Rechargeable voltage

[degarb]

I am concerned with camera's being optimized for use with alkaline batteries (like the energizer head lamp and some controller based lights that work for all of a few minutes on rechargeable nimh).

I refuse to buy non rechargeables, so is there a 1.5 volt rechargeable I can buy locally? I need to know before I put water in this camera and return it to store to eat the cost of a crappy design of which no one should be subject.

 

[smopoim86]

If you compare the discharge curve of alkaline and nimh the voltage is not much different over entire discharge (average).

 

[degarb]

I am aware of this, but some flashlights and cameras put too large resisters on the power supply then cut off operation once the voltage drops a tiny amount, leaving a perfectly charged nimh in compartment while shutting down.

I had this issue with many controller 2 aa lights, which I took immediately back to store. And now with a samsung and vivitar 3 aAA camera, where brand new lsd hot off charger is showing one bar and getting 3 pics before shut off. Works fine on alkalines.

 

[Bones]

The only rechargeable that I'm aware of that might be suitable is the relatively new Nickel Zinc (NiZN) cell. But, at 1.6 volts, it might also harm your camera:

http://www.greenbatteries.com ... nickel-zinc-aa

http://www.candlepowerforums.com ... post2878153

Even if they do work, the NiZN cells are not near as common as NiMH cells, nor are they priced as competitively.

I think your best bet is to return this camera, and then find another that will perform well with NiMH cells. It might save you some time to take a set of cells with you so you can give them a try before you buy. In fact, it might be even better to take a set that are partially depleted to better assess whether the camera's optimized for NiMH cells.

 

[Mr Happy]

You could try these, but maybe the problem is with your batteries rather than your electronic devices? Other people do not generally report such severe problems as you describe. Here's a test: draw 1 amp from an AA alkaline cell and see what voltage you measure. Bet you it's way less than 1.5 V.

 

[Turak]

I see this problem most often with digital cameras that are only using 2 AA cells in a series circuit arrangement. Thereby providing either 3V (alkaline cells) or 2.4V (NiMH cells) to the camera.

The fault lies in the camera design. Many designers will set the low voltage/cutoff circuits too high.

Now, while it is true that a NiMH cell tends to actually provide a higher overall voltage over its full discharge cycle when compared to an alkaline....

It still becomes a problem for NiMH cells when you start stacking multiple cells in series circuit arrangements and then start setting low-voltage cutoff points a bit too high.

hehe solution.....go with Canon cameras and stick to 4 AA cell cameras or go with proprietary cells (arg expensive).

 

[KiwiMark]

I don't get it - it what way, shape or form are AA alkaline cells able to provide 1.5V under load at say - half charge? Surely any camera that has a problem with AA NiMH cells will also cut off with half flat alkaline cells? Talk about complete crap - who would want a camera that not only wont run on rechargeable cells, but will also need new alkaline cells when the ones you put in are only half used up?

I guess I'll put Samsung & Vivitar cameras on the list of things that I will never buy. Any others to add to this list?


BTW
My flatmate's Panasonic runs fine from NiMH cells.

 

[Glasstream15]

I have NEVER had a problem with rechargeable AAs in 2 and 4 cell Canon and Olympus cameras. They seem to work very well on any NiMHs I've tried.

Buy good cameras and good batteries and don't have problems. BTW, my first Oly digital is now 8 years old, uses 2 AA and still works perfectly.

 

[Bones]

I don't get it - it what way, shape or form are AA alkaline cells able to provide 1.5V under load at say - half charge? Surely any camera that has a problem with AA NiMH cells will also cut off with half flat alkaline cells? Talk about complete crap - who would want a camera that not only wont run on rechargeable cells, but will also need new alkaline cells when the ones you put in are only half used up?
....

You would almost think the camera manufacturers own the cell factories wouldn't you. Imagine all the alkaline cells that have been disposed of with at least half there capacity remaining thanks to these cameras.

I do wonder though, whether it's due to the voltage cut-off being set too high through poor configuration, or whether it's due to a poorly designed camera that can't operate on less voltage. I strongly suspect it's the latter.

 

[KiwiMark]

poorly designed camera

I don't buy anything photography related without reading up on it first, then placing my vote on the product I like best. My vote is placed in a financial and binary manner - the best gets a vote in the form of my money and all the rest get nothing. (Binary = 1 or 0 = my money for product or zero).

Encouraging the production of poorly designed product by giving the manufacturer money is a bad idea.

 

[Eugene]

We have a Nikon and two Canons which all work fine on AA's. The big canon (s3is) uses 4 and will run 500 or so shots between charges, thee small canon I use on a bike so I have the power off time set to remain on as long as possible, and the IS on continuous and it will run 100-200 shots between charges of its pair of AA's. So I would think that maybe its some brands are poorly designed.

 

[45/70]

.......So I would think that maybe its some brands are poorly designed.

Or just not designed for rechargeables. The alkaline battery industry has allies in more than just the flashlight industry (eg. M@g).

A few years ago I had a "non-brand" name digital camera that used 2 AA's. It would work on NiMH, but not for very long. Since then I have had a Fuji and two high end Olympi that all used 4 AA. All have run NiMH batteries down to 1.15-1.20 Volts/cell rested, before shutting down. Just about ideal. I do notice that the "warning period" is much shorter than with lithium's, or I suppose alkaline's (I have never used them though). I suppose this is due to the flatter discharge curve of NiMH's.

Dave