why can't I use rechargeable batteries?

Ï "TrevM" Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
...
Second thoughts below...

"TrevM" wrote in message
...
"Nate Nagel" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

got a Nikon L6 that I've had for a year or two, although I had this
same
problem with my previous two digicams. I seem to only be able to get
good performance with non-rechargeable batteries (currently using
Energizer E2 lithium which actually seem to have decent life) if I use
my
Energizer NiMH rechargeables I can *maybe* take one or two pics before
I
get a "low battery" warning and the camera shuts down. [...]

nate


Hi Nate,

[...snip]

So, have you checked the maximum current available from your batteries,
as
well as the voltage? I do this brutally by shorting the cell for a
second
or so (only!) between the terminals of a multimeter with a 10 or 20 amp
range as an ammeter. A good rechargeable will give 5 to 10 amps or even
more (depending on the resistance of the ammeter and the internal
resistance of the cell, which is what is actually under test here), and
so
will a fresh alkaline cell. This treatment should not be prolonged or
repeated often, as the cell will soon overheat and be ruined anyway!

[...snip]

And I also want to add that there is a risk of wrecking the multimeter - a
good AA cell can give 12 -15 amps into a near-short-circuit, and this
current could damage a meter with a 10 amp max. rating. So be careful,
and
on second thoughts I would say you definitely need a meter capable of
handling at least 20 amps.

No, he needs a current transformer;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_transformer



--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
hordad AT otenet DOT gr

"Tzortzakakis Dimitrios" wrote in message
...

Ï "TrevM" Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
...
Second thoughts below...

[...]

So, have you checked the maximum current available from your batteries,
as
well as the voltage? I do this brutally by shorting the cell for a
second
or so (only!) between the terminals of a multimeter with a 10 or 20 amp
range as an ammeter. A good rechargeable will give 5 to 10 amps or
even
more (depending on the resistance of the ammeter and the internal
resistance of the cell, which is what is actually under test here), and
so
will a fresh alkaline cell. This treatment should not be prolonged or
repeated often, as the cell will soon overheat and be ruined anyway!

[...snip]

And I also want to add that there is a risk of wrecking the multimeter -
a
good AA cell can give 12 -15 amps into a near-short-circuit, and this
current could damage a meter with a 10 amp max. rating. So be careful,
and
on second thoughts I would say you definitely need a meter capable of
handling at least 20 amps.

No, he needs a current transformer;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_transformer



--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering
mechanized infantry reservist
hordad AT otenet DOT gr



Ho Ho!

Seriously though, you have inspired me to edit the opening paragraph of that
Wiki entry to mention the fact that current transformers are a.c. devices!

TrevM

On 2007-10-27 09:33:45 -0400, Nate Nagel said:

Hi all,

got a Nikon L6 that I've had for a year or two, although I had this
same problem with my previous two digicams. I seem to only be able to
get good performance with non-rechargeable batteries (currently using
Energizer E2 lithium which actually seem to have decent life) if I use
my Energizer NiMH rechargeables I can *maybe* take one or two pics
before I get a "low battery" warning and the camera shuts down. They
work fine in a flashlight however - will keep a mini mag lite going for
several hours. I suspect it is because of the low voltage. I tried to
get a set of the "real" Nikon batteries sold for my camera when I first
bought it but they were unavailable even direct from Nikon. I suspect
the "problem" is the lower voltage of the NiMHs but don't know what to
do about it.

Is there something I'm missing here? I'd *like* to be ecologically
correct but rechargeable batteries just don't seem to work in any
digital camera I've had.

I'm certainly not a serious photographer but I do need to use my camera
a lot for work.

nate

Simple NICADS turn out 1.2 volts... Alkaline 1.5 volts Big
difference. If the camera isn't designed to use the lower voltage then,
it won't work.. NiCads work best in high current device, short demand
devices... ie.e Electronic Flash, some power tools like power screw
drivers. They don't work so well in low amperage, long draw devices
like flashlights and cameras.


--
Jim

Simple NICADS turn out 1.2 volts... Alkaline 1.5 volts Big
difference. If the camera isn't designed to use the lower voltage then,
it won't work.. NiCads work best in high current device, short demand
devices... ie.e Electronic Flash, some power tools like power screw
drivers. They don't work so well in low amperage, long draw devices
like flashlights and cameras.

Who mentioned NICADS?..........

The battery in question is a NIMH battery.

Since when is a camera not a high amperage device?

Since when is a camera not designed to use NIMH batteries?