Battery compatibility: Type V and Type H at DVinfo.net

Terry Cummings · March 19th, 2012, 09:16 PM

The manual specifies the Type V. Type H from an older camera looks identical. Both can be charged with the Type H dual charger and both read the same battery status. Both are Actiforce product line and both have the same capacity and voltage on the lable. Type H will not engage properly in the NEX VG 20. The center index tab on each side is 50% too long. Simple effort with a knife, chisel or Dremel tool would cure that. My question is, has any one done this or does anyone know why it won't work. My guess is the guts are identical, but Sony Marketing needs a change every couple of years to get us to throw out the older gear.

Dave Blackhurst · March 20th, 2012, 03:05 AM

Hi Terry -
DOES NOT WORK... been there, tried it...

Sony changes the ICs in the bateries so they are NOT "forward compatible" (older battery won't work in newer cams). They also change the notches just enough that the older batteries don't fit physically, but since they know the knockoff batteries can change their molds faster than you and I can grab the Dremel or X-Acto... they recode the chips as well. Since knockoffs are a MAJOR problem, I think this is as much an attempt to stay ahead of the counterfeiters as anything... but it's annoying for the end user!

The older chargers still seem to work just fine, and don't have the physical "lockout" that the cameras do. Supposedly the "new" chargers ahve some features to take advantage of the "new" batteries, but I have my doubts, other than MAYBE faster charging...

Short of it is, if you're using current generation Sony cams, you need FV series batteries - which have been around about 2-3 years, so I'll not be surprised if there is a new F"x" battery soon...

Terry Cummings · March 20th, 2012, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the insight. I'll put the older H batteries back in the shoe box.

March 19th, 2012, 09:16 PM	#1
Terry Cummings New Boot Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Costa Mesa, California Posts: 6	Battery compatibility: Type V and Type H The manual specifies the Type V. Type H from an older camera looks identical. Both can be charged with the Type H dual charger and both read the same battery status. Both are Actiforce product line and both have the same capacity and voltage on the lable. Type H will not engage properly in the NEX VG 20. The center index tab on each side is 50% too long. Simple effort with a knife, chisel or Dremel tool would cure that. My question is, has any one done this or does anyone know why it won't work. My guess is the guts are identical, but Sony Marketing needs a change every couple of years to get us to throw out the older gear.

March 20th, 2012, 03:05 AM	#2
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Re: Battery compatibility: Type V and Type H Hi Terry - DOES NOT WORK... been there, tried it... Sony changes the ICs in the bateries so they are NOT "forward compatible" (older battery won't work in newer cams). They also change the notches just enough that the older batteries don't fit physically, but since they know the knockoff batteries can change their molds faster than you and I can grab the Dremel or X-Acto... they recode the chips as well. Since knockoffs are a MAJOR problem, I think this is as much an attempt to stay ahead of the counterfeiters as anything... but it's annoying for the end user! The older chargers still seem to work just fine, and don't have the physical "lockout" that the cameras do. Supposedly the "new" chargers ahve some features to take advantage of the "new" batteries, but I have my doubts, other than MAYBE faster charging... Short of it is, if you're using current generation Sony cams, you need FV series batteries - which have been around about 2-3 years, so I'll not be surprised if there is a new F"x" battery soon...

March 20th, 2012, 11:54 AM	#3
Terry Cummings New Boot Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Costa Mesa, California Posts: 6	Re: Battery compatibility: Type V and Type H Thanks for the insight. I'll put the older H batteries back in the shoe box.