Camcorder eating battery!

[Roushon]

I purchased this Canon DC10 DVD-camcorder about 6
years back. It could record 25 minutes with one battery
(BP-208) when it was new. Now even with a new fully
charged battery it records only about 7 to 10 minutes. The
recording is fantastic as it used to be. But it is eating
battery fast. What could be the reason?

For a solution I thought of purchasing a big size (fitting in
my bag) lithium-ion battery (say 12volt) and then convert
it to the required voltage using LM317 and then feed it to
the camcorder through the dc in (where the AC adapter
power supply goes). Will it work or I will just destroy the
camera?

Thanks for any suggestion.
Roushon

[analog_sa]

Originally Posted by Roushon

What could be the reason?

Fake after market battery?

Your solution will work but the voltage drop across the linear regulator will contribute to wasted power. How many volts does the AC adaptor provide?

[Roushon]

Originally Posted by analog_sa

Fake after market battery?

Your solution will work but the voltage drop across the linear regulator will contribute to wasted power. How many volts does the AC adaptor provide?

Thanks for your reply. I did not expect the battery to be fake as I purchased
from some good shop and Canon is printed on it, expensive too! Still it could be.

Just now checked the output of the adaptor with a multimeter: 8.2v, printed
8.4v 1.5A. Have some 2Ah 4.2v lithium-ion batteries, will series and
parallel them to get 8.4v and lots of Ah. Can I connect this directly to the
camcorder?

Thanks
Roushon

[Roushon]

The battery (BP-208) I purchased is from the following site.

Canon BP-208 Lithium-Ion Battery (850mAh) 0802B002 B&H Photo

Roushon.

[kevinkr]

What was the mAh rating of the original battery? B&H is reputable, but that does not rule out the possibility that somewhere in their supply chain counterfeit batteries were purchased. Also are you sure there isn't something wrong with the camera itself that is draining the battery?

[Roushon]

The original battery also has 850mAh as the new one. Do not know how
to check if the camera has a problem. It is working perfect as it was
when new. The first battery which came with the camera is already dead
(probably expired) and I cannot even charge it.

Regards
Roushon

[jitter]

Originally Posted by Roushon

Just now checked the output of the adaptor with a multimeter: 8.2v, printed
8.4v 1.5A. Have some 2Ah 4.2v lithium-ion batteries, will series and
parallel them to get 8.4v and lots of Ah. Can I connect this directly to the
camcorder?

I wouldn't. The battery you linked to is 7.4 V, not 8.4 V. The latter value is the charging voltage, not the nominal voltage.

[Roushon]

Originally Posted by jitter

I wouldn't. The battery you linked to is 7.4 V, not 8.4 V. The latter value is the charging voltage, not the nominal voltage.

But I plan to connect the (outside) 8.4v battery at the
point where the adaptor plug goes not where the
camcorder 7.4v battery is connected. Is it not OK then?

Thanks and regards
Roushon.

[jitter]

I'm not sure. Is it possible to run the camcorder on external power without the battery installed?

[Roushon]

Originally Posted by jitter

I'm not sure. Is it possible to run the camcorder on external power without the battery installed?

Yes, it runs on the external power (ac adaptor) without the battery installed.
That is why I thought of the solution in post 1.

Regards
Roushon