Rechargeable AAs - out of battery yet it discharges a lot.

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rayonline

1734 posts

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#212702 7-Apr-2017 20:11

I have 4x Energizer AAs. With my film camera Nikon F100 which takes 4x AAs it said low power. I used the discharge function with my charger it is at 1,149mAH and counting ...

Any thoughts what is going on?

Thanks.

Inphinity

2780 posts

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#1759254 7-Apr-2017 20:32

Depending on the type of batteries, the voltage may drop too low at that point for the camera to be happy. Typical rechargeable AAs are only 1.2V, as opposed to 1.5V of non-rechargeable AAs, and the voltage reduces as charge does.

gzt

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#1759262 7-Apr-2017 21:29

No idea myself. Examine the specs of the genuine Nikon rechargable kit batteries for that model. I'll guess there is a difference in characteristics, even if it's not obvious in the spec.

1eStar

1604 posts

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#1759295 7-Apr-2017 23:16

It will have a low voltage cutoff. Most alkaline batteries seem to arrive with 1.6volts from new. Try buying the Ultimate Lithium batteries. They cost way more, but come with 1.8volts out of the packet. They last a lot longer before you hit the low voltage cutoff in your device. I ran out of patience with rechargeables and their low voltage.

richms

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#1759297 7-Apr-2017 23:34

Otherwise look at nickel zinc cells - 1.7v instead of 1.2, but lower mAh so they label them in mWh instead to make them look better.

I have some that I got for a walkietalkie that got crap range on 1.2v and okish range on 1.5v alkalines - so figured the 1.7 would be awesome. And it is, but they dont last as long as the nimh did

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#1759326 8-Apr-2017 08:06

Does it have a setting to switch between alkaline and rechargeable batteries? Many cameras do.

Bung

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#1759374 8-Apr-2017 09:55

Found this
"Does anyone else remember that the first F100's had their battery
voltage sensor set to high for the rechargeable cells? And that Nikon
fixed it by adjusting the sensor for a slightly lower voltage? If this
is a earlier F100, perhaps it has not had the mod done to it."

If this is true you should be able to find more details. I know some Olympus had battery type selection.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#1759380 8-Apr-2017 10:06

Thanks for the help guys. Thanks also for that bit of research. I bought the camera used, I could research the serial number :)

This is a film camera from the late 1990s, no selector between alkaline and rechargeable. I just charged the AAs and the charger say it is 1.47V. When I put the batteries in the camera initially it did show full bars, but half a moment later it said half power and then no power. If I take the battery out and put them back in again it says full bars and the cycle repeats.

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sbiddle

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#1759454 8-Apr-2017 13:24

So the fix is to use alkalines or rechargeable alkalines if you want a rechargeable battery.