I'll buy my GS400 soon. Therefore I'd like to know anyone's experiences with batteries for the PV/NV series. Preferably I'm interested in high capacity batteries like belt packs or maybe some homebuilt devices. Or is there somebody even using fuel cell batteries already?

Did anyone try if something similar to this link also works for the PV/NV series? How is the original battery's pin in/out?
http://www.playground.net/~winnicki/INFOLITHIUM/infolithium.html

Thanks for any input!

Is that huge 5500 mAh waist type Pany battery available in Taiwan?

Allan, I went to the shop today. The huge waist pack is also available here. But for now I decided to go with the largest "on-cam" battery (2040mAh), because it seem to be more suitable. Let's see how long it will last in real life. If I need more, I still can order the waist type or look for alternative sources.
Btw. they said I'll get my GS400 probably on Tuesday. And they asked me wether I want the Japanese domestic or the N.A. model. They could even get me a PAL model. After a while I decided to order the N.A. model to avoid all the language trouble, although it is not available in lovely black colour.

Battery life for intermittent recording using the LCD.

1,360mAH (supplied one): 45 mins (now where is that review which mentioned that the GS400 has great battery life using the supplied one.
2040mAH : 1 hour 10 mins
5500mAH : 3 hours 20 mins

The black one is truly LOVELY. it stands out on the shelf!

But if I were in your place, I'd probably stick with the language I fully understand also - but I'm not in your place so it's black for me :-)). Good luck!

Allan, is the waist pack available from you?

Yes Guy.

You have 2 options for your 953, the new VBD7 or the previous model and cheaper but less capacity (5300mAh - 10 min difference in batt life) VBD5.

The VBD7 comes with 2 connectors; one for the GS series cams and another for the MX series cams..thus can be used both for the GS400 and 953.

The VBD5 has only one supplied connector, that suitable for MX/953.

<<<-- Originally posted by Allan Rejoso : 2040mAH : 1 hour 10 mins -->>>

Oh no, is this true? Sooo short?? Allan, is this your own measuring experience? Hm, then I really have to think twice. Seems I definately have to buy the waist pack or anything even bigger ...but what?!?!

That's the rating given by Panasonic Japan. They give 4 ratings:

1. Continuous recording without LCD (the one usually given on paper)
2. Continuous recording with LCD
3. Intermittent recording without LCD
4. Intermittent recording with LCD

I gave you no. 4 because that's how normal people use their cams in real life - unless you are in the security and surveillance business, or you'd rather use the tiny and headache inducing EVF than the huge and lovely LCD :-)).

Perhaps you should get at least 2 of those equivalent batts...they're cheaper compared to the price of 1 genuine Pany batt.

Yes, correct choice, Allan! I think I'll definately be using the LCD. I was using the weaker-brightness-LCD even on my old cam most of the time, but now as there is a "Power LCD" it should be no question to use it all the time!!

I realise that it's just a regular du21 replacement, but I've noticed that B&H list a power2000 model that's 2400mAH. well, at least it's 20% extra time. these battery times are still pretty depressing, though

You may consider to have DIY battery pack using AA battery. A pack of 6 rechargable AA battery of 2100mA can have 7.2V voltage that may suitable for GS400K.

Also it should be very portable and you can just carry some extra rechargable AA battery.

<<<-- Originally posted by Tony Leung : You may consider to have DIY battery pack using AA battery. A pack of 6 rechargable AA battery of 2100mA can have 7.2V voltage that may suitable for GS400K.

Also it should be very portable and you can just carry some extra rechargable AA battery. -->>>

Tony, actually I was thinking about the same thing. Do you have any experience with such things? Any information/suggestions?
Maybe 2x6 pieces with about 4200mAh would be better.

<<<-- Originally posted by Andreas Winkler : <<<-- Originally posted by Tony Leung : You may consider to have DIY battery pack using AA battery. A pack of 6 rechargable AA battery of 2100mA can have 7.2V voltage that may suitable for GS400K.

Also it should be very portable and you can just carry some extra rechargable AA battery. -->>>

Tony, actually I was thinking about the same thing. Do you have any experience with such things? Any information/suggestions?
Maybe 2x6 pieces with about 4200mAh would be better. -->>>

You can buy a battery box at electronic shop and do some wiring on that:
http://www.dchome.net/files/p16.jpg

Of course you can buy 2 set of battery for longer operating time.

Thanks Tony, I'll look for these compartments today.
I think I also need some kind of connector for this original "fake-battery cable" plugged in the cam to connect it with the DIY pack.

<<<-- Originally posted by Andreas Winkler : Thanks Tony, I'll look for these compartments today.
I think I also need some kind of connector for this original "fake-battery cable" plugged in the cam to connect it with the DIY pack. -->>>
Hi Andreas,

If possible, please post the DIY result and also the actual operating time for using AA battery.

Thanks!

OK, I will. Let's see when I find enough time to build this thing and test it sufficiently.

Use the supplied DC cord. Convert the connector on the DIY pack to fit the plug of the DC cord

But if I were you Andreas, I'd save all the trouble and just buy those equivalent batts from HK or Malaysia (sabahoceanic.com) or ebay. They're priced half that of genuine Pany batt. and supposed to have cells that are made in Japan (case is probably from Timbuktu - but at least they look like the real thing). Buying 2 of those equivalent 2040mAh plus the genuine 1360 mAH that comes with the cam should be more than sufficient for most of your applications.

But even assuming the voltage output of the DIY pack can actually meet the tolerance required, I can't imagine myself carrying that COOLEST looking cam in the world with cords dangling from a DIY battery pack? No offense meant ok...just my 20 yen. Good luck to you anyway :-)

I just took a look at sabahoceanic.com. 63US$ (plus shipping) for a 2040mAh battery!? Did I see this right?? This is the half price of an original Panasonic battery? Wow... In my local shop I pay something like 40US$ for a 2040-Battery.
I ordered one pack already and will probably get it today.
A DIY pack with 12 Panasonic 2100mAh AA cells (so total 4200mAh) would cost me about the same. I think I'll try to build it anyway if I find some time. And as I got a cute small backpack for my GS400 I can hide the ugly self made pack there! ;)

Btw. another advantage of the DIY pack is that I could replace the cells with normal AA (non-rechargable) batteries if I go to travel on my scooter with my tent for some days and have no place to recharge. 7eleven is almost everywhere! :)
Or is this not such a good idea, because the voltage would be higher (1.2V -> 1.5V)!? Maybe just "short-circuit" one cell compartment with a wire in that case to get 7.5V (5x1.5V)?! Hm...

Yes Andreas, the VBD210 (2040 mAh) costs JPY14,280 (list price JPY17,000) in Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, Sakuraya and in most big retailers in Japan. Crazy ne to think these batts travelled only inland from the factory to the stores. Apparently, batts are cheaper in N.A. than Japan. But you can get a 2040 mAH batt for $40 in Taiwan ? WOW!!!!

US$40 for 2040mA lithium battery is really cheap. I guess the price of 3rd party battery in HK still require around US$60-70.

Hm, I even saw some 3rd party 2040mAh packs on Yahoo Taiwan auctions for around 1100NT$, that's equal to 32US$ or about 3500Yen. But I don't know if they are really comparable quality to the original.

5500mAH : 3 hours 20 mins

Is that the waistpack battery? That doesn't seem like a very long life :-(. Doesn't Sony have some that are rated 8 or 10+ hours?

I've been attending an event every year where there are 7+ hours of events and no electrical outlets available.

Well guys, I've built it last night! ...and that was a hell of a night!! But the result seems quite satisfying!

OK, let's see what I bought...
- 12 pieces 2200mAh rechargable NIMH batteries (although not Panasonic as I said earlier) - 810NT$
- 4 battery compartments, each for 3 pieces - 40NT$
- a power socket, where I had to replace the inner 2.1mm stick with a 2.0 stick, because the Panasonic power adaptor uses a strange format (2.1mm did fit, but got no contact) - 17NT$
...so that's a total of 867NT$

I also bought a voltage meter which I don't use so far - 120NT$. Should have bought a digital one, that's much smaller... hmm

Here is a picture of this stuff (http://www.hakke-chemnitz.de/GS400/stuff.jpg).

First I dismantled the small ON/OFF switches from the four incredibly cheap compartments. Then I made the compartments stick together with my soldering iron (brutal way, I know), connected the needed wires and... ended up with a short-circuit. I was confused and disassembled some parts. After a while I found a squeezed wire with broken isolation. I fixed this and tried to plug in the original power adaptor's camera connector cable, but it hardly fit into my pack's outlet and got no electric contact. So I exchanged the inner stick of the outlet. Then it was ok. ...meanwhile it was 3:30AM! Hmm, still 3 and a half hours to sleep... wow, I must have looked terrible this morning at work, but a double-dose-caffeine coffee kept me awake.

Now check the result here (http://www.hakke-chemnitz.de/GS400/batterypack_open.jpg), here (http://www.hakke-chemnitz.de/GS400/batterypack_closed.jpg) and here (http://www.hakke-chemnitz.de/GS400/batterypack_side.jpg).

The camcorder works without any problems with the new pack. I'm just curious what will happen when the pack runs out of power!? Will the cam suddenly turn off without warning, or indicate low battery power on the LCD top left? Actually that's why I bought the voltage meter. The power cord from the original AC/DC adapter seems to have only two pins connected, instead of all four like a normal battery pack. I think the two additional pins are for the cam to check the voltage, right!?

So I'll do some testing about the possible operating time, probably on the weekend.

Oh and I also got my other 3rd party battery pack. It's 2100mAh and shows "Made in Japan". See the photos here (http://www.hakke-chemnitz.de/GS400/batteries_top.jpg) and here (http://www.hakke-chemnitz.de/GS400/batteries_bottom.jpg). I paid 1500NT$ (44US$) for this one at my local store.

btw. all photos were taken with my PV-GS400 ;)

FYI, yesterday the "big block" ran out of power. The GS400 indicated "Battery low" just like using a normal on-cam battery and turned off smoothly after several blinking action, not totally abrupt. Anyway, if I remember right, the battery indicator on the LCD display did not go down step by step.
I had no time so far to test the battery life continously.

Hi Andreas,

You bought battery compartment for 6AA or 3AA? If it is 6AA, it should be 7.2V just fit for GS400. And then you connected 4 of them together, then the utlimate power should be 2200mAH@7.2V*4 i.e. 8800mAH, a very long lasting battery!

Have you count the operating time can be used for your big pack?

No Tony, I have bought 4 battery compartments, each for 3 batteries. Yes, 6 batteries (or 2 compartments) deliver 7.2V. So it's 2 x 2200mAh ...12 batteries ...4400mAh total. This system is quite modular, so I still can extend it to 24 batteries with 8800mAh later! ;) But for now it's also running well when only 6 batteries are inserted in 2 compartments.
I had not much time to test the maximum operating time yet, but I'll try to do this soon when these stupid typhoons here are gone!

<<<-- Originally posted by John Uchida : Is that the waistpack battery? That doesn't seem like a very long life :-(. Doesn't Sony have some that are rated 8 or 10+ hours?


Given ratings of VDB7 (5500 mAh) when used on a GS400:

Continuous shooting w/o LCD: 8 hours 15 mins
Continuous shooting w/ LCD: 6 hours 35 mins
Intermittent shooting w/o LCD: 4 hours 10 mins
Intermittent shootingw/LCD: 3 hours 20 mins


Perhaps the Sony 8-hours packs will have similar ratings.

<<<-- Originally posted by John Uchida : Is that the waistpack battery? That doesn't seem like a very long life :-(. Doesn't Sony have some that are rated 8 or 10+ hours?
-->>>

Is it true that the waistpack battery will not work on US bought GS400 model?

I'm quite interested on the GS400. I do like the black, only Japan release model. I would like to know my options.

-Philip

Has anyone use motorcycle battery 12v with a voltage converter i.e. 7805 to convert voltage from 12v to 7v? Will flash current damage to camcord? How to prevent it?

I know the battery is really heavy and I got one. But it is really powerful.

Regards
Leigh

Leigh, if using a 12v motorcycle battery why don't you purchase a $20 DC/AC converter that will offer a cleaner fuse protected 110VAC output and put a little insurance in-between your battery and cam.

That is assuming a 12v battery would run a DC/AC converter as its usually powered by an alternator in a car. Thats not really my area of expertise. You would also need to use your AC recharger brick and the cam power back cable/adapter.

<<<-- Originally posted by Leigh Wanstead : Has anyone use motorcycle battery 12v with a voltage converter i.e. 7805 to convert voltage from 12v to 7v? Will flash current damage to camcord? How to prevent it?

I know the battery is really heavy and I got one. But it is really powerful.
-->>>

It would be a waste of voltage and weight to use a 12v battery on that application. You can do it and should work fine, using a 7806 regulator, but there should be plenty of heat on the chip, as you will have more than 5v multiplied by the current dissipating on it.

It's much better and works perfectly to use 6v batteries. You can then pick a larger current type that will last longer.


Carls

Hello everyone,

I plan to do a DIY power package and I bought 12 Powertech Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride2300mAh battery from www.jaycar.co.nz. May I ask if I use 6 battery at same time, does that means 6 * 2300mAh/1600mAh(The battery in original camcord package)=8.625 times more power?

TIA
Leigh

Leigh, no it will not be 6 * 2300mAh... I guess you want a voltage of 7.2V, so you have to connect the 6 batteries in a row. This means you get a voltage of 6 * 1.2V = 7.2V, but the capacity will be still 2300mAh! If you connect the other 6 batteries in a row too and then connect the two 6x packs in parallel order, you'll get a capacity of 2 * 2300mAh = 4600mAh which is 2.875 times the original capacity.

Do I need special circuit to protect my gs400 in case anything wrong with 6 ni-mh battery in a row?

Someone told me that it might damage the camcord if I just simply link battery together?

TIA

Regards
Leigh

If you connect only 6 batteries you can't get more than 7.2V. Shouldn't damage anything. My 12 AA-batteries package works fine. I don't use any circuits for protection. If one battery should be defect it's unlikely to get more than 1.2V out of it.

Hi Andreas,

That is great.

I can't imagine how it would break the camcord if one battery is bad.

I am waiting for the guy who gave me that advice to explain in detail. I just don't want to break my expensive toy.

Regards
Leigh

Someone told me that there is a circuit inside Lithium Ion Battery Pack which will protect the battery overcharging, overloading,short circuit etc.

He said best is just to find a broken(dead) battery to get circuit and connect that to DIY battery package. The problem for me is I don't have a dead battery and can't think where to find one, and relucant to break my working one to get the circuit.

Is that circuit really important? I can't find the drawing diagram of the circuit inside Lithium Ion Battery Pack on internet.

I thought that I already got a microchip charger which should do proper job of charging the battery. The battery itself should not do anything more than that.

Does the one supply the socket to connect to the gs400 with the charger one already has some circuit inside that connector which will protect the camcord, not a dummy connector just simply offer direct wiring between two connects?

TIA
Leigh

I found this link.

http://linux-7110.sourceforge.net/howtos/netbook_new/LIbattery/LIbattery.html

It seems that I should not worry too much about PCB circuit. I guess that the PCB just control charging as I already has a charger to look after my ni-mh battery.

Regards
Leigh

I can't believe it. The battery clearly state as 1.2v, but I check voltage meter and it says 1.5v.

My question is as the battery has no warranty from the shop and I have to use it. May I only use 5 ni-mh battery 1.5 v x 5 = 7.5v? Will it break my gs400? I am quite confused about this. As default battery says 7.2v but charger output to camcord is 7.9v. Will 7.5v is safe for the gs400?

TIA
Leigh