Nickle Metal Hydride Batteries in CoolPix 950

Just curious. Does the manual suggest that you can use these?

Also, My brother turned me on to Energizer Lithium AA's _{(Not an endorsement)} for my Fuji. They're great. Lots of life even with flash. I haven't done a cost benefit study, and I know that wasn't the question, but buy two and try them. They aren't rechargeable.

Also, does it really turn off?

I see there are 1.2 volt NiMH D cell batteries, so 5 of these in series could provide a 6.0 volt battery pack, connected via the camera's AC-to-DC adapter input connection. Or 5 NiMH AA cells could be used for a smaller battery pack.

This might end-up being a "semi-solution".....but the whole point of this small camera is the operative word......small. I'd like to keep it all in one package so as to reach-in the bag, pull it out, turn it on..... click.

Thank you....... Mike

The large owners manual (on CD) states:

"Four 1.5V AA (LR6) alkaline batteries
(1.2V NiCd, 1.5V NiMH, 1.5V lithium R6 batteries may also be used)"

Yes..... I understand Lithium batteries offer more life, but I'm trying to use rechargable batteries for less overall cost, re-use the same batteries time and time again and not fill-up the earth with millions and millions of disposed batteries.

Thank you .......Mike

All the sites i have viewed say its designed for both types of battery so it must auto sense the the diff between 1.5 and 1.2 i would suggest if its in warranty, to contact manufacturesrs and ask them.

http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam/User-Guide/950/index.html

http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/coolpix/cp950rm.pdf

taken from this link you could try leaving batteries out until internal battery runs down then perhaps it sense automaticly the lower voltage

http://www.nikon.com/about/news/1999/e950-e_99.htm

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/

You are quite right Peter.... the 950 can use several types of AA batteries......and you would think the camera would detect the voltage differences with Alkaline 1.5 volts vs NiMH 1.2 volts....... but obviously it does not.

With fresh NiMH batteries installed (each battery at 1.33 volts = 5.32 volts) the camera battery meter registers 1/2 battery.

When the batteries drop to circa 5 volts (in about 2--3 mins) the camera shuts down automatically.

I have four (4) Nikon 950's and only use two of them at any one time, so the other two sit for months without batteries in them. When I put fresh new NiMH batteries in these dormant cameras..... the results are the same.... 2--3 mins of operation, then auto-shut-down.

Thanks for you excellent thoughts and links.

Mike

Just a thought have you acces to a multi meter ?

reaso i ask i have come accross some new 1.2 volt batteries that were in fact 1.1 and it would only need one bat to be low to cause a problem.

as i said in othe posting all the ads say it can run on all types of battery.

if the new rechargable batts are the correct voltage i can only suggest contacting Nikon and ask them.

and yes the new energiser batteries are very good. but not rechargable

Yes..... I have an extremely accurate volt meter, so I can measure each batter to 5 decimal places if I wish.

You make a good point though. I usually try to keep batteries in like sets... ie.... same make bought on the same day out of the same package.

However, since all else has failed, I think I'll try to group them into same voltage groups so as to group the highest voltage ones all together and see if this make any difference.

Nice one Peter.......thank you.

Mike

it might also work if you use 1 energiser and 3 rechargables = 5.1 volts

whereas 4 1.2 =4.8 which is a full 1.2 volts lower than the 6 volts of a 4X1.5

nope, the lower voltage cells will pull the higher voltage cell down.

I don't think 5.1 volts is going to net me anything.....not to mention the 1.5 battery will take greater load from all the lower voltage batteries plus what the camera draws.

Cheers....... Mike

I have a 950 I've used a lot in the past for selling stuff on eBay; nice camera. I use the AC power adapter most of the time, otherwise it goes through the standard 1.55 volt AA batteries in a blink. I believe the auto-focus motor helps to eat up the batteries.

I can understand how the 950 considers a 1.2 volt battery nearly a dead battery. Only thing I can think of is to built an external battery pack. The Nikon AC adapter outputs 6.5 VDC at 2.5 Amps. The AC adapter's DC output connector is common and readily available. How about a series stack of four D cells as a first attempt to look for an improvement in battery life. I realize you may not care to lug around a battery pack.

I've got a 4GB Scan Disk Ultra II compact flash that won't work in the 950 camera ... it will only accept a 2GB, max. Anyone have a 2GB compact flash they want to swap for a 4GB flash?

Right on the money comments Bill......and you're right.... I really don't want to lug a extra battery pack around and also deal with the connecting cord.

All this seriously detracts from the mobility and portability of this great camera......but something needs to happen .......or I throw the whole lot in the trash and start over.

Sadly.... nothing on the market matches what I've been able to do with this great camera. All the (now) very inexpensive lens (17mm fisheye to 600mm).....and wonderful attachments like the Halo lens light all add to this great camera package that's the size of a loaf of bread.

All in all.......for longer shoots I just might have to live with a 6.0 to 6.5 volt NiMH auxillary battery pack......and for quick shots just use the internal AA batteries.

My thanks to all of you that have taken your time to help me.

My best to you all.

Mike Cecchini

Bethesda, Maryland USA

One thing I forgot to comment on Mike is that I save all the "expired" 950 "AA" batteries and use them in flashlights; there's plenty of charge leftover for a light bulb.

I haven't quite caught onto the rechargeable battery thing. I'm so use to buying a COSTO pack of the Duracell's. Years ago I had problems with some of the early rechargeable batteries that gave me a bad $$ experience.

I could live with a battery pack because of my limited camera use. I usually carry a baggie of AA's with me when using the 950. Digi-Key sells an assortment of Keystone battery holders, FYI.

I hear you Bill. I don't throw much away these days that has any use left in them.

I refuse to go through standard or alkaline batteries like water in the 950 and then have 100-200 of the sitting around waiting for some sort of use. Frankly I'd never use them around the house at the same rate the 950 eats them as I barely use 2--4 AA batteries in 6 months around here.

I know the Costco thing is easy.......but today's recharagable NiMH batteries are amazing and along with the LaCross BC-900 ( http://tinyurl.com/2e8sdvx ) which is the most amazing battery charger I've ever seen and tells you everything while it's charging a battery..... even how many mah hours it put into the batter..... along with lcd screens for each battery..... wow !!!

Thanks for the Keystone battery holder information as I'm going to build two (2) 5 cell "AA" NiMH packs and two (2) 5 cell "D" packs so I can have all the power I need.

Thanks again Bill.

Mike

Thanks for the charger info, Mike. Ebay has them, too. I'll have to give the NiMH batteries a try with the high tech battery charger. Bill

Your going to love that charger.... it's been blowing my socks off for the past 8 months I've had mine. Anything you want to know about the batteries you put into it, you can scroll through each mini-lcd screen and find out the status of each battery.

Get the $50 kit as it has lots stuff that comes with it....C cell and D cell adaptors and AA & AAA NiMH batteries.

Welcome to the 21st century ...... ;))

My best.........Mike

Buy lithium batteries. They are worth the extra cost. They will last many times longer than carbon/zinc and NiMH batteries. Once you use Lithium batteries, you'll never look back.

Lithiums are AMAZINNG! They are used in my Segway, but a new double pack will set me back over a grand ... not looking forward to that day.

You can't recharge Lithium batteries. I want rechargables. NiCads have memory issues......so it's NiMh for me.

Thanks........ Mike

Hi Mike, You mean you can't recharge Lithiums in your present charger? Lithiums are rechargeable. Same widgets used in most laptops.

BillR, no, rechargeable Lithium Ion cells output 3V and therefore can't be used in conventional AA configuration. The Lithium cells we are discussing use Lithium/Iron chemistries and output between 1.6 to 1.4V and are not rechargeable. Energizer makes them.

From what I've read Lithium batteries cannot be recharged..... only Lithium Ion batteries can be recharged.

Thanks..... Mike

Is there not an option in the set up menu to set the battery type? I currently have a Nikon with that setting and every camera I have ever used has it. I do not know much about cameras but it seems to be an impossibilty to expect the camera to magically know you put in batteries that have less voltage than the scale it is set up to monitor. Again, I don't knowmuch about cameras, so maybe someone could enlighten me on this auto detection thing.

Nope......not on the 950.....there is no menu for different battery types. It's a mid-90's camera and one of Nikon's first digi types......so somebody dropped the ball on this.

Mike:

I know that you have not thought about this, and it is not part and parcle if the original question, but have you given any thought to the heat generation from recharging NiMH batteries in the camera? We have some Park Flyers that teid to recharge their NiMH batteries, in the plane, and ended up with a neat little fire.

I suspect you are going to try to recharge the batteries, using the charger included with the camera, and will, without a doubt, burn a hole in your investment. There is a reason that the OEM didn't want appliance operators to use NiMH batteries. The safe way to recharge these is by putting the battery in a filled watertight container (an amunition can works well) and let it charge. The charger for the NiMH battery is specific to the type. A NiCd charger will overcharge the NiMH battery and cause it to explode.

I recommend you contact the camera OEM and several battery companies (you probably wont believe the first answer you get) for their recommendation.

Good Luck in the contest and don't forget the marshmellows.

Good thoughts on the heat angle......but 950's don't charge batteries in the camera.

Thanks........ Mike

The 950 doesn't charge batteries in the camera, so there's no problem there.

Another (expensive) solution is to use Coolpix 4500 instead of the 950. The 4500 has the same lens mount and can accomodate the Macro Light. I'm not a Nikon agent - just an occasional user.

Great thinking outside the box Dovy...... but what makes you think the 4500 can distinguish between 1.5 volt batteries and 1.2 volt batteries ? Do you have a 4500 ?? If so, if I buy you some NiMH batteries will you test them in the 4500 for me ?? Thanks.......Mike

The 4500 uses a Nikon EN-EL1 Lithium-Ion battery pack (7.4V, 680mAh). It is rechargable using their MH-53 charger which outputs 8.4V at 600mA. From the power supply point of view it is therefore incompatible with the 950.

As a replacement for the 950 it is OK, being, I think the last CoolPix with a stationary objective lens which can use screwed on filter, supplementary lenses etc.

It can probably be found on eBay for $2-300, including a battery and charger.

It probably can use an external power supply but I think that in most cases (excluding long-term time-lapse work) having 2 batteries, thus keeping a charged one in reserve is quite sufficient.

Switching over to the Nikon 4500 makes little sense with it's proprietary Litium-Ion battery pack when the 950 uses common everyday size AA batteries......even if the 950 lenses will fit the 4500.

Also the 4500 is a much wider and heavier camera than the slim 950 which is already at the size limits of a camera I wish to use.

Thanks for your thoughts........ Mike

Have you ever considered buying Rechargeable Alkaline batteries, they work at 1.5 volts....should fix your problem completely I feel.......buy a good make.

Here is where you can buy some (but many offer them in other places I believe):-

http://nservices.com/battery.htm

Its a shame that the camera is so sensitive to voltage, thats a bad design I feel, maybe the firmware update will help....Best of luck.

I never had good luck with Alkalines. My hunch is the battery sensitivity is hardwired into the camera and can't helped with firmware. But I believe there was once a firmware change incorporated to reduce the auto-focusing activity. It's an "old" camera.

Hi Andy,

Yes, seems 950's are quite sensitive to voltage. I have the latest firmware update (V1.3) .....and with the age of these cameras... 13 yrs old...... I doubt any more updates will be forthcoming..

I didn't realize there were recharagble Alkaline batteries. What charger have you been using ?

I've been using this one for NiMH batteries.... http://tinyurl.com/2e8sdvx and it is incredible....but it only does NiCad and NiMh batteries. I'd like to find one for alkalines that would give me information while it's charging the alkalines also. Any suggestions ?

Thank you for your thoughts and comments.

Mike

In the original post I also posted a link to a company that sells the batteries and the special charger for these 1.5 volt batteries. Click on it and take a look.....it was either post #20 or 22, I forget now....

There are several manufacturers of the batteries and the chargers, buy a good make, my link was just to illustrate the possibility.

But BEFORE you invest any money further, you must see just how long normal Alkaline cells hold out in your camera (I am sure you know that already) if its only a short time as well, then I would say buy a new camera, they are SOOOOO cheap nowadays..... probably cheaper in the long run than a special charger and 2 sets (minimum) of batteries......

I don't use them personally, but I know of several "older" cameras that need exactly those types......I also know several people with older cameras that eat 2 sets of batteries at breakfast alone......

Go at it scientifically.......

The possibility is that this camera probably needs to be used only at home with an external power supply only.....or make a powerful battery set in an over the shoulder bag and a yard of connecting cable for outside usage, then use C or D cells with a GOOD quality charger, one from Ansmann for example......

Remember cheap chargers also ruin good/expensive batteries, a good quality charger MUST charge EACH cell individually (never 2 or more together!) and carefully monitor the charge individually on each cell as well....I also especially like the ones with a small built in cooling fan.....

Furthermore, a good charger will recognise (or have a switch) to allow older NICADS also to be charged, my Ansmann has breathed fresh life into many old NICAD cells allowing them to be used further.

Battery packs made of individual cells (like your camera for example) need to have all batteries of same type, same manufacturer, bought from the same lot on the same day......and never run below empty!!!!! That reverse polarizes the cell that is empty first!!! A short life is the result!!

Email me if you need further infos via CR4 email....

Hi Andy....... first let me say that I have five (5) Nikon 050's that I have set-up individually and
use in all sorts of configurations. have all the fish-eye, zoom, telephoto and several specialty
lenses for each of these cameras, so when you say for me to buy another camera because they are so
cheap these days... you really don't understand what I have invested in my 950 systems (probably
over $5000)......and what it would cost me to duplicate it "IF" I could find a small, twist body
camera that has all the lenses I want and need.

Frankly, there's nothing on the planet that is as small as the 950 and has the lenses and
accessories I want/need, not to mention I really like the 950 and want to stay with it. So if I have
to either build external recharage battery packs with five (5) external NiMH AA 1.2 volt batteries
that I can easily monitor and charge...... or I go with four internal (4) 1.5 volt rechargeable
Alkaline....... I will still be WAYYYYYY ahead of the game by keeping a camera I really really love.

I hear you loud and clear about quality batteries and a specific battery charger for each battery
with cooling. This is great advice and I will take it to heart........but like you say, first
things first and this is to find out if 4 rechargable 1.5 volt Alkaline batteries are up to the
task......or do I go with an external five (5) NiMH 1.2 volt external battery packs.

Here's something I just found while trying to find high quality rechargable AA alkalines and a high quality charger for them......
http://tinyurl.com/2892f8k It's rechargable Nickle Zinc AA bateries with 1.6 volts nominal........but read the comments and reviews. I'd like to hear what you have to say about these NiZn batteries vs rechargable Alkalines.

Btw..... I don't want to re-creat the wheel here, so when you say: "There are several manufacturers
of the batteries and the chargers, buy a good make...." .... please offer me some names or possibly
some links to companies in North America (preferably)......that make quality batteries and
chargers. This would really help me do the very best I can in all this.

Thank you very much Andy. My best........ Mike

Thats a big investment, I was not aware of just how much money was involved.....sorry.

I live in Europe and I believe you are in the USA, that means different manufacturers may be better for you, also, as I mentioned, I have never needed, nor bought, nor used this type of battery personally.....

I just wanted to draw your attention to this as a possibility to help you with your (fully understandable) problem....

After reading your last post it would appear to be a good anwer to your problem PROVIDED the battery life is acceptable with normal alkalines.....thats you must know already, or not?

Best of luck.

Not normal Alkalines Andy...... the ability to recharge my batteries started this whole agenda......so I went with AA NiMh batts not realizing:

#1 the Nikon 950 wouldn't like them.

#2. Rechargeable AA Alkaline batteries existed.

Thank you for all your kind words and advice.

My best...... Mike

You appear to have misunderstood me, lets try again....

If the lifespan of NORMAL Alkalines is fully acceptable, then I am sure that the lifespan of the rechargeables will be similar or better, eg. Fully acceptable.

BUT

If the lifespan of the Alkalines is the same as NIMH batteries, then you will probably gain nothing over normal NIMH, which you already have.....no pint in buying more new batteries of any type.....

Understood?

I guess I should have posted this on day one.

Battery Lifespan in the Nikon 950

"ordinary" 1.5 volt disposable non-rechargable batteries: 15--20 minutes.

NiMh 1.2 volt recharagable 2000 mah batteries: 5--10 mins.

Alkaline non-rechargable batteries: 20--30 mins.

These Alkaline non-rechargable batteries are unacceptable to me because they are one use throw-a-way batteries and I no longer want to buy or put 500--1000 batteries in the trash.

I am hoping that recharagble Alkaline batteries are at least as good as the non-rechargable ones..... but even if they are only 80% as good.... at least I won't be buying so many batteries that end up in the trash.

I care about this planet and this is the least I can do for it.

Thanks Andy.

The info is good (a bit sooner would have been great, but what the hell....!)

There is only one way to go now isn't there?

Keep us posted on results, you are now our "test person"!!

What you are likely to find out is that these batteries will be better in ALL our cameras, not just yours!!!

Amen Andy........amen.

Hey Andy...... I don't see rechargable Alkaline batteries on that site.

I'm having trouble finding ANY rechargable Alkaline batteries at all. Are you sure they exist ??

I think you are right...... if I can find rechargable AA Alkalines it sure would make life easier for me.

Thanks....... Mike

My apologies to all concerned, I seem to have posted the wrong link!!

Senoir moment!

Look here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechargeable_alkaline_battery

and here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recharging_alkaline_batteries

and here for ordering:-

http://www.akkushop.de/accucell-acl62-schnellladegeraet-fuer-15-volt-aufladbare-alkaline-p-16.html

My sincere apologies.....hopefully these links will answer all further question.

No worries Andy..... you don't have to apologize for being human.

Thank you very much....... Mike

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/53152/NIKON-Coolpix-950-Troubleshooting

Hi, my Coolpix 950 quit totally any action after maybe 5 years without batteries and intermittent operation with a suitable power-supply.

Apparently the internal backup battery (very deeply hidden in the electronics part) quit its function after only once deeply down in voltage.

I removed it, see details in above post. It is a rechargeable Li-MnO2 3V battery suited for small currents only. And permanently powering the 32 KHz backup oscillator, so if down in voltage no more any camera life. I am not sure if I can bring life again as disassembly and assembly is tricky. And I am not sure why the camera started to consume batteries at a high rate after some years. This is why we used it on a mains based power supply.

If I have success there will be an external backup battery. If I don't have success there will be a new old Coolpix 950.

RHABE

Good luck with re-assembly of the 950. Judging from the pictures, you have a re-assembly challenge. Where did you obtain the service/repair manual for the 950?

Thanks, Bill

Hi,

the manual was from:

http://www.eserviceinfo.com/download.php?fileid=13932

it comes as 2 files .rar extension, each 2.xMB.

I had to get a free 7zip to open it as .pdf

If needed I can send you the file as email.

I have another - more detailed - one, from an astronomical user - superfine photos - that is covering only the maintenance of the mode switch. That seems to be the often worn out part. I have to search for this if needed.

RHABE

Thank you, RHABE. I was able to open the file (two files need to be downloaded into a folder before the .pdf can be opened). Sure is a lot of useful information. Hopefully, I won't need to use it. But if I do, I'm ready to operate on the 950 ... scalpel please. Thanks again, your words of wisdom is appreciated. Bill :)

I hav an old Nikon CoolPix also. Forget the model #, but its only 2 megapixelz and I paid about 350$ for it and a set uv NiMh batteriez & charger.

It haz alwayz been a power hog. Never got more than 20 shots befor it turned off. I thot maybe it wuz the batteriez, but it wuz the same with a fresh pair uv Alkalinez.

I only use it around the house, so I got a generic power supply to run it off the AC.

No answer to my last post #22.......?????

Hi Andy,

Yes, seems 950's are quite sensitive to voltage. I have the latest firmware update (V1.3) .....and with the age of these cameras... 13 yrs old...... I doubt any more updates will be forthcoming..

I didn't realize there were recharagble Alkaline batteries. What charger have you been using ?

I've been using this one for NiMH batteries.... http://tinyurl.com/2e8sdvx and it is incredible....but it only does NiCad and NiMh batteries. I'd like to find one for alkalines that would give me information while it's charging the alkalines also. Any suggestions ?

Thank you for your thoughts and comments.

Mike

The Coolpix 950 comes with alkaline batteries which suggests that that is what the camera is designed to be used with. The camera main battery also has parasitic load of keeping the clock battery charged. If the camera is not used frequently, the main battery's life can be shortened. The internal battery meter is regulated to monitor Alkaline batteries. Any other kind, the meter may not read correctly. I have had experience in getting NiMH batteries to charge to 1.48 volts for racing model cars by using a pulse charger and cooling the batteries with a strong fan to keep them cool.

I had coolpix 990 for years and from day 1 I used NiMH batteries with no problems. No sure if 990 is that much different from 950. Could be a hardware problem.

V-E-R-Y interesting. So you never noticed your 990 having any issues with 1.2 volt NiMh batteries vs 1.5 volt Alkalines ?

My 950 shuts down in 5--10 mins with fresh 1.2 v NiMH batteries. I immediately check each NiMh battery and all of them are still 1.15 -- 1.18 volts and work well immediately in other devices..... so the 950 thinks I have 1.5 volt batteries that have gone down too far.

http://www.powerstream.com/b.htm

Hi Mike,

Take a look at the above link. It's a "universal" Lithium Ion Battery Pack that outputs several voltages. It's pricey. Bill

That's impressive !! $175 isn't that much.

I'm still trying to find rechargable Alkalines though......so if you know where I can find them.... please send me a link.

Thanks Bill.

Look in Amazon.com. They list all types of rechargeable batteries, including alkaline. Alkaline rechargeables have been around for almost 20 yrs.

Ok...... found only one rechargeable Alkaline battery http://tinyurl.com/23o92pv . Read check the reviews and let me know what you think.

Any thoughts or comments on this charger .... http://tinyurl.com/2awcvzn ? Also some interesting reviews

I can't find a charger anywhere near as nice as the incredible Lacrosse BC-900,
http://tinyurl.com/2e8sdvx .......but it's only for NiCad's and NiMh batteries. I'd like to find something as nice or better for the Alkaline rechargeable. Suggestions ??

Thanks...... Mike

The above is one of the two Lithium Ion plug-in battery packs used in my old 8 lb. Dell 8100 laptop computer; never removed from the table. The battery pack is front-mounted to the computer. I carefully opened the battery case (about ten minutes of head-scratching ) and drilled a hole in the front of the battery pack (the blue wire faces the user). The blue wire easily runs to the backside of the battery back. The battery pack is rated at 14.8 V @ 3.8 Amp-Hours (56 Watt-Hours). The batteries are paralleled pairs of 3.7 VDC batteries placed in series to produce 14.8 VDC (4 x 3.7 VDC). To use it for the Cool-Pix 950, I'll build an efficient external buck converter to convert the 14.8 VDC to 6.5 VDC. Also incorporate a precision electronic crowbar to clamp the output if the output voltage attempts to exceed 7.0 VDC. And current-mode control of the converter will protect for short circuits (a periodic, pulsed re-start circuit reduces the overall short-circuit current). The external battery cable will have a connector to plug into the compact DC-to-DC converter temporarily strapped to the batter pack when using it with the camera.

The Dell 8100 battery pack has a test switch on the backside which lights up five, green LED's to indicate charge level. It's easy to plug the battery pack into the Dell 8100 for recharge. And the battery pack will easily fit into a jacket pocket to use with the camera. From research, four AA alkaline batteries provide 15 Watt-Hours, but the AA batteries in the 950 never get to deliver the total available power from the batteries because of the dropout voltage setting of the camera. Therefore comparing the four AA battery's 15 Watt-Hours with the 8100 battery pack's 56 Watt-Hours is an apples/oranges comparison. Need to measure the actual average current draw of the 950 to determine the consumed Watt-Hours of the camera.

Hi Bill..... all that is impressive, but not wanting to re-invent the wheel, I think your suggestion of the Universal Lithium-Ion Battery Pack is a much simplier solution. http://www.powerstream.com/b.htm

Frankly, I've just about come full circle on all this. Unless something simplier pops up.... rechargable AA Alkaline's are simpliest and easiest way of keeping the camera happy with a full 6 volts. I can deal with having 4--6 extra sets of spares because that's what I'm fine with carrying now..... in NiMH that the camera dosen't like.

But when I need long-time power at home I'll just use the camera's AC adaptor. When I'm away from AC volts I'll use a 6 volt battery pack of rechargable Alkalines....... or the Universal Lithium-Ion batter pack.

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions guys.

My best...... Mike

I'm just trying to save a buck (my semi-retired status brings that on and I do have plenty of time to play). Yes, I like the universal lithium-ion because it's small enough to be strapped to the wrist. All the battery stuff is interesting; definitely not my forte. This has been a good education. And I obtained a 950 service manual from a contact here, an interesting read. I originally used the rechargeable alkaline for the 950 but my lack of regular battery care gave them an early death. I'm really hard on the rechargeable alkaline; had the same problem with a Canon Hi-8 camera. Worse yet, I purchased batteries I never used and I'm sure they are deader than a door nail now. The great thing about using the battery pack of the computer is that it will be in the computer when it's not being used for the 950; battery care will be on automatic.

Regards,

Bill

I hear you Bill..... I'm in the same retirement status and struggle everyday trying to keep life, internet and all the electronics around me in a simple life-style equation... K.I.S.S.

I use my 950's quite a bit for all sorts of things, but mostly for Italian motorcycle pics and posting their parts pics for on-line discussions via Google's Picasa. When I started keeping pics of the bikes I build, work on and love I wondered how I would keep track of them all. Folders didn't work because there were so many pics that crossed family, work and discussion boundaries, but when I heard about Picasa and how simple it is (plus it's a free program from Google)..... it was a God-send. Today I have over 13,000 pics and I can find any single pic or group of pics in less than 2--3 seconds.......and it's stupid simple. Thank God for Picasa. www.picasa.com

All in all I think rechargeable Alkaline AA batteries will work for me nicely. With today's excellent batter charger/conditioners, it's no problem keeping them fresh and working well for years.

Thanks for your great thoughts and comments.

My best........ Mike

That's a lot of pictures to organize! And thank you for the Picasa link. When picking up a Honda CX650T in Florida many years ago, I came close to also bringing home a Benelli Sei but the owner wanted to keep it. I once owned several Honda CBX's and Honda turbos. I've kept my '82 Honda CB900F, probably always my favorite because it was the most practical and reliable bike and fun enough to ride; a great hobby.

Just for your information, I measured the 950 operating current through the external 6.5 VDC pathway. I applied an external, adjustable power source. The steady state current is 750 mA and when the focus motor is running the total current averages about 1 Amp. The camera is definitely "current" hungry, consuming about 4.5 to 6 Watts. The voltage should be at least 5.5 VDC (near dropout). I ran it up to 7.0 VDC and the 950 worked fine, but I wouldn't go beyond 7.0 VDC. A 6 VDC nominal battery pack voltage should work fine. eBay lists many inexpensive EH-30 AC-to-DC 6.5 VDC power supplies. I picked one up for the cable/connector. My Dell Lithium Ion battery pack should run the camera a good six hours per charge. Regards, Bill

THE SOLUTION IS...

You need to use a rechargeable CR3V.

Not sure if anyone has already posted this (sorry if so), but too many posts to read every bit of each one...

See ebay - plenty available (you'll need a charger too $AU40-50 batt & charger).

You obvoiously understand the problem, 2 x rechargeable cells = 2.4V (not enough). The solution is to use enough rechargeable cellsa to give you 3V.

The CRV3 is a 3V rechargeable pack built to fit into the space of 2 x AAs.

It's not just about rechargable volts that I want/need. The Nikon 950 takes four (4) separate AA batts that fit into individual slots.

I'm trying to stay with 1.5 volts per cell and rechargable. So far the only batt that meets these requirements is rechargeable Alkalines.

Thanks....... Mike