Camcorder eating battery!

[jitter]

Check the manual to see if it warns against using the camcorder on external power without battery installed. If it doesn't, I see no reason why you couldn't use the other batteries via the external input.

Please let us know if the camcorder works longer that way.

[Roushon]

I will check the manual, but do not remember reading
such a warning. It does suggest using the AC adaptor
to run the camcorder whenever possible. I have also seen
that the installed battery does not drain when the
camcorder is used with the AC adaptor. So I feel if I use it
with the external battery (as I plan) with the internal
battery installed then it will run for a longer time.

I will post the outcome.

Thanks and regards
Roushon.

[Roushon]

Just checked the manual. Explicitly written that one may or may not
keep the battery pack installed while using the camcorder with the
ac adaptor. And even if the battery is installed it will not be drained
at all. I will now go ahead and set up the external battery pack.

Thanks for the discussion...

Regards
Roushon.

[jitter]

Good to know.
One thing I just thought of... keep an eye on the charge of the external batteries. The camcorder will probably warn for "low power" only on the internal battery as that won't be necessary for an AC adaptor. Chances are you'll drain the external batteries below the "point of no return", and, as you might expect from that expression, then they'll die.

[Roushon]

Thanks for the caution! I also thought about this issue. But found a solution to it. When the internal battery is installed and it is running on ac adaptor, disconnection of the ac adaptor (or voltage droping below 7.4v in the ac daptor) makes the
camcorder automatically start draining the internal battery. So I thought of
keeping a charged internal battery installed for such emergency. This will
protect both the external battery (from excessive discharge) as well as the continuation of the recording. The moment the battery indicator appears on the screen I will know that the external battery needs a charge.

Thanks again.

Reagrds
Roushon.

[wwenze]

Wonder if there are electrolytic caps inside that are too old and are leaking current...

[Roushon]

Originally Posted by wwenze

Wonder if there are electrolytic caps inside that are too old and are leaking current...

May be, but it is unlikely as the ac adaptor does not heat up excessively
when the camcorder is used using it. Also it is `made in japan' and only
6 years old. Not expecting capacitor will go bad so fast.

Regards
Roushon.

[Roushon]

Some of the big batteries I had were discharged below the
critical level for I kept it connected with the charger for a
long time. So sourced some LG 3000mAh batteries and
got my 8.4v 16Ah. Everything fit inside the camcorder bag
well and working as if it is connected with the adaptor.
Only issue is that it has got a tail now...

Roushon.