MB-E5700 Battery Grip shim for short AA's

[ashtangakasha]

Some hicap batteries are built to a slightly non-conforming physical size, presumably to squeeze a little more chemistry into the package. They may be a little bit longer, or may have slightly non-standard studs on the positive contact.

The MAHA 2.2mAh AA NiMH batteries are an example. The "blip" positive end of the batteries doesn't protrude far enough into the plastic holder to touch the metal contact in the MB-E5700's battery tray.

The battery tray's contacts are very flat, with a tiny indented flange cut into the center, perhaps to keep them from sliding out. If you are loath to mess with tiny metal contacts press-fit into thin plastic, and you don't relish stuffing six bits of folded aluminum foil into a battery holder, here's a fairly elegant solution.

Each positive contact has a narrow 1.5 mm slot behind it. With a narrow shim pressed into that slot, the contact will bulge into the battery case a little -- which is all that's needed. In my search for a decent shim, I realized the sharp tip of a pushpin would make a nice tapered shim.

I cut the pins off half a dozen pushpins, using a diagonal wire cutter. It seemed prudent to position the pins against my mouse rug to prevent the hard pins from flying randomly into my eye, up my nose, etc. This done, I carefully shoved a pushpin pin into the slot down behind each positive contact. In two minutes my battery tray was comfortably housing six 2,200 mA MAHA's and the camera functions perfectly.

ac

 

[Abbott Schindler]

While I've seen a couple of posts on this forum about various batteries being a bit too short to work in the MB-E5700, I've got to say that I haven't had problems yet with Maha 1800, 2000, or the new 2200 mAh batteries. Maybe this is more of a problem with the way some battery trays are made? Not to suggest that Nikon has a quality problem, but maybe just a tolerance issue.

Abbott

Some hicap batteries are built to a slightly non-conforming
physical size, presumably to squeeze a little more chemistry into
the package. They may be a little bit longer, or may have slightly
non-standard studs on the positive contact.

The MAHA 2.2mAh AA NiMH batteries are an example. The "blip"
positive end of the batteries doesn't protrude far enough into the
plastic holder to touch the metal contact in the MB-E5700's battery
tray.

The battery tray's contacts are very flat, with a tiny indented
flange cut into the center, perhaps to keep them from sliding out.
If you are loath to mess with tiny metal contacts press-fit into
thin plastic, and you don't relish stuffing six bits of folded
aluminum foil into a battery holder, here's a fairly elegant
solution.

Each positive contact has a narrow 1.5 mm slot behind it. With a
narrow shim pressed into that slot, the contact will bulge into the
battery case a little -- which is all that's needed. In my search
for a decent shim, I realized the sharp tip of a pushpin would make
a nice tapered shim.

I cut the pins off half a dozen pushpins, using a diagonal wire
cutter. It seemed prudent to position the pins against my mouse rug
to prevent the hard pins from flying randomly into my eye, up my
nose, etc. This done, I carefully shoved a pushpin pin into the
slot down behind each positive contact. In two minutes my battery
tray was comfortably housing six 2,200 mA MAHA's and the camera
functions perfectly.

ac

 

[greybird]

I am having trouble getting my new 2100Power US Batteries to work in the MB-E5700, tthey seem to fit tightly in the tray.Have run them through several cycles and they light up a flashlight good. Have 6 1800 nAhs that work fine. Anyone else have this problem ??
Herb S.

Some hicap batteries are built to a slightly non-conforming
physical size, presumably to squeeze a little more chemistry into
the package. They may be a little bit longer, or may have slightly
non-standard studs on the positive contact.

The MAHA 2.2mAh AA NiMH batteries are an example. The "blip"
positive end of the batteries doesn't protrude far enough into the
plastic holder to touch the metal contact in the MB-E5700's battery
tray.

The battery tray's contacts are very flat, with a tiny indented
flange cut into the center, perhaps to keep them from sliding out.
If you are loath to mess with tiny metal contacts press-fit into
thin plastic, and you don't relish stuffing six bits of folded
aluminum foil into a battery holder, here's a fairly elegant
solution.

Each positive contact has a narrow 1.5 mm slot behind it. With a
narrow shim pressed into that slot, the contact will bulge into the
battery case a little -- which is all that's needed. In my search
for a decent shim, I realized the sharp tip of a pushpin would make
a nice tapered shim.

I cut the pins off half a dozen pushpins, using a diagonal wire
cutter. It seemed prudent to position the pins against my mouse rug
to prevent the hard pins from flying randomly into my eye, up my
nose, etc. This done, I carefully shoved a pushpin pin into the
slot down behind each positive contact. In two minutes my battery
tray was comfortably housing six 2,200 mA MAHA's and the camera
functions perfectly.

ac

--
Greybird

 

[Jim Campbell]

After speaking with maha about the 2200 they indicated that this is a know problem with the Nikon MB-E5700 battery tray. The batteries are off such a small amount the the tech and I discuss trimming the plastic off the ends of the batteries. Using an exacto knife I gave it a try and it works great.

Some hicap batteries are built to a slightly non-conforming
physical size, presumably to squeeze a little more chemistry into
the package. They may be a little bit longer, or may have slightly
non-standard studs on the positive contact.

The MAHA 2.2mAh AA NiMH batteries are an example. The "blip"
positive end of the batteries doesn't protrude far enough into the
plastic holder to touch the metal contact in the MB-E5700's battery
tray.

The battery tray's contacts are very flat, with a tiny indented
flange cut into the center, perhaps to keep them from sliding out.
If you are loath to mess with tiny metal contacts press-fit into
thin plastic, and you don't relish stuffing six bits of folded
aluminum foil into a battery holder, here's a fairly elegant
solution.

Each positive contact has a narrow 1.5 mm slot behind it. With a
narrow shim pressed into that slot, the contact will bulge into the
battery case a little -- which is all that's needed. In my search
for a decent shim, I realized the sharp tip of a pushpin would make
a nice tapered shim.

I cut the pins off half a dozen pushpins, using a diagonal wire
cutter. It seemed prudent to position the pins against my mouse rug
to prevent the hard pins from flying randomly into my eye, up my
nose, etc. This done, I carefully shoved a pushpin pin into the
slot down behind each positive contact. In two minutes my battery
tray was comfortably housing six 2,200 mA MAHA's and the camera
functions perfectly.

ac

 

[Colin F163860]

Some hicap batteries are built to a slightly non-conforming
physical size, presumably to squeeze a little more chemistry into
the package. They may be a little bit longer, or may have slightly
non-standard studs on the positive contact.

The MAHA 2.2mAh AA NiMH batteries are an example. The "blip"
positive end of the batteries doesn't protrude far enough into the
plastic holder to touch the metal contact in the MB-E5700's battery
tray.

The battery tray's contacts are very flat, with a tiny indented
flange cut into the center, perhaps to keep them from sliding out.
If you are loath to mess with tiny metal contacts press-fit into
thin plastic, and you don't relish stuffing six bits of folded
aluminum foil into a battery holder, here's a fairly elegant
solution.

Each positive contact has a narrow 1.5 mm slot behind it. With a
narrow shim pressed into that slot, the contact will bulge into the
battery case a little -- which is all that's needed. In my search
for a decent shim, I realized the sharp tip of a pushpin would make
a nice tapered shim.

I cut the pins off half a dozen pushpins, using a diagonal wire
cutter. It seemed prudent to position the pins against my mouse rug
to prevent the hard pins from flying randomly into my eye, up my
nose, etc. This done, I carefully shoved a pushpin pin into the
slot down behind each positive contact. In two minutes my battery
tray was comfortably housing six 2,200 mA MAHA's and the camera
functions perfectly.

ac

Jim,

That's what I did with mine a couple of months ago, but I wouldn't do it again 'cause the - (negative) of the battery extends all the way up to almost the + (positive) terminal and I have found that when just packed loosely, like inside the camera bag, that they can and do short out on any metal objects they come in contact with. I would hate to ruin something in the camera bag.
--
--
Colin F,,,
FCAS Member
CP5700, Oly C990, Oly OM20

 

[Jim Campbell]

I did buy an extra battery tray from Nikon and keep the spare batteries in that to keep everything from rolling around. I guess on could also keep them in the MAHA trays too.

Now that I consider your post I'm surprised MAHA considered this a work around but then anytime you have batteries loose who knows what might happen in a bag. A bigger concern might be the tops of the batteries touching in the tray. I checked mine again and they appear to maintain a satisfactory amount of separation but you never know.

Maybe, like you said, I would think about doing this again.

Jim,
That's what I did with mine a couple of months ago, but I wouldn't
do it again 'cause the - (negative) of the battery extends all the
way up to almost the + (positive) terminal and I have found that
when just packed loosely, like inside the camera bag, that they can
and do short out on any metal objects they come in contact with. I
would hate to ruin something in the camera bag.
--
--
Colin F,,,
FCAS Member
CP5700, Oly C990, Oly OM20

 

[Jarrek]

Nikon Canada replaced my battery tray for free. The new battery tray has the contact lip pointing outwards. Now my MAHA 2200 don't need to be trimmed.

 

[Jim Campbell]

Nikon Canada replaced my battery tray for free. The new battery
tray has the contact lip pointing outwards. Now my MAHA 2200 don't
need to be trimmed.

 

[lee lindquist]

I did buy an extra battery tray from Nikon and keep the spare
batteries in that to keep everything from rolling around. I guess
on could also keep them in the MAHA trays too.

Now that I consider your post I'm surprised MAHA considered this a
work around but then anytime you have batteries loose who knows
what might happen in a bag. A bigger concern might be the tops of
the batteries touching in the tray. I checked mine again and they
appear to maintain a satisfactory amount of separation but you
never know.

I did this to some batteries last august, when I first got
the MB-E5700. One shorted out, and caused a melt down
in my Maha charger. I threw them all out, as the last thing I
wanted to happen was a short (and melt-down) while
in the camera.

After that, I shimmed the positive contacts in the battery tray.
Much safer.