| No Batteries No Photos |
| Tuesday, June 24, 2008 |
No Batteries No Photos
I am a strong advocate for cameras that use four AA batteries, and would really like to hear the camera had eight. I have a systematic ritual of charging the 24 AA rechargeable batteries I now carry, but there is another question.
Are they charged, how do I know?
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Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States of America
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Blog of Andy HoboTraveler.com --- Add a Hotel --- Backpack Design Survey
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Battery tester I purchased at Radio Shack in the Mall at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Thanks to Radio Shack and a 10-dollar bill, I now have a solution to a serious problem for photographers. I have charged batteries many times and when I placed them in the camera, I say oops, no charge, I try the next, and hope, sometime all are dead.
Whether they go dead by touching each other, or over time, or the charger is broke, there is no clear reason. I am planning to go off the grid up to my ears in trees, maybe called Jungle in Africa, I also want to go to the Amazon River, and find some isolated tribes. What I need is to KNOW, not hope my batteries for my camera are charged.
Now, I will know, I can charge up all 24 batteries for eight loads of my camera and I can take photos for roughly eight days, I am sure it will be only 5-6 because something else will go wrong. Thinking about buying another 12 or more batteries, they just weigh a lot and they will not allow through some airport, does not matter, too many batteries makes airport people nervous or greedy, I lost about 12 in the Delhi, India airport to an real jerk airport officer, and just another reason to not like India.
Many cameras have this lithium custom battery for the camera, when I see them, it makes me nervous, the only way to replace that battery is to pay 100 dollars and wait 7 days to receive it from the USA by FedEx and hope customs does not make my life difficult.
Battery management, truly not as simple as people imply or explain, then again if you really do not take many photos anything is easy.
No Batteries No Photos |
posted by Andy HoboTraveler.com @ 9:03 PM   |
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6 Comments: |
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You can always try something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41427
This is chinese junk of course, and it claims it will charge NiCd batteries, but does not say NiMh. Probably better to get a 12V version of one of these and use a smart battery charger that uses 12V input.
Of course, this assumes you will have view of the sun, and it is yet another thing to carry.
Personally, I would just bring a bunch more batteries. You can get cheap ones at:
http://www.all-battery.com
Along with cheap chargers.
Bob L
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I have friends who just returned from Australia- claim they took over 800 pictures on a single charge with a lithium battery - I usually get 300 or so - I much prefer the lithium to AA's - which do not keep their charge when not in use - the lithium does - very light, so is the charger and you can get a second battery for around 40.00 - I have a Sony Cyber Shot - curious as to what kind of camera you use - if you've mentioned it, i missed it
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It happened also to me. I was in the middle of the ecuadorian amazon, living with an indigenous community. I was so sad :)
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I personally think AA batteries are the worst camera batteries in the world. I find they go flat too quickly, even rechargable ones.
My camera takes a rechargable lithium-ion battery, and I bought a second one for about the same price as my AA battery charger. Lasts much longer. It is not universal, but I think better value. But I have few gadgets that use AA batteries apart from my torch.
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Andy,
I know lithium is not your mode for travel batteries but here's a blurb about lithium battery restrictions (Since your in the USA currently) from the US TSA website;
"Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage."
"Keep batteries and equipment with you, or in carry-on baggage - not in your checked baggage! In the cabin, flight crew can better monitor conditions, and have access to the batteries or device if a fire does occur."
More information is here...
Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices
Your post jogged my memory from news earlier in the year concerning this. Thought I'd pass it along.
Eric
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Weird, lithium is a problem, I can tell you the carry on is where most airlines say I cannot have them, not in the checked bags. This means by default there is no way to have lithium batteries in any quanity. I think they will always allow in the camera.
I have a solar charger now wtih me this time leaveing the USA, I have many items to allow me to charge up fast and go for about 10 days with out normal electricity from a room plug.
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You can always try something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41427
This is chinese junk of course, and it claims it will charge NiCd batteries, but does not say NiMh. Probably better to get a 12V version of one of these and use a smart battery charger that uses 12V input.
Of course, this assumes you will have view of the sun, and it is yet another thing to carry.
Personally, I would just bring a bunch more batteries. You can get cheap ones at:
http://www.all-battery.com
Along with cheap chargers.
Bob L