External Battery in Cold Weather: I am looking for external batteries that will work in cold weather (-10F to freezing). The output voltage is not important, there are products that...

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I am looking for external batteries that will work in cold weather (-10F to freezing). The output voltage is not important, there are products that will sep up/down the voltage to the proper level for the camera. I am interested in powering a Canon 60D and Sony A5000/RX10M3.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

I would recommend you stay with the camera manufacturer's batteries and keep the batteries close to your body heat.
I returned three weeks ago were I used two cameras and six batteries in temperatures minus twenty two, kept them
charged up and close to my body, not in the camera bag. I had no problems at all.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I agree with Leicaflex. Here in northern WI, that's the recommended procedure. Use batteries from the manufacturer, keep them charged as much as possible and stash them in a warm inside pocket close to your body.

Fat Gregory Loc: Southern New Jersey

Body heat and good quality batteries are the key to Cold Power

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I have read that battery power (not voltage) drops 50% with every 10 degrees C the temperature drops. So the really, really important thing is to keep them warm! So - body heat is good!

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Thank you for the responses but I am looking for an external battery. I shoot 24 hour unattended time lapses and there is no way I can stand around for 24 hours and change batteries as required.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I cant find a link to show you. But I have Canon 1dmk3 1dmk4 1dsmk3.
Each of these cameras came with an accessory. It looks like a battery and you insert it into the battery compartment, but it has a cord attached to it that you plug into an electrical outlet.
You could use that with a generator or an extension cord.
Not sure it helps less you want to invest in another camera body or if you can find this for your cameras.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

jim quist wrote:

I cant find a link to show you. But I have Canon 1dmk3 1dmk4 1dsmk3.
Each of these cameras came with an accessory. It looks like a battery and you insert it into the battery compartment, but it has a cord attached to it that you plug into an electrical outlet.
You could use that with a generator or an extension cord.
Not sure it helps less you want to invest in another camera body or if you can find this for your cameras.

I use the dummy battery technique for the cameras, I am having problems getting the external batteries to run in the cold. I have one that works fine and another that doesn't. I have made an insulated container for that one that uses hand warmers to keep going. Unfortunately, when the hand warmers go dead so does the battery.

pjeffers

Check out tether tools...they have external batteries to use for timelapse.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

hpucker99 wrote:

Thank you for the responses but I am looking for an external battery. I shoot 24 hour unattended time lapses and there is no way I can stand around for 24 hours and change batteries as required.

I took a night sky photography course a couple of years ago, and everyone had to bring several Thermacare heat wraps to prevent moisture from forming on the lens. They are cheap and work very well.

https://smile.amazon.com/ThermaCare-Air-Activated-Wrist-Shoulder-Therapy/dp/B0028AD6V0/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1489577097&sr=1-4&keywords=thermacare&th=1

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

hpucker99 wrote:

I am looking for external batteries that will work in cold weather (-10F to freezing). The output voltage is not important, there are products that will sep up/down the voltage to the proper level for the camera. I am interested in powering a Canon 60D and Sony A5000/RX10M3.

Nikon used to make the neatest cold weather battery packs for their film camera's. My Nikon F3HP had a two AA battery pack (DB-2) that I put under my coat and sweatshirt, sweater, undershirt, and the cord ran from it to my camera body. My batteries stayed warm and toasty.

cthahn

There are no batteries that work well in cold weather. Your statement that voltage does not make an difference is totally false. You can not make something out of nothing. Read and learn about batteries and voltage, current, and resistance. There is a definite relationship between the three known as ohms law.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

hpucker99 wrote:

I am looking for external batteries that will work in cold weather (-10F to freezing). The output voltage is not important, there are products that will sep up/down the voltage to the proper level for the camera. I am interested in powering a Canon 60D and Sony A5000/RX10M3.

I suggest that you take a look at the Lithium batteries used on power tools. ( and have the correct chargers).

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

StanRP wrote:

I suggest that you take a look at the Lithium batteries used on power tools. ( and have the correct chargers).

Meh. I have lots of li-ion batteries for power tools that are only rated to operate down to -4F.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

OddJobber wrote:

Meh. I have lots of li-ion batteries for power tools that are only rated to operate down to -4F.

Minus 4F - not minus 4C. You are right. At -4F lithium batteries just about stop working.

Lets try again: NiCad: These will operate down to - 40F where the max discharge goes down to 0.2C at a five hour rate.

No problem this time - -40F is the same as -40C :-)