DC input

[alan-G3]

Hi There

Anybody know the pinout for the DC input. I want to build a large nicad external power source for extended field trips.

Tree pins, obviously positive & negative but is the for feedback to the transformer?

[Longship]

I haven't looked, but the plug pin-out may printed be on the AC adaptor. Mine isn't handy right now, so you'll have to look.

Take my advice. Do not use NiCds. Instead, use NiMH. They are far, far better suited for digital photo use, much higher capacity, higher current capability, and less prone to NiCd problems.

I built a little recharger for my Sharp Zaurus based on four AA NiMHs. I put it in a little box, not much larger than the four batteries. I can recharge my Zaurus almost three times before I have to recharge it's NiMHs. I carry this around with me in my little waist pack with my Zaurus. The Zaurus is speced at 5.0 volts, the four NiMH AAs, at full charge, provide just over that. It works great.

A similar device can be made for the G3 at a very modest cost, certainly less than the Canon extended battery pack.

A good place to look for these batteries and an appropriate charger is Thomas Distributing:
http://www.nimhbattery.com/

[nomel]

It is printed on the DC adapter. The other hole doesn't seem to be used for anything. From searching on google real quick, it seems that NiMH are about 1.4v per cell...so...you'll have to go a little over or under.

[yallcome]

nomel wrote:
It is printed on the DC adapter. The other hole doesn't seem to be used for anything. From searching on google real quick, it seems that NiMH are about 1.4v per cell...so...you'll have to go a little over or under.

So any idea where one could buy that type plug for some sort of homebrew thang?

[alan-G3]

Hi
Many thanks for the responses. I never even looked at the charger :) Now I got to find that connector.

Regards
Alan

[nomel]

yallcome wrote:
nomel wrote:
It is printed on the DC adapter. The other hole doesn't seem to be used for anything. From searching on google real quick, it seems that NiMH are about 1.4v per cell...so...you'll have to go a little over or under.

So any idea where one could buy that type plug for some sort of homebrew thang?

Well, you could always make some sort of "quick connector" in series with the power cable. That way, you could detach the plug portion, and attach it to your battery pack (just use the same connector as you use on the power adapter side of the existing cable.

You could use something like a common power adapter plug. You can buy the male and female adapter plugs at radio shack to use.


[Camera Plug]----------------o>--------------[Existing power supply]

>------------------[Battery pack]

o is male connector
> is female connector.

This way, you could use the camera plug for both.

[yallcome]

nomel wrote:
yallcome wrote:
nomel wrote:
It is printed on the DC adapter. The other hole doesn't seem to be used for anything. From searching on google real quick, it seems that NiMH are about 1.4v per cell...so...you'll have to go a little over or under.

So any idea where one could buy that type plug for some sort of homebrew thang?

Well, you could always make some sort of "quick connector" in series with the power cable. That way, you could detach the plug portion, and attach it to your battery pack (just use the same connector as you use on the power adapter side of the existing cable.

You could use something like a common power adapter plug. You can buy the male and female adapter plugs at radio shack to use.


[Camera Plug]----------------o>--------------[Existing power supply]

>------------------[Battery pack]

o is male connector
> is female connector.

This way, you could use the camera plug for both.




Yep, I was thinking about cutting the cord and making a patch cable that way. Thanks

[FlyingPete]

I had that sort of setup on my old Sony, same deal a bunch of NiMH batteries I used to give me extended battery tim on the camers. I tried everywhere for a plug, in the end I cut the cable and put a DC socket and plug in the cable so I could detach the end. Turned out that even though the plug was three pins, the cable was only two core! Not sure if that is the case with the Canon. Worked fine, got 2-3 charges off my NiMH's.

One place I did find a plug was from some ZincAir battery people, I never ordered it though as at the time their were issues importing the batteries into my country.

Here is the URL for the Zinc Air batteries, they don't specify the G3, but they do do a battery for the A series powershots:
http://www.instant-power.com/sales/mod_sale_cam.cfm?dev=dig&bra=canon&mods=powershot