Soul Gems enchanting and recharging in need of help

[gargonaught]

Hello,

Finally getting round to playing Skyrim, loving it but I am in need of information on soul gems.

I did Google but I don't find this information anywhere,

Example:
1. If I enchant a sword with a petty soul gem can I only recharge the sword with petty?
1a. If I can recharge that petty with a large Gem will I loose the entire soul of that gem?

2. If I enchant a sword with a Grand Gem can I recharge that sword with smaller gems or do I need a Grand in order to recharge?

All help greatly appreciated.

[Ihateeverybody]

You can only recharge up to the maximum charges on the weapon. The max charges depend on the magnitude of effect you are enchanting. This is also effected by skill level, perks and other (Potions that affect enchanting by percents).

So its not something that is easily quantifiable or explained.

Simple answer is you can use any soulgem to recharge but you may be wasting higher level soul gems if they exceed what is needed. The weapon will never take more than its limit (In normal Unmodded gameplay).

Oh and to further complicate things, Skills that effect the enchantment effect may also effect how many charges are used (Say destruction may effect on a firebolt staff).

Hopefully I have not confused you further, that is not my intention.

[Rez Elwin]

1. You can use any gem to recharge, not just petty.
1a, You can not overcharge and any excess energy is lost. Aside from a couple exceptions, when a soul gem is used it is destroyed.
2. Same the first you can use any soul gem to recharge.

[gargonaught]

Thanks very much folks, that makes it all clearer.

[Immortalis]

Also, during the enchanting process, using a bigger gem will generally yield more potent enchantments on your items (generally because it’s the size of the soul and not the gem’s that matter: using a grand gem with a petty soul would be less effective than a lesser gem with a lesser soul).

[Perplex]

The size of the soulgem and the soul inside dictates how powerfull the enchant you create is (when crafting it).

EDIT: There are only 2 enchants in the game that dont care what gem you use as the efect will always be the same and those are Waterbreathing and Muffle.