How is the new EN-EL15a battery different?

[Escape]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

 

[Mako2011]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

 

[Escape]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

Thanks. Where did u find the specs? I couldn't find anything.

 

[Mako2011]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

Thanks. Where did u find the specs? I couldn't find anything.

Nikon hasn't listed any but some review places/retailers have indicated that's the case. They could be wrong....but number of shots seems to indicate they are correct.

 

[orca_kkl]

Since both use 2 lithium Ion cells in series, wouldn't the voltages be the same?

Perhaps Nikon uses lower internal resistance (for higher deliverable current) and higher mAH capacity new cells on the 15a version?

 

[Escape]

Since both use 2 lithium Ion cells in series, wouldn't the voltages be the same?

Perhaps Nikon uses lower internal resistance (for higher deliverable current) and higher mAH capacity new cells on the 15a version?

THey use the same charger as well - MH25a. I would think that if the voltage was indeed different, then they'd use a different charger, unless the MH25a is smart enough to differentiate between these batteries and use different termination voltage.

 

[Mako2011]

Since both use 2 lithium Ion cells in series, wouldn't the voltages be the same?

Perhaps Nikon uses lower internal resistance (for higher deliverable current) and higher mAH capacity new cells on the 15a version?

THey use the same charger as well - MH25a. I would think that if the voltage was indeed different, then they'd use a different charger, unless the MH25a is smart enough to differentiate between these batteries and use different termination voltage.

The MH25a output voltage is much higher that the batteries. 8.4v Doesn't matter the battery voltage as longer as the charger output is higher.

 

[Escape]

THat's not what I'm talking about. That is just max voltage that the charger can output, but the actual voltage is computer controlled.

CHarging li ion batteries is more complicated than just applying max voltage. Normally you have a constant current phase followed by a constant voltage phase. Voltage during that second phase needs to be set according to the max design voltage of the battery. So during this last phase, a 7.4v battery will require a different charging voltage than a 7.0v battery.

IF the chargjng voltage is too high, you will cook the battery. if its too low, the battery will not get charged fully.

THe question is whether this charger can somehow tell these two batteries apart and apply different voltage.

 

[Bob A L]

Unless they have developed some new battery technology, it is most likely that the voltage is the same on the two. mah (capacity) is likely different. Voltage is a factor of the number of cells and the battery technology. All batteries using the same tech will be the same voltage per cell.

 

[Mako2011]

THat's not what I'm talking about. That is just max voltage that the charger can output, but the actual voltage is computer controlled.

The subject you brought up was that you need a different charger if the voltage of the batteries is different. That's not the case here and the charger can output as required. The max output of the charger is 8,4v

CHarging li ion batteries is more complicated than just applying max voltage. Normally you have a constant current phase followed by a constant voltage phase. Voltage during that second phase needs to be set according to the max design voltage of the battery. So during this last phase, a 7.4v battery will require a different charging voltage than a 7.0v battery.

IF the chargjng voltage is too high, you will cook the battery. if its too low, the battery will not get charged fully.

The charger has no issue like that in this case. It's a smart charger (a voltage-limiting device) and both batteries are designed to use it.

THe question is whether this charger can somehow tell these two batteries apart and apply different voltage.

Yep..it can....in simplified terms.

 

[Escape]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

Found my answer in D7500 owner's manual:

This seems to align with what Adorama lists on their page: same voltage and capacity as EN-EL15, yet the "a" version is $10 more expensive, so again, what is the difference between these two batteries?

 

[Mako2011]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

Found my answer in D7500 owner's manual:

This seems to align with what Adorama lists on their page: same voltage and capacity as EN-EL15, yet the "a" version is $10 more expensive, so again, what is the difference between these two batteries?

I think I found the real answer. The EN-EL15 is the Lion01 version that had issues and Nikon had to replace them. The EN-EL15a is the new version 20 battery. It solved the performance issue (overheating) Nikon was having with the later runs of the EN-EL15. The $10 premium ensures you don't get a "01" version

3rd party EN-EL15a 7.4v and 1600mha

I honestly can no longer find a official Nikon EL-EN15a image. This could simply be Nikon relabeling the en-el15 "20" series of battery (D500 battery) to EN-EL15a (Lion20) to eliminate any confusion. The EN-EL15 Lion01 version had performance issues and had to be replaced.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

 

[Escape]

This could simply be Nikon relabeling the en-el15 "20" series of battery (D500 battery) to EN-EL15a (Lion20) to eliminate any confusion.

This could be the case since the EN-EL15 seems to no longer be available from Nikon.

I posed the question to Nikon. If I hear back, I'll share their feedback.

 

[Tbolt47]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

Found my answer in D7500 owner's manual:

This seems to align with what Adorama lists on their page: same voltage and capacity as EN-EL15, yet the "a" version is $10 more expensive, so again, what is the difference between these two batteries?

I think I found the real answer. The EN-EL15 is the Lion01 version that had issues and Nikon had to replace them. The EN-EL15a is the new version 20 battery. It solved the performance issue (overheating) Nikon was having with the later runs of the EN-EL15. The $10 premium ensures you don't get a "01" version

3rd party EN-EL15a 7.4v and 1600mha

I honestly can no longer find a official Nikon EL-EN15a image. This could simply be Nikon relabeling the en-el15 "20" series of battery (D500 battery) to EN-EL15a (Lion20) to eliminate any confusion. The EN-EL15 Lion01 version had performance issues and had to be replaced.

--
My opinions are my own and not those of DPR or its administration. They carry no 'special' value (except to me and Lacie of course)

So far I've only seen people say they are backwards compatible, but I'm guessing I can use a EN-EL15 in the D7500 or have Nikon made it so it won't recognise the older battery?

 

[Escape]

So far I've only seen people say they are backwards compatible, but I'm guessing I can use a EN-EL15 in the D7500 or have Nikon made it so it won't recognise the older battery?

If you look at Nikon's website, they claim EN-EL15 is compatible with D7500:

Loading…

www.nikonusa.com

 

[Lightpath48]

Supposedly it is backward compatible with EN-EL15. It is more expensive. So how is it different/better?

7.0v and 1900mAh for the EN-EL15) and EN-EL15A provides 7.4v and higher mAh rating. So you get more shots out of a fully charge EN-EL15a. Might be some circuitry differences as well as overcharge protection differences.

Found my answer in D7500 owner's manual:

This seems to align with what Adorama lists on their page: same voltage and capacity as EN-EL15, yet the "a" version is $10 more expensive, so again, what is the difference between these two batteries?

Another possibility: the 15a will give you a percentage indicator for remaining charge on the battery. I think I remember this being true of the EL13 to EL13A on one of my previous Nikons.

 

[Escape]

Another possibility: the 15a will give you a percentage indicator for remaining charge on the battery. I think I remember this being true of the EL13 to EL13A on one of my previous Nikons.

The EN-EL15 (non 'a') already gives percentage indicator on my D7200 when I go into the battery menu. I would expect the 15a to be no worse in that department.

 

[Lightpath48]

Another possibility: the 15a will give you a percentage indicator for remaining charge on the battery. I think I remember this being true of the EL13 to EL13A on one of my previous Nikons.

The EN-EL15 (non 'a') already gives percentage indicator on my D7200 when I go into the battery menu.

OK, this was on an earlier camera.

 

[Tbolt47]

So far I've only seen people say they are backwards compatible, but I'm guessing I can use a EN-EL15 in the D7500 or have Nikon made it so it won't recognise the older battery?

If you look at Nikon's website, they claim EN-EL15 is compatible with D7500:

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-pr...#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-CompatibleWith

Great thanks.

 

[winterymix]

The Nikon US warranty excludes "battery".

I wouldn't stick any battery into a >$1200 camera aside from the OEM model.