BG-E3 batter pack operates with only one Battey

[ddelallata]

Did you guys know this? I quickly drained the 6 AA batteries on my D-Rebel XT and my extra Li-ion battery had not arrived at my house yet so I tried it with only one battery and it worked just fine :) I just thought that I'd share that info with you guys.

[FlyingPete]

Yep, but the real concern is (and I have not seen clarification on this yet) is what happens if the two batteries differ in specifications, if the BP uses both at once, this will be an issue (most likely) if it uses one, then switches to the second, it shouldn't be an issue.

[robertwgross]

what happens if the two batteries differ in specifications

You guys really don't get it.

There are BP-511 batteries and BP-511A batteries. The latter has a slightly higher capacity in terms of milli-ampere-hours. Other than that, they are the same. One might have a slightly different rating in volts, but that is a rating thing that varies from one vendor to another. Whether it is rated at 7.2 or 7.4 volts does not matter.

Now, Canon will tell you that you ought to use two matched batteries in one battery grip. Why?

If you have one battery that is fully charged, and maybe the open circuit voltage measures 8.0 volts, and one battery that is not fully charged, and maybe it measures 7.0 volts, then what happens?

The camera ends up drawing nearly all of its power from the hot battery, not the weak one. Further, sometimes current will flow from the hot one into the weak one, and that flow goes through the internal resistance of the battery, so it is lost.

The bottom line is that this will work, but it is not the very best way to use batteries.

---Bob Gross---

[FlyingPete]

You guys really don't get it.

There are BP-511 batteries and BP-511A batteries. The latter has a slightly higher capacity in terms of milli-ampere-hours. Other than that, they are the same. One might have a slightly different rating in volts, but that is a rating thing that varies from one vendor to another. Whether it is rated at 7.2 or 7.4 volts does not matter.

Now, Canon will tell you that you ought to use two matched batteries in one battery grip. Why?

If you have one battery that is fully charged, and maybe the open circuit voltage measures 8.0 volts, and one battery that is not fully charged, and maybe it measures 7.0 volts, then what happens?

The camera ends up drawing nearly all of its power from the hot battery, not the weak one. Further, sometimes current will flow from the hot one into the weak one, and that flow goes through the internal resistance of the battery, so it is lost.

The bottom line is that this will work, but it is not the very best way to use batteries.

---Bob Gross---

That was my point different specifications/different capacities (capacity is a specification). I have 1100, 1300, 1400 and one 1600mAH batteries, as you pointed out and I was wondering, running the 1100 and 1600 together is not such a good idea (I have had issues with mixing differing capacity NiMh’s before).

As a side point though, the 350D RebelXT does not use BP-511’s.

[robertwgross]

That was my point different specifications/different capacities (capacity is a specification). I have 1100, 1300, 1400 and one 1600mAH batteries, as you pointed out and I was wondering, running the 1100 and 1600 together is not such a good idea (I have had issues with mixing differing capacity NiMh?s before).

As a side point though, the 350D RebelXT does not use BP-511?s.

NB-2LH is another lithium ion battery, just the same, but with less capacity.

Again, I would avoid trying to use one fully charged battery and one weak one together. Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

---Bob Gross---

[ddelallata]

NB-2LH is another lithium ion battery, just the same, but with less capacity.

Again, I would avoid trying to use one fully charged battery and one weak one together. Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

---Bob Gross---

Good point.. When I got my extra NB-2LH yesterday I made sure to fully charge both batteries before puting them back in the magazine. Thanks guys. I just thought that it was interesting that there is no mention anywhere that the battery pack can operate with only one battery.

[Toogy]

I only ever use ONE battery in my grip at a time. It lasts forever and this way I will always have a freshly charged battery instead of two depleted batteries.

[jimtfoto]

Did you guys know this? I quickly drained the 6 AA batteries on my D-Rebel XT and my extra Li-ion battery had not arrived at my house yet so I tried it with only one battery and it worked just fine :) I just thought that I'd share that info with you guys.

I think there's actually a schematic drawing on the inside of the battery grips that represent into which slot you should place a single battery.

cheers,
jim

[bachscuttler]

I know this is an old thread but thought this would be relevant.


You can run the grip with one battery in either slot.

[Mitcon]

Also I wouldn't worry about making sure both batteries are fully charged. READ the manual that came with the grip, it clearly states that it is ok to use 2 batteries with a different state of charge in them :)

[tim]

The manual with my BG-E2 says you can use batteries with different capacities - ie an 1100mah and an 1800mah battery can be used in the grip at the same time.

[bokeh'ed]

hi Tim,

assuming if u use the 1100mAh + 1800mAh in the grip (giving a 2900mAh capacity), will they discharge concurrently or discharges whatever is in slot 1 followed by slot 2?
The manual with my BG-E2 says you can use batteries with different capacities - ie an 1100mah and an 1800mah battery can be used in the grip at the same time.

[tim]

hi Tim,

assuming if u use the 1100mAh + 1800mAh in the grip (giving a 2900mAh capacity), will they discharge concurrently or discharges whatever is in slot 1 followed by slot 2?

They discharge concurrently, I suspect they'll go down reasonably evenly even with differing capacity batteries.

[Jon]

Pre-repair, my BG-E2 drained one battery completely, then gave me a "Dead battery" even though the second one had a full charge. The battery capacities were different, although I don't know if that was a factor. I haven't tried 2 batteries in the grip to exhaustion since it came back, although I have located a matched pair for whenever I do run the test.

[bachscuttler]

I've just uploaded my review on the BG-E3 which can be found here (http://www.shutterschool.com/bge3/)

Please let me know if you have any comments/suggestions.