External power for video camera

[beanzontoast]

Anyone know if one of these -

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=110352

can be powered using an external battery arrangement rather than the internal battery?

 

[Linford]

If it runs off USB, you can get external USB chargers for phones which run off their own batteries. THe down side is that it may force the cam into playback or USB connected device mode which could stop you filming.

 

[numbnuts]

In the video it states the battery will last one hour, but if you connect it to a 12 via the lighter socket it will run indefinitely(in a car), so all you would need is a small 12 volt battery and a lighter (female) socket

 

[Linford]

I have had 3 camcorders in the last 6 years, and plugging a USB cable into them forces USB mode in all cases. It needs to be checked as you really need a seperate charging port to do what is proposed.

 

[beanzontoast]

Cheers for the ideas all. I'll have to do some more digging about the specs. The video quality for the price looks reasonable, but I really want to be independent of the onboard battery. If it's not possible, it will be a deal breaker for me and I'll look at other alternatives.

 

[compo]

I have one of those cameras. You can charge whilst filming. They are designed primarily for car use where you plug into the lighter socket and the camera just goes on for ever recording in 5 minute chunks. Once the memory card is full it starts again over writing from the beginning. I have also been looking for an external power unit, although mine runs about 2 hours on it's internal battery.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

The manual clearly says you can film while charging, consistent with what compo said. The only caveat seems to be whether the charge is sufficient to replenish the burn on a real time basis IF that is what you want, because it says it takes 3 to 4 hours to charge fully.

 

[compo]

The manual clearly says you can film while charging, consistent with what compo said. The only caveat seems to be whether the charge is sufficient to replenish the burn on a real time basis IF that is what you want, because it says it takes 3 to 4 hours to charge fully.

I have used the camera in the car, plugged into the lighter socket, on a recent long journey of 9 hours plus about 9 hours home. It didn't run down and didn't need recharging when I got home and transferred it back to my bike.

These cheap cameras all have their peculiarities, and they can vary even between the same models. When mine is on charge, either from the mains or via USB off the computer, a red light flashes. The red light though doesn't stop flashing when the camera is fully charged. To check if charged you have to disconnect it from the power then reconnect and see if the red begins to flash again. If it does it isn't fully charged, if not, charging is complete!

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I have used the camera in the car, plugged into the lighter socket, on a recent long journey of 9 hours plus about 9 hours home. It didn't run down and didn't need recharging when I got home and transferred it back to my bike.

These cheap cameras all have their peculiarities, and they can vary even between the same models. When mine is on charge, either from the mains or via USB off the computer, a red light flashes. The red light though doesn't stop flashing when the camera is fully charged. To check if charged you have to disconnect it from the power then reconnect and see if the red begins to flash again. If it does it isn't fully charged, if not, charging is complete!

There is nothing like real personal experience!