Different batteries in battery grip

[prime80]

I plan on getting the BG-E3 battery grip for my XT, and would like to get a sterlingtek battery to go along with it. My question is...Can I put the sterlingtek in the grip with my Canon battery? Or do I have to have two similar batteries? Also, can I use the grip with just one battery in it?

[CyberDyneSystems]

I do not have an actual answer.. but in general it is a bad idea to use two differnet voltages or MHA rated batteries in a set up like this.

I therefore allways purchased batteries for my grip in matched pairs.

[martook]

I just did the same thing... got a batterygrip and two new (Ansmann) batteries. If I ever manage to drain the new batteries, I have the Canon battery as backup, and use that while charging the Ansmanns.

Yes, you can use only one battery, so I have a 2+1 battery strategy now (erh... that sounded a bit silly :) ), which means I'll never run out of batteries in the field... I don't shoot as much as some people here do.

[prime80]

Thanks for the replies...I guess I'll just buy two new batteries.

[Spots]

but in general it is a bad idea to use two differnet voltages or MHA rated batteries in a set up like this.

Just out of curiosity what will happen if you do use two different batteries?

Cheers
Spots

[Mitcon]

I agree with the above that it's always better to use 2 the same if you can. You can use the grip just fine with one battery. If you read the instructions that come with the grip they state you can also use 2 batteries with a different state of charge to each other.

[tim]

I agree with the above that it's always better to use 2 the same if you can. You can use the grip just fine with one battery. If you read the instructions that come with the grip they state you can also use 2 batteries with a different state of charge to each other.

Good information there, I probably have the manual somewhere but I never read it...

I don't have two matched batteries, I have three different ones, I could probably get matched ones if it really mattered.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Just out of curiosity what will happen if you do use two different batteries?

Cheers
Spots

No idea spots.. but every battery operaterd product I have ever owned and bothered to read the manual of,. and every battery charger I've ever read the manual for.. they all advise against this.

[Jon, The Elder]

As long as your voltage matches - you can use any combination of battery brands. One battery can be used in the grip (I do it all the time).

[Spots]

No idea spots.. but every battery operaterd product I have ever owned and bothered to read the manual of,. and every battery charger I've ever read the manual for.. they all advise against this.

I don't think I have ever bothered to read a manual concerning the batteries :o maybe this is where my problem lies :lol: I just figure that if the manufacturer of the battery suggests it for use in the product I am going to put it in then it will be ok to use. Is this dumb or what? :o :lol: :rolleyes:

Oh and I wasn't trying to be sarcastic when I asked the question I just wanted to know what to expect because I have a Steringtek and a Canon battery in right now. :confused:

[Jackal]

Have there been any reports of Steringtek batteries doing any harm to cameras? I know they have higher mAH than the Canon ones. I guess what really matters is the voltage and not how much it can hold right?

[Salleke]

Just out of curiosity what will happen if you do use two different batteries?

Cheers
Spots

Spots - If you mix two battery from let's say 750 mAh and 1000 mAh with the same Voltage (IMPARATIVE!!!) and you charge this combo in the same charger, you have to charge for the 1000 mAh battery. In other words: if the 750 mAh battery is charged in 3 hours and the 1000 mAh in 5 hours, you must charge 5 hours to charge the 1000 mAh battery whit it's full charge. If you have a good recent charger it's no problem to charge the 750 mAh for a longer time. You can even let it charge over night. You will not have many problems with two batterys of a different current. But like other members mentioned keep it prefareble the same mAh.

But remember that you NEVER may mix two batterys with different Voltage togheter in parallel.
And I mean NEVER EVER. From the moment you do that the batterys will get very hot and you'll likely will get a explosion.
The more power the batterys have the more dangerous this will be.
There are many explanations for this but it's to long to explain it in a few words.

[BoySpot]

I am curious why there is a concern with matching different capacity batteries. The grip actually shows you how to install a battery along with the DC power supply and they must surely be further apart in performance characteristics than two batteries of different capacity. How does the grip handle the power from each cell. I assume it must use one or the other and swicth between them. If this is the case, wouldn't that suggest they don't even have to be evenly charged?

[SkipD]

I am curious why there is a concern with matching different capacity batteries. The grip actually shows you how to install a battery along with the DC power supply and they must surely be further apart in performance characteristics than two batteries of different capacity. How does the grip handle the power from each cell. I assume it must use one or the other and swicth between them. If this is the case, wouldn't that suggest they don't even have to be evenly charged?The documentation provided with the grip says specifically that IF TWO BATTERY PACKS ARE INSERTED, POWER IS SUPPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY BY BOTH BATTERY PACKS. From this, I can assume that this means that they are wired in parallel somewhere in the circuit. It is possible that they are diode isolated, but there is nothing in writing to support that.

If two batteries of significantly different capacity or different levels of charge are inserted and used in parallel (without diode isolation), the "strongest" battery will ultimately try to charge the weaker of the two. This is generally something to avoid. Thus, a good recommendation would be to use two batteries of equal capacity and equal charge level.

I only use one battery at a time in my grip. Keeps the camera a little lighter, and I also KNOW when one is down the tubes and change it out. That is also how I can use my three batteries of various manufacture and capacities with no problems.

[BoySpot]

So, will the DC supply charge a battery while in the grip?

[SkipD]

So, will the DC supply charge a battery while in the grip?I don't see anything in the grip's documentation about that, but I would seriously doubt that it would be possible.

My reasoning is this: The voltage of the DC supply is designed to replace a battery, requiring it to have the same output voltage as a battery. A charger must have an output voltage that is significantly higher than the nominal voltage of the battery to be charged. In addition, chargers for these batteries typically have the ability to measure battery voltage and temperature as well as control the current being fed to them in a charging cycle.

[Spots]

Thanks for the great explanations! I think I will only use one at a time also because



I only use one battery at a time in my grip. Keeps the camera a little lighter, and I also KNOW when one is down the tubes and change it out. That is also how I can use my three batteries of various manufacture and capacities with no problems.

makes perfect sense!

::Spots

[tim]

I'm going to use my various batteries of various capacities at the same time - the manual says it's ok, so why would you not? Weight of the battery is minimal compared with the weight of the camera and the lens.

The grip definitely makes the camera seem more solid. I like it.

[BoySpot]

So, if the DC supply isn't going to charge the other battery, why would a battery of slightly different charge levels do so?