FAQ
Camera model/battery charger cross reference
The batteries need to be fully inserted into the plates.
Correct Incorrect
Battery Chargers Plates replacements.
If your new camera uses different batteries than your old camera, you
can send your battery charger in for plates replacement. The switch
over usually takes 2-3 work days. Please
follow the link to prepay.
Note: Sony
EX1/EX3 batteries are 14.4V, for this reason, none of our 7.2V chargers
can be retrofitted to charge Sony BP-U60/U30 batteries.
Q. Are all batteries charged at the same time?
A. Yes
Q. Is it safe to leave a battery on the charger?
A. The charger terminates the charge process once the battery is fully charged. After that the battery can remain on the charger indefinitely.
Q. I placed a battery on the charger, the charger doesn't acknowledge it? What's wrong?A. If the battery is fully charged, the charger
will attempt to charge it for up to 1 minute, after that time the charger
will report "Channel #XX Ready"(TC400) and illuminate the Green
LED.
A. The battery is not fully inserted. Remove, and firmly insert all the
way.
Q. I have several different batteries - Panasonic HVX200 and Sony PD170 style. Can I charge multiple types of batteries at the same time?
A. Yes, make sure to order a custom configuration version of the charger so that it will come equipped with the correct matching plates.
Q. Can I use Solar Power to charge batteries?
A. While selecting a panel, make sure it is rated at ~ 60W or more (http://www.batterystuff.com/solar-chargers/P362watt.html for the TC400 family, TC40 requires ~40W, and TC200 requires about 25W.
Please note that since panel voltage is not regulated there is a possibility
of damaging the charger.
We recommend connecting a regulator
between the panel and the charger.
Q. Can I charge Sony EX1/EX3 style batteries (BP-U60 or similar) using 12V car power?
A. All our chargers for BP-U60 batteries require 18V-20V DC power. It is supplied by the 19V AC adapter that comes with a charger. For the 12V DC power source (car power) we suggest ordering an optional 12V/19V step up voltage power adapter while ordering a charger. This DC adapter is to be used when you need to charge the batteries in the car.
Batteries
Q. How do I relate amp-hour rating, say 6,000 mAh, to battery
capacity in Wh in the case of a Panasonic DVX100 battery?
A.
Multiply the Ah number by the battery voltage (7.2V nominal for the Panasonic
DVX100 camera).
In this example 6 * 7.2 = 43.2 Wh
Q. How much run time can I expect to get from a battery?
A. Run time is calculated by dividing the Wh rating of
a battery by a camera's power consumption. In the case of a DVX100, its
power consumption is about 8W. Dividing 43.2 Wh by 8W results in about
5.5h calculated run time. Manufacturing variations and aging may result
in slightly different actual results. Your mileage may vary.
Instant run time calculator
(just enter mAh or Ah battery capacity and camera power drain numbers)
Instant run time calculator
(just enter WH battery capacity and camera power drain in W)
Q. Do I need to discharge my Li-Ion battery before charging? A. Li-Ion chemistry does not benefit from discharging. Doing so does not make it last longer, and deep discharge will shorten Li-Ion battery life cycle.
Deep discharge vs. shallow discharge
Discharge at different current rates
Interpreting "C" : While discharging at 1C it takes a battery 1 hour to fully discharge; discharging at 1/2C takes 2 hours; discharging at 2C takes 1/2 hour.
Q. My camera requires 7.2V DC power, but the battery I want to use is 7.4V. Will it work? Is it OK to use a 7.4V Li-ion battery to replace a 7.2V battery?
A. All Li-Ion DV batteries measure up to 8.4V for the fully charged, down to about 6V discharged. This is true for any brand, make, model. It has something to do with how the Li-Ion chemistry works. All modern smaller size cameras are designed to operate in this range (6V-8.4V). This is true no matter what the label says (7V, or 7.2V, or 7.4V). In other words, labeling for the camera voltage is just that - labeling. Actual voltage depends on the battery state of charge.This is also true for the larger cameras like Sony EX1/EX3, and any other models using Anton Bauer or V style batteries. The batteries are usually called 14.4V, the camera power specification often calls for either 12V or 14.4V. In any case all larger Li-Ion batteries operate in 12V-16.4V range (a freshly charged battery is 16.4V, discharging down to ~12V).
Q. Do Li-Ion batteries have "memory"?
A. Li-Ion chemistry is inherently memory free
Q. What is "battery memory"
A. This effect was first discovered in the early days of Ni-Cad chemistry.
Since that time the "memory effect" has sometimes been misunderstood
and exaggerated. Please refer to this
article
Q. My battery has started to expand, specifically the plastic case is expanding on the top and the bottom, can I still use it?
A. We recommend discontinuing the use of this battery as these are signs of imminent failure.
Q. My battery does not last more than a few minutes. Can this be fixed?
A. Li-Ion batteries can not be rejuvenated by charging/discharging
them, or using any other "tricks." Expect 2-3 years of service
before run time deteriorates.
