Rechargeable Batteries for Flash

<p>I think I read somewhere I should pick up some Ni-cadmium batteries for recharging to go with a flash? Do local stores (such as a walmart etc) usually carry these? If so, what brand to get?</p>

<p>Any suggestions welcome, thanks!</p>

 

<p>Actually after just a quick search I think I already found my own answer. Most people are recommending the Eneloop batteries, can these be picked up locally in the US?</p>

<p>NiMH - nickel metal hydride - batteries are arguably the best for most photographic equipment, with Eneloops being recommended as the best of that type. But I've used various generic NiMH types heavily for up to five years before they were exhausted, so if that's all you can find in your area those should do the job. Eneloops should be readily available in most US cities and anywhere in the US by web/mail order.</p>

<p>Cool thanks Lex, I will probably just stop by a local store and find some NiMH rechargeables.</p>

 

<p>Some folk get all passionate about their batteries and their chargers, I don’t, but I do have few rules you might like to consider:<br /><br /><strong><em>Power rating:</em></strong><br />NiMH batteries are available in various mAh ratings, (how much power the battery will hold: milliampere-hour). I get the best performance with the higher rated batteries.<br />I currently use sets of 2650mAh, because that power rating is readily available in Supermarkets here.</p>

<p><strong><em>Brand name?</em></strong></p>

<p>I haven't been fussy with brand name (not that I can easily buy the brand mentioned), nor am I fussy with a very expensive charger, opting instead to have lots of chargers, both mains plug-in and car cigarette lighter plug-in.</p>

<p>Like Lex I have used Generic Brand NiMH for years before they died. My logic is I cannot afford for any set of batteries to die and not have another set ready to go - so I invest in a set, a back up set and the backup for the backup and then the other back up set and a couple of other back up sets - and rotate the use and the charging.</p>

<p><strong><em>Chargers – expensive or not?</em></strong></p>

<p>My logic might be wrong but I think for what I would pay for the whizz-bang charger I would never end up saving in battery life - and anyway most of the chargers I have "bought " have been "free" with a four pack of batteries -because I buy a few when they are on discount.</p>

<p>If one is really passionate about <em>battery recharging etiquette</em> a “discharge” circuit can easily be made for about $2 parts - I have never bothered – I do acknowledge that the real whizz-bang chargers actually assess condition and charge each AA cell individually, rather than just banging in a set charge to all four – but again I never bothered.</p>

<p><strong><em>Have a routine of sets:</em></strong></p>

<p>I always buy batteries in sets of four and keep them in those sets - I label them.</p>

<p>I don't mix the sets -when a SET appears to have died it is usually only one or two batteries of the four which are cactus - the ones which will still hold a charge, I re label and we use them for Clocks, Furbies and TV remote control and other things like that. . . until they too, are dead.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p>PS (I don't know any Photographers who are using Ni-Cad AA batteries now)</p>

<p>Thank you william, this was a very helpful post!</p>

<p>You can get an Eneloop package for about $30 that includes two sets of four batteries, a charger, and a couple of AAAs.</p>

<p>I find Ray-O-Vac Hybrid NiMH better than Eneloops. You may want to try both.</p>

<p>I have been using MAHA/Powerex cells and chargers for a while. They're widely available online, and from specialist shops like the Photography equipment suppliers, and Amateur Radio Equipment shops.</p>

<p>I agree with William about getting multiple "sets" for your intended uses. I mark mine with a permanent marker so I know which ones are in a "set". However, I use a MAHA 8-cell AA/AAA charger for all my uses. It enables me to charge from one to 8 cells at a time, and will tell you if one cell is bad. Many cheaper chargers require you to charge cells in pairs, making it somewhat difficult (or at least time-consuming) to figure out the "bad" cell in a set. (Also, most of the MAHA chargers run from a 12volt "wall wart" transformer. The advantage here, is that they also work, then, with a simple and inexpensive adapter in the power port in your car. Great for traveling!)</p>

<p>I don't think the particular maker of the cells is all that important, save for avoiding no-name brands. Eveready, Duracell, Ray-O-Vac, Powerex, Panasonic, etc. all make good batteries. You want to find batteries in excess of 2,500 mAh. That is a rating - in milli-Amp hours - of how much energy the battery can hold when new. I've got 2,700 mAh batteries, and I've seen 2,850 mAh batteries for sale. Pretty soon, we'll be up to 3,000... The higher the mAh rating, the longer they will last in the device before needing another charge.</p>

<p>The Eneloops look ok, but you can get batteries with higher capacities, and while holding a charge for a year or more is interesting, if you're shooting something important to you, you want freshly charged batteries, anyway.</p>

<p>I hope this helps!</p>

<p>Larry is right in that for an important shoot you want fresh charged batteries. I like the Ray-O-Vac Hybrids because if I want to grab a few shots, I want to know the batteries are good even if they haven't been charged for a few months.</p>

<p>I'm no battery expert, and also in search of the "ideal" one for my flash. For me, that would mean, in order of priority, has good capacity so that it can last a long time during shooting, can be fully charged quickly (i.e. a good charger, preferably small and supports 110/220 for travel), and does not discharge quickly when not in use. This guy has extensively reviewed many models mentioned here and chargers at Amazon. But his priority seems to be least amount of discharging when not in use, instead of maximum capacity.</p>

<p>http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AOEAD7DPLZE53?sort_by=MostRecentReview&x=12&y=11&display=public</p>

<p>Another NP poster Oxide Blu suggested a way to "make yourself an external battery pack" in an old thread. But the links no longer work. Would appreciate him or anyone else sharing how this is done.<br>

http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00P8GF</p>

<p>Another thing to keep in mind is that some Ni-mh batteries have negative ends that are recessed into the cylinder. Some flashes, like my SB-28, will have trouble handling them. </p>

<p>If I'm recalling correctly those links in Oxide Blu's post were to online catalogs for electronics vendors. Just do a search for the types of gel cells and trickle chargers he mentioned and you'll find plenty of sources.</p>

<p>You'll also find groups on Flickr dedicated to homebrewing cost effective solutions for photography gear. I recall one in particular that had clear photos illustrating how to build battery packs. There may be something on Strobist too.</p>

<p>Never mind, I just found a great thread on a DIY pack:<br>

http://www.photo.net/photography-lighting-equipment-techniques-forum/00VoM0</p>

<p>Thanks to Eric Lincoln.</p>

<p>Good info, thanks, Robert.</p>

<p>BTW, you know you're getting old when you can remember similar illustrated tutorials from magazines more than a decade ago. I've seen very similar illustrated tutorials in Shutterbug (about 10 years ago), and either Modern Photography or a Peterson's guide at least 30 years ago. But it doesn't hurt to update the tutorials to accommodate more recent ideas.</p>

<p>I make some kinds of remote battery packs from D cell battery holders to supply electronic devices originally designed for AA cells. So far I've done this only for my old Tandy Model 102 laptop and a couple of portable radios. Might give it a try for my Nikon SB-800 flash. In the past I've rented Quantum battery packs for shooting events when I didn't want to bother with swapping out AA NiMH cells mid-shoot.</p>

 

<p>Now that we have Google, memory loss due to aging is no longer my concern :-)<br>

After some Googling, DIY battery pack apparently is very popular:<br>

http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/accessories/0699sb_howto/<br>

http://www.comatosed.ca/writing/writing/reviews/DIY_Vivitar_285_HV_Battery_Pack.html<br>

And if you don't want to handle a soldering iron, there are ready made ones:<br>

http://www.batteryspace.com/externalbatterypackforcamerasvideo.aspx<br>

<br />http://www.aljacobs.com/my_products/the_black_box_story.html</p>

<p>Or connect them direct to AC, seen this product here:<br>

http://www.lightingrumours.com/ac-power-for-speedlights-with-the-innovatronix-speedfire-26<br>

though you still need the batteries for the lcd.</p>

 

I once made a a battery pack for my Vivitar 285 using wooden dowels the same size as AA batteries in the battery compartment. The two wire leads from the four D cell flashlight battery holder were wrapped around metal thumb tacks and then stuck into the ends of the dowels using the correct polarity. Worked great. Load on Sunday and shoot all week. .