Battery Grip BG-E3

[wdEvA]

hey guys, i just got the BG-E3 battery grip, and would like to ask, as i have 2 batteries inside, how does the camera drain the battery? and does it indicate when one of the batt goes flat?

as i onli own 2 batteries at the moment, i wont wan them to go flat on me on an outing..
or the solution is to get another 2 batts as backup?

Thanks

[miniUltraman]

heee... I usually only put 1 battery in the grip... when one use up.. another spare I won't want both to go flat on me too I use the grip more for the ease of vertical shots

[Wenjin]

I think it will finish up one battery before using the other, one of my batteries tend to charge up faster then the other after using both together in a day shoot.

[miniUltraman]

Originally Posted by Wenjin I think it will finish up one battery before using the other, one of my batteries tend to charge up faster then the other after using both together in a day shoot.

don't think there is any indicator to tell you that

[Virgo]

If I'm not wrong, the batteries are drained simultaneously. The two batteries in the BG are in parallel so the camera still senses the same 7.4 volts regardless of whether 1 or 2 batteries are inserted. Its the voltage that the camera bases the battery meter on. So if you have one battery that's drained (maybe 7.1V) and you put in a fresh battery in the second slot (say 7.6V) the camera will sense a voltage close to the 7.6V level and show full battery. The risk is that the weak battery may suck juice from the stronger one.

As for the battery meter showing full again when you re-insert a battery. This is related to the voltage again. Most batteries will increase voltage when you allow it to rest (remove load), but as soon as you load it up again the voltage will rapidly drop resulting in the empty indicator again.

I'd recommend marking you batteries as a pair and always use and charge them together. Also don't mix the original Canon battery with a generic one. The originals may be the newer Li-ion cells with 3.7V (7.4v total pack) nominal voltage while the generic ones have older 3.6V cells (7.2V total pack). If all you have are mismatched batteries just use them one at a time.

For me, I use 2 batts at a time, and carry with me another 2.

[miniUltraman]

Originally Posted by Virgo If I'm not wrong, the batteries are drained simultaneously. The two batteries in the BG are in parallel so the camera still senses the same 7.4 volts regardless of whether 1 or 2 batteries are inserted. Its the voltage that the camera bases the battery meter on. So if you have one battery that's drained (maybe 7.1V) and you put in a fresh battery in the second slot (say 7.6V) the camera will sense a voltage close to the 7.6V level and show full battery. The risk is that the weak battery may suck juice from the stronger one. As for the battery meter showing full again when you re-insert a battery. This is related to the voltage again. Most batteries will increase voltage when you allow it to rest (remove load), but as soon as you load it up again the voltage will rapidly drop resulting in the empty indicator again. I'd recommend marking you batteries as a pair and always use and charge them together. Also don't mix the original Canon battery with a generic one. The originals may be the newer Li-ion cells with 3.7V (7.4v total pack) nominal voltage while the generic ones have older 3.6V cells (7.2V total pack). If all you have are mismatched batteries just use them one at a time. For me, I use 2 batts at a time, and carry with me another 2.

well said... I have forgotten my secondary physics on batteries/parallel Having said that.. I still recommend 1 battery at a time

[josho]

hmm im running third party and Canon on the grip. hmm.. then i should get one each to pair them up? hmm

[Virgo]

Originally Posted by josho hmm im running third party and Canon on the grip. hmm.. then i should get one each to pair them up? hmm

I'm not sure about you, but if I were you, I'll do that, unless the voltage of your Canon (7.4V) is the same as your 3rd party one.

[josho]

Originally Posted by Virgo I'm not sure about you, but if I were you, I'll do that, unless the voltage of your Canon (7.4V) is the same as your 3rd party one.

Heh.. *save again.*

[Virgo]

Originally Posted by josho Heh.. *save again.*

Hehe....go for 3rd parties. Cheaper and won't burn your pocket. More lasting than Canons also.

[thlim]

Hi, Virgo, good evening,

Have 2 questions.

I have 2 x 3rd party batteries, but they are different. 1 is 7.4v 800mAh, while the other is 7.4v 2000mAH. Can they be mix for use with the grip?

Or if all the batteries are of 7.4v, regardless of canon original or 3rd party, as long as they are 7.4v, they can be use togather? Even if they are of different mAH?

Hope you can clear my doubts.

Thank you.

[vector1]

I suppose they should be able to be used together, just that you won't get as long life if you use a higher capacity battery

[thlim]

Thanks, vector1.

I think, I will follow Virgo's advise. Better to use 2 batteries of the same type and capacities.

[miniUltraman]

why no one listen to me.. use 1 battery.. lighter somemore

[mysum]

Sorry to side-track a little - do you battery grip owners have 2 battery chargers?

[user111]

how much lighter can it get? haha

usually one charger is enough unless u have alot of batteries to charge

[wdEvA]

hmm.. i'm using the canon batt and a 3rd party batt.. guess to be safe. i'll get a 3rd party batt, and use both of them as my main batt, while the canon to be used alone as backup when both the 3rd party batt fails me..

Thanks! =)

hmm btw, if i were to use the AA batteries as backup, how is the batt life compared? hmm and the rechargeables are more exp then 3rd party batt right?

[Virgo]

Originally Posted by thlim Hi, Virgo, good evening, Have 2 questions. I have 2 x 3rd party batteries, but they are different. 1 is 7.4v 800mAh, while the other is 7.4v 2000mAH. Can they be mix for use with the grip? Or if all the batteries are of 7.4v, regardless of canon original or 3rd party, as long as they are 7.4v, they can be use togather? Even if they are of different mAH? Hope you can clear my doubts. Thank you.

Hi thlim, vector1 has already answered your question. Thanks vector1.

[Virgo]

Originally Posted by miniUltraman why no one listen to me.. use 1 battery.. lighter somemore

Guess we all Singaporeans kia su ba. 2 batts can last longer mah...

[Virgo]

Originally Posted by mysum Sorry to side-track a little - do you battery grip owners have 2 battery chargers?

I got my 2 chargers when I got my backup camera. So now I'm using it to charge both my batts after they're drained. I guess it helps during wedding, especially during the afternoon break. Just pop 2 drained cells into the 2 charges. Don't have to change.