HelmetCams & rechargables

[neslon]

I wonder if any of you technophiles out there can help. I just bought a helmet cam (runs on 2xAA) and it says "DO NOT USE RECHARGABLE BATTERIES". Any idea why not? I don't imagine it will explode, or die - do the discharge characteristics render them unsuitable? I ask because non-rechargable batteries are about the most expensive energy source there is.
Oh, and if it matters, its a Tachyon

 

[HLaB]

I've not being using it long but I use mine (ATC 5K) with rechargeable's and I've had no problems and it doesn't say don't, just the usual do recharge chargeable batteries in the camera. I've no idea why the Tachyon would be different?

 

[Tharg2007]

from their website:
When your camera is out of reach, the Tachyon XC's remote control system gives you the ability to easily start and stop your recordings and to snap still pictures.

The Tachyon XC can keep your recording sessions secret by turning off the LEDs and all beeping sounds, enabling you to record in complete silence and secrecy.

Hmmmmm

 

[mr_cellophane]

So how can something which travels faster then the speed of light take photos ?

 

[thomas]

I've not being using it long but I use mine (ATC 5K) with rechargeable's and I've had no problems and it doesn't say don't, just the usual do recharge chargeable batteries in the camera. I've no idea why the Tachyon would be different?

ATK2000, use rechargeable - no problems yet (touch wood)

 

[HF2300]

Probably because normal cells are 1.5V and rechargeables tend to be 1.2V, and they're worried you might not get the performance and moan at them.

Also low voltage = higher current = shorter component life, but I can't believe the components are that marginal!

 

[HLaB]

Probably because normal cells are 1.5V and rechargeables tend to be 1.2V, and they're worried you might not get the performance and moan at them.

+1

 

[magnatom]

Nelson,

I'd be interested to know how you get on with the camera. Do you have any footage? How good is it at night etc.

As the others have said, it is down to voltage. You could try running it on rechargables. If it works ok then I don't think you have any worries.

 

[Arch]

I haven't run my cam for ages (got out of the hanit when my laptop died for months) but I ran that (ATC2000) on rechargeables.

 

[neslon]

Cheers all
I'm still tinkering with position & angles. I tried it on the bars & the vibration made the pictures terrible. It seems good helmet mounted, but I havent quite got it sorted. The only time I tried it in the dark it was pretty poor, but daytime is good. The sound is not a top feature - as they say, to make it waterproof to -5m+, the mike is inside the plastic casing & sealed. Having said that, I'm not bothered about that as I'd rather have the weatherproofing (esp when I'm canyoning!).

On a different note, just the other day, some twunt deliberately pulled across me, so I pointed at the cam & chased him down -he was bricking it, sitting staring rigidly at the dash as I pulled alongside the drivers window & pointed at him, then the helmet. Shame the batteries had died half an hour previously!

When I get myself organised, I'll post some dull footage of my commute

 

[thomas]

Yeah, I've worn my camera with no batteries in B)...well dead ones. When i'm without it I always want to point...if I have something serious I'll just point to my frog knog light thing and say it's a camera haha

 

[Tynan]

our dab digital radio won;t run on rechargeables, some sensitive electrical stuff just won't, can't imagine it'll do any harm though