D70 and Lithium battery

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Iceberg Concept, Inc. - 06 Aug 2006 15:55 GMT

I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my regular
battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails to 'energize'
the D70.

Both batteries are fully ready to go and charged.

Why does one pak work and the other doesn't?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Gordon

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J. Clarke - 06 Aug 2006 17:56 GMT

> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my
> regular battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails to
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.

There isn't any non-rechargeable battery pack for the D70 except the
third-party vertical grip. What, exactly, with brands and model numbers,
are you trying to use?

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--John
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(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

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Robert Haar - 06 Aug 2006 19:14 GMT

>> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my
>> regular battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails to
>> 'energize' the D70.

> There isn't any non-rechargeable battery pack for the D70 except the
> third-party vertical grip. What, exactly, with brands and model numbers,
> are you trying to use?

By my D70 came with a Nikon MS-D70 battery holder that uses two CR-2
batteries.

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Iceberg Concept, Inc. - 06 Aug 2006 19:43 GMT

The non-rechargable battery holder I use is the Nikon MS-D70 battery holder
that uses two CR-2 batteries. THAT's the one that doesn't work ...even
though the batteries are fully charged.

Gordon

>>> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my
>>> regular battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> By my D70 came with a Nikon MS-D70 battery holder that uses two CR-2
> batteries.

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Bill - 06 Aug 2006 22:39 GMT

>The non-rechargable battery holder I use is the Nikon MS-D70 battery holder
>that uses two CR-2 batteries. THAT's the one that doesn't work ...even
>though the batteries are fully charged.

First off, the battery holder uses three (3) little batteries, not just
two. Hopefully you realize that.

If so, are you sure you have them inserted correctly?

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J. Clarke - 07 Aug 2006 05:45 GMT

>>> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my
>>> regular battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> By my D70 came with a Nikon MS-D70 battery holder that uses two CR-2
> batteries.

Two? According to B&H it holds _three_.

Signature

--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

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Robert Haar - 08 Aug 2006 01:44 GMT

>>>> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my
>>>> regular battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> By my D70 came with a Nikon MS-D70 battery holder that uses two CR-2
>> batteries.

You are right. I have never used it since I prefer a spare rechargeable
battery. In any case, I was responding to the statement that there was no
battery pack for the D70 that used non-rechargeable batteries.

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DoN. Nichols - 08 Aug 2006 03:04 GMT

According to Robert Haar <rlhaar@comcast.net>:

[ ... ]

> > There isn't any non-rechargeable battery pack for the D70 except the
> > third-party vertical grip. What, exactly, with brands and model numbers,
> > are you trying to use?
>
> By my D70 came with a Nikon MS-D70 battery holder that uses two CR-2
> batteries.

    Aha -- *there* is the problem. It needs *three* CR-2 cells --
two along the length, and a third at right angles at the end opposite
the contact terminals. If you have only two CR-2 cells in it, it is an
open circuit, and will provide nothing to the camera body.

    O.K. I just popped mine in and tried it (It has had the CR-2s
in it for a few months, now), and it had no problems with a shot
including the pop-up flash for more drain.

    Enjoy,
        DoN.

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e303s3006 - 06 Aug 2006 18:00 GMT

Get a second OEM battery. I don't go anywhere without it!. I get great
battery life with the OEM battery. Other mfgr's should take notice. For the
relatively inexpensive price of a battery, and the life of same, I'd not
mess around with the
alternate batteries. my 2c.
As far as why it won't crank up the D70, I'd guess the battery doesnt have
the horses to do it. I'd be afraid I'd to damage to the camera, by running a
"brown out".
I'd ditch it.
Randall

> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my regular
> battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails to 'energize'
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Gordon

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Iceberg Concept, Inc. - 06 Aug 2006 19:44 GMT

Good thought. I never thought of possibly doing damage to the camera.

Gordon

> Get a second OEM battery. I don't go anywhere without it!. I get great
> battery life with the OEM battery. Other mfgr's should take notice. For
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>>
>> Gordon

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Bill - 06 Aug 2006 22:39 GMT

>> As far as why it won't crank up the D70, I'd guess the battery doesnt have
>> the horses to do it. I'd be afraid I'd to damage to the camera, by running
>> a "brown out".
>> I'd ditch it.
>
>Good thought. I never thought of possibly doing damage to the camera.

You can't damage the camera by using too low a voltage.

Digital cameras have voltage regulator ICs in them and they either work
or they report a depleted battery once the voltage drops below a
specified level.

With a typical 7.4v LiIon pack, maximum charged voltage is 8.4v (4.2v
per cell) and drops to about 6.5v which is the point at which the ICs
will stop working in a 5v circuit.

At 5.0v permanent damage to the cells will occur, which is why you
should never drain LiIon battery packs. It's better to top them off.

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DoN. Nichols - 08 Aug 2006 02:56 GMT

According to Iceberg Concept, Inc. <icebergs@nycap.rr.com>:

> I keep a back-up battery pak (non-rechargeable) in my bag in case my regular
> battery goes down. However, the alternate battery source fails to 'energize'
> the D70.
>
> Both batteries are fully ready to go and charged.

But you said "non-rechargeable".

> Why does one pak work and the other doesn't?

    What is the nature of your non-rechargeable battery pack? Is
this the special holder which will use three CR-2 cells in series
instead of the Li-Ion battery pack? Those are supposed to have very
good shelf life, and I have a loaded one which I have not yet actually
used, so I can't tell you for sure that it works.

    However -- there is a special projection on that holder which
pokes a switch in the camera body to switch it to accommodate the
slightly higher voltage. If this projection is broken off, I don't know
what damage it might do to the camera.

    I don't know of any other holders for this purpose -- unless
you are talking about one of the "vertical grips" made by third-party
suppliers, which power it from (I believe) a number of AA cells.

    And if you have one of these -- which kind of cells are you
using in it? The Alkalines can deliver more current than the standard
Zinc Carbon ones (which are pretty hard to find these days, I believe),
and the NiMH cells (which have a lower voltage) are capable of more
current than then Alkalines. I believe that the NiCad cells fall
somewhere between the Alkalines and the NiMH in current capability, and
a bit lower in voltage (1.2V instead of 1.25V -- both of which are
lower than a fresh Alkaline, which is around 1.54V or so).

    Enjoy,
        DoN.

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Alexander Arnakis - 10 Aug 2006 04:20 GMT

> What is the nature of your non-rechargeable battery pack? Is
>this the special holder which will use three CR-2 cells in series
>instead of the Li-Ion battery pack? Those are supposed to have very
>good shelf life, and I have a loaded one which I have not yet actually
>used, so I can't tell you for sure that it works.

In my experience the CR-2 battery holder that comes with the D70 is
practically worthless. The batteries go bad very quickly, whether you
use them or not. That is, they don't go completely dead, but the
voltage falls below the level needed to operate the camera. This
holder will only work for a day or two, provided you put in brand-new
batteries.

I simply bit the bullet and got a second EN-EL3 to use as a backup.

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