DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

First draft of external ML battery power -

Started Oct 7, 2019 | Discussions thread
Max Iso
OP Max Iso Veteran Member • Posts: 8,652
Re: First draft of external ML battery power -

alcelc wrote:

Strange.

This had been explored and well discussed on M43 forum a few years back before Panasonic camera took USB power directly.

There were a few suggestions, some reported well and I had researched from market at that time. They were:

  1. Usual dummy battery, voltage converter,
  2. A dummy battery which has built in voltage converter, or
  3. A special USB power bank which is capable of 8~9V output & a dummy battery.

A 5V power bank of 2A output is needed for 1 & 2.

During the discussion, some voltage converter might be not reliable.

However, when G9 and GX9 can take USB power directly (not charging battery only of GX85), basically I stopped the pursuit because I expect newer cameras can simply plug in 5V USB power bank, no more converter, nor specially output power bank etc. Those discussion had been died down gradually.

A search on M43 forum should find those discussion.

BTW, if I do it I shall use a sling/backpack with build in USB port. It can make the setup looking more tidy 😊. If mounting the setup on a tripod, I shall use Velcro Tape to secure it in place.

So i couldn't remember if i actually tried going from a 5v power bank directly to the G9 USB-c when i first got this idea, so i tried yesterday. Same blue 5v bank in the photos, used the USB-c wire from my SD reader, hooked it up and it wouldn't work.

Im no master of this battery stuff so i could be wrong but i wouldn't think i matters where the input line is, the camera needs at least 7v to run, right? (and no more than about 9 or we risk frying it). Im assuming that's why it didn't work, 5v doesn't overcome internal resistance.

I would have tried using my 9v converter cable but i don't have a DC to USB-c adapter on hand so i have no way to get the charge into the USB-c port. Im assuming that would work though, or if my power bank was 7-9v as well.

-- hide signature --

"Some by force and some by choice
In time you all shall leave me
I do not fear to be alone
Solitary, I will atone...." -

 Max Iso's gear list:Max Iso's gear list
Nikon D300 Olympus E-M1 II Canon EOS M50 Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R +8 more
Post (hide subjects) Posted by
Zoc
(unknown member)
(unknown member)
(unknown member)
(unknown member)
(unknown member)
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow