Battery charging Question: I have a Nikon D7100 with one Nikon battery and one other brand battery (recommended by my local photo shop). I have the normal Nikon Battery Charger (MH-25)...

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

I have a Nikon D7100 with one Nikon battery and one other brand battery (recommended by my local photo shop). I have the normal Nikon Battery Charger (MH-25) that works well when plugged into an electric outlet at home.

My question is whether or not any of you have found a way to charge the battery from an external device. I have a 15,000mAh 5V/2A Power Bank that I use to charge my iPhone and iPad and it works great. It only has a USB port for output so I plugged it into my camera directly with the cable provided but it did not seem to charge the battery. Have any of you had any experience with this?

It's a real question because we'll be going to South America next spring and will be in some out of the way places with unreliable electricity and I want to be sure I can charge my camera batteries. (I will have at least two batteries.) We will also be going to Africa with the same problems. Any help is appreciated.

jliane Loc: Washington state

jaycoffman wrote:

I have a Nikon D7100 with one Nikon battery and on... (show quote)

If you are going on safari in Africa, ask your tour company if they have outlets in your tour vehicle for charging batteries. Ours did. Also, the camps had charging outlets in a central area.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Thanks--that's probably what I have to do--they had all that on our last African trip but there were places where we only had electricity for a couple of hours and limited outlets so my wife and I had to coordinate very carefully. And maybe I just need to get one more battery just to be safe.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

jaycoffman wrote:

Thanks--that's probably what I have to do--they had all that on our last African trip but there were places where we only had electricity for a couple of hours and limited outlets so my wife and I had to coordinate very carefully. And maybe I just need to get one more battery just to be safe.

Another trick is to find a small DC to AC inverter, and take that along. The smallest model you can find should work just fine, and won't be either expensive or take up much room. What it allows is using any 12 volt vehicle battery to charge up the camera battery. Just hook the inverter to the 12 volt battery and plug the Nikon battery charger into the AC outlet on the inverter. The advantage is that there are 12 volt vehicle batteries in use just about everywhere you will ever go!

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Thanks - I think I've seen those and that may be just what I need to add.

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

Apaflo wrote:

Another trick is to find a small DC to AC inverter, and take that along. The smallest model you can find should work just fine, and won't be either expensive or take up much room. What it allows is using any 12 volt vehicle battery to charge up the camera battery. Just hook the inverter to the 12 volt battery and plug the Nikon battery charger into the AC outlet on the inverter. The advantage is that there are 12 volt vehicle batteries in use just about everywhere you will ever go!

That seems like a roundabout way of doing things....but if you have no clue about AC/DC I guess that is one way of getting juice where needed ! lol

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

TucsonCoyote wrote:

That seems like a roundabout way of doing things....but if you have no clue about AC/DC I guess that is one way of getting juice where needed ! lol

Okay, you're probably clueless, but that actually is not a requirement for it to work.

The point is that it is inexpensive, takes up little space, and works with a power source that is universally available.

It also works for charging various small battery operated devices when on an extended camping trip. All it takes is an ATV or boat with a 12 volt battery and everything can be used. In such cases is can also be nice to pick up one of the larger inverters, perhaps even an expensive one that produces sine wave output meant for powering strobes. They work with strobes, but many other things too.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

It never hurts to take several batteries. I always have 6 with me. they are good for about 2,000 pictures each.

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

I always take 5-6 batteries also. However, last month on a flight to Hong Kong I had to get a connecting flight in Beijing. I had four batteries in side pockets of my camera bag. Beijing's version of TSA said If I were carrying more than two camera batteries he would take them. Thank goodness the dolt did not check the side pockets.

jim quist wrote:

It never hurts to take several batteries. I always have 6 with me. they are good for about 2,000 pictures each.

Bobbee

jaycoffman wrote:

I have a Nikon D7100 with one Nikon battery..........Any help is appreciated.

My D7100 came with a charger that plugs into the cig. outlet in the car. So if the truck has a cig outlet you are fine. Just wondering how long a battery takes to charge running of that input.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Bobbee wrote:

My D7100 came with a charger that plugs into the cig. outlet in the car. So if the truck has a cig outlet you are fine. Just wondering how long a battery takes to charge running of that input.

With one of those there is no value in the inverter that I mention, at least for charging the camera batteries though it would still work for other batteries. For the camera, get a "cig outlet" matching socket with large alligator clips so that it can be used with just any 12 volt battery.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jaycoffman wrote:

My question is whether or not any of you have found a way to charge the battery from an external device.

I've used chargers like these on all sorts of things for years.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=node%3D9818047011&field-keywords=d7100+battery+chargers

Also, you can get a small battery to carry with you to charge your batteries.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D9818047011&field-keywords=portable+battery+pack

Carrying a few batteries is also good insurance. There are less expensive alternatives to Nikon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=node%3D9818047011&field-keywords=d7100+batteries

muggins88 Loc: Inverness, Florida

jfn007 wrote:

I always take 5-6 batteries also. However, last month on a flight to Hong Kong I had to get a connecting flight in Beijing. I had four batteries in side pockets of my camera bag. Beijing's version of TSA said If I were carrying more than two camera batteries he would take them. Thank goodness the dolt did not check the side pockets.

There are new regulations out for how many batteries you can check in luggage and how many you can carry on. They security is now going to peak so be prepared.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

As you have discovered, you can't charge your camera battery through USB. The DC/AC inverter would be my suggestion also. You can get them at most any auto parts outlet. Get the smallest you can find. Just check that the inverter output is at least as much as the charger input. Many come with both alligator clips and lighter/power port plugs. The odds are that your safari company will let you plug it in while driving, or while parked at the compound. You will probably make new friends (who want to plug in their chargers!).
Just the same, take as many freshly charged batteries with you as you can.
If you are going to be flying on regional airlines when in Africa make sure to check their websites for luggage weight and size restrictions. Especially for carry-on. They will be much less then international flights.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

muggins88 wrote:

There are new regulations out for how many batteries you can check in luggage and how many you can carry on. They security is now going to peak so be prepared.

The current TSA regs continue to prohibit loose lithium batteries in checked luggage. Loose lithium batteries are allowed in carry-on with no current restrictions except that they have their protective covers in place. AA, AAA, C, & D batteries (except for lithium types such as Energizer Ultimate Lithium) are not covered by those restrictions but should be in factory packaging, if possible.
It's a good idea to carry any batteries in your carry-on.
Lithium batteries in electrical devices, such as tablets, etc, can go in checked baggage.