB wall charger/phone charger
Step 2. Plug the charge into the outlet
Charge the battery with a power bank
Step 1. Turn on your portable power bank
Step 2. Plug the WS-853 recorder into the charging port of the power bank
Can I use a USB cable to charge the Olympus WS-853?
Yes, but not a standard USB cable. A USB extension cable compatible with the WS-853 is required, and you can buy the KP-19 cable on getolympus.com here.
How long does it take for Olympus WS-853 to charge?
It takes about 3 hours to fully charge the battery.
What battery should I use?
The Olympus WS-853 is powered by two AAA batteries. It’s recommended to use
Ni-MH/nickel-metal hydride rechargeable AAA batteries, or you can directly buy the official Olympus BR404 AAA batteries.
You can also use alkaline battery, or lithium battery to power the WS-853 recorder, but never attempt to charge them. According to Olympus, recharging those dry cell batteries with the WS-853 may lead to fluid leakage or overheating.
However, Alkaline dry cell battery provides a longer recording time compared to Ni-MH rechargeable battery. Here’s the chart of the differences in battery life. As you can see, the Alkaline dry cell battery works approximately 30% – 40% longer than the Ni-MH rechargeable battery.
