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NP-E3 carrier for AA batteries?

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Does such a thing exist? obviously the NP-E3 is 8 x 1.5V NI-MH cells and I was wondering if anyone has produced a carrier type cartridge that would allow the use (for example) of 8 really high power AA NI-MH batteries that are available now (like 2500Mah)

Even if there aren't any Off The Shelf solutions, has anyone ever modified a NP-E3 to take rechargables, either on a swappable basis, or having soldered replacement cells back in?

It strikes me that a carrier cartridge would be a great idea since as the cells get tired, they could easily and cheaply be replaced - and it also has the advantage of being able to carry a lot more power around in a single cartridge by using the 2500Mah cells...

Or have I got it completely wrong and is there some crazy reason why this won't work?

Regards
Neil Gardner
 
i have one open here

problem is that the room is so tight that only cells with solder tabs would fit.

Also the cheapest ones i found so far with solder tabs are 1600's and cost around $22 for the cells itself. For $30 i get a new MDD battery with 2200's.

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
 
the rebuilding is easy. The only thing is to break open the battery. After that it is unsoldering the old ones and solfering the new ones. if you want to see pics i can take some

But the main issue is that the batteries cost $22 (for 1600's) and a new MDD battery is $30

Not worth the hassle

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
 
PalmsWestPhoto said:
the rebuilding is easy. The only thing is to break open the
battery. After that it is unsoldering the old ones and solfering
the new ones. if you want to see pics i can take some
Click to expand...
I'd love to see some pics thanks...

Not that I'll necessarily be doing it, but if I ever have an NP-E3 that dies it would be nice to have a play.

Regards
Neil Gardner
 
If you have an NP-E3 that dies, keep the front of it in case the latch on one of your working batteries breaks. This is a useful spare part since the latch gets a lot of wear and it's easy to replace.
 
I haven't open an NP-E3, I thought it has 12 AA batteries
because 12 x 1.2 volt = 14.4 volt.

If the inside is 10 AA, meaning it gives 10 x 1.2 volt = 12 volt.

However, the Canon charger output = 14.5V,
the charger can also be used to run the camera without the battery.

meaning it works in the range of 12-14.5 volt ok. ( I am quite sure it can accept a little higher voltage than this).

we can get Lithium ion battery , AA size , each at 3.6 volt

meaning you only need 4 of these AA cells, = 4 x 3.6 = 14.4 volt
which matches the output voltage of the charger.

This way, the NP-E3 will be 60% lighter.

However, you need to make sure you don't over charge lithium ion battery,

I do not know if the Canon charger goes into sleep mode when the battery is fully charged.

Most camcorder battery use Lithium Ions, if the voltage is right, they can be used to charge the batteries as well.

(I think most camcorder battery uses 2 AA lithium cells, making it 2 x 3.6=7.2 volt)

AA size lithium ion battery is availabe as regular AA with or without tabs.
One can search around and they are pretty cheap.

Ken
 
How much charge do 4 AA lithiums hold?
Ken_L said:
I haven't open an NP-E3, I thought it has 12 AA batteries
because 12 x 1.2 volt = 14.4 volt.

If the inside is 10 AA, meaning it gives 10 x 1.2 volt = 12 volt.

However, the Canon charger output = 14.5V,
the charger can also be used to run the camera without the battery.

meaning it works in the range of 12-14.5 volt ok. ( I am quite sure
it can accept a little higher voltage than this).

we can get Lithium ion battery , AA size , each at 3.6 volt

meaning you only need 4 of these AA cells, = 4 x 3.6 = 14.4 volt
which matches the output voltage of the charger.

This way, the NP-E3 will be 60% lighter.

However, you need to make sure you don't over charge lithium ion
battery,
I do not know if the Canon charger goes into sleep mode when the
battery is fully charged.

Most camcorder battery use Lithium Ions, if the voltage is right,
they can be used to charge the batteries as well.

(I think most camcorder battery uses 2 AA lithium cells, making it
2 x 3.6=7.2 volt)

AA size lithium ion battery is availabe as regular AA with or
without tabs.
One can search around and they are pretty cheap.

Ken
Click to expand...
--
An image is only as good as everyone says it is
 
Ken_L said:
I haven't open an NP-E3, I thought it has 12 AA batteries
because 12 x 1.2 volt = 14.4 volt.

If the inside is 10 AA, meaning it gives 10 x 1.2 volt = 12 volt.

However, the Canon charger output = 14.5V,
the charger can also be used to run the camera without the battery.

meaning it works in the range of 12-14.5 volt ok. ( I am quite sure
it can accept a little higher voltage than this).
Click to expand...
The charger for most batteries has an over voltage compared to the actual cell so it can push the charge into the battery. If the voltage was the same, the battery wouldn't charge very quickly, if at all, and if the voltage was less then the battery may even discharge..

You can charge a battery with a high voltage but it would explode due to the heat build up.

I think that's right but if anyone can confirm or correct what I posted, tell me.

--
It's an L of a life, this photography lark

http://gordon-walker.fotopic.net/
 
Here is a link:

http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1335

since they need to be connected in series,

you get 1400 mAh (on this one). that is, no matter how many are in series, the mAh is the same.

I am sure there are 1800 mAh and higher, they are inside the camcorder/ DSLR lithium ion battery (7.2 volt lithium ions),
any of you open those up ?, you shall find two lithium ion cells in series,
each battery = 3.6 volt..... most rated at 1800 mAh,
don't remember if I have seen some at 2400 mAh

Thanks to Michael Salzlechner / PalmWest Photo showing the inside of the NP-E3

10 AA in series only got 12 volts by design. I'll measure it to find out.

Ken
 
http://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/18500%201400mAh%20SCD-04-390.pdf

I am no expert in Lithium Ion batteries, all I know is it require a lithium ion charger which has a special electronic to control the current during charging (see above specification).

fortunately most Lithium Ion battery for camcorder/DSLR comes with a lithium ion charger.

there are many lithium ion battery charger in the market, pretty cheap, most are for 7.2 volt. need to search if one needs a higher voltage charger.

Ken
 
thanks for the link

they also carry 2000mah solder tab AA's at 26 for 20 which would make a rebuild of a canon battery about 13 + shipping. Might be worth it.

Need to look at the LiIon's to check their size. Wonder if there will be a problem with using LiIons

--
Michael Salzlechner
http://www.PalmsWestPhoto.com
 
PalmsWestPhoto said:
thanks for the link

they also carry 2000mah solder tab AA's at 26 for 20 which would
make a rebuild of a canon battery about 13 + shipping. Might be
worth it.

Need to look at the LiIon's to check their size. Wonder if there
will be a problem with using LiIons
Click to expand...
Like, how are you going to charge them? There is no such thing as a generic LiIon charger, they all expect to see their proprietary electronics in the pack. You can't just hook 'em to a NiMh charger, when they overcharge they'll go off like expensive firecrackers.

They also die permanently (although apparently not violently) if discharged too far. Especially if you're putting 14.4 volts in a system designed for 12, you're going to get them discharged a very long way before the camera shuts down.
 
O.K., I'm a moron, hadn't seen the link given later to the generic LiIon charger. Wonder how they do it--I've only seen LiIon chargers with the thrid contact to talk to an in-pack control circuit.
 
I second that. The BDM's locking mechanism is no good. I replace it with the one from the original Canon NP-E3.
 
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