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 Moderated by: chrisbet,  
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chrisbet



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How do you get it to use the 2nd  battery - I have one at 5% and the other at 99% and it keeps on shutting down with low battery ...

Robert



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Never used one but there should be an item in the menu giving you the choice if which order to use the batteries. If it's not recognising the second battery as it sounds like that might be the case, it's possible there is a bad electrical contact between the body and the MD80, judicious use of the eraser tip of a pencil might clean the contacts, very carefully, for preference a glass fibre brush to scrub the contacts clean.  Also try reseating the second battery.

jk



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Are the two batteries the same?  
Some of the EN-EL3 batteries are not compatible.  Clone batteries are frequently only chipped to work in camera not battery pack.

Have you checked the type of battery specied as being used in the CSM Menu?

GeoffR

 

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From the Nikon USA web site

The MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack adds extended shooting capability. The MB-D80 can be powered either by one or two Nikon EN-EL3e rechargeable Li-ion batteries or six AA batteries (alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium, or nickel manganese). The UK site says much the same.

Note that its says EN-EL3e batteries, suggesting that earlier variants aren't compatible.

Just as an aside, in my world an MD80 weighs in at about 63.5 and 72.6 Metric Tons and doesn't attach to a camera.

You can find the manual here https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/NSG_article?articleNo=000027049&configured=1&lang=en_SG

Eric



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GeoffR wrote:
From the Nikon USA web site

The MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack adds extended shooting capability. The MB-D80 can be powered either by one or two Nikon EN-EL3e rechargeable Li-ion batteries or six AA batteries (alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium, or nickel manganese). The UK site says much the same.

Note that its says EN-EL3e batteries, suggesting that earlier variants aren't compatible.

Just as an aside, in my world an MD80 weighs in at about 63.5 and 72.6 Metric Tons and doesn't attach to a camera.

You can find the manual here https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/NSG_article?articleNo=000027049&configured=1&lang=en_SG
Never understood the need for such precise specification power packs....when 6 Duracell's will apparently do the same job?

jk



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Yes it seems like over engineering.

Robert



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Eric wrote:
Never understood the need for such precise specification power packs....when 6 Duracell's will apparently do the same job? Maximising sales more like.

Eric



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jk wrote:
Yes it seems like over engineering. And yet the D90 manual states......

“Incompatible Batteries
This camera can not be used with EN-EL3 or EN-EL3a rechargeable Li-ion batteries...”

jk



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Came across this a while back with the D200.  It was a first time then but it is more and more common now.  
My V1 and D600 can use any EN-EL15 but the D800 seems more picky and needs an EN-EL15a, and the D500, D850 and Z7 only work with EN-EL15b.

I need to make sure that any new batteries I get in the EN-EL15 series are only type b so they can work in all my Nikons.

chrisbet



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One of my batteries is Nikon the other is aftermarket.

If I take out one it works perfectly on the other, but when I fit both the camera chooses the battery with the least charge.

This sort of makes sense - run down one battery and then switch over to the other but it doesn't do that and I can't find any method to direct it to use one or the other.

As for using 6 aa batteries in the md80 - yes they work but last only a few minutes - this with brand new good quality fully charged rechargeables

jk



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Chris try using these rechargeables.
The Eneloop batteries are much more powerful than the average rechargeable AA.
AA size
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-PANASONIC-ENELOOP-AA-RECHARGEABLE-BATTERIES-NiMH-RECHARGE-2100-TIMES/263567679708?var=&hash=item3d5ddba0dc&enc=AQADAAAC8FjVrDbVsZ8oH%2F8PNHtt9VX4%2Fw7FZcmMuqsX8uaFEduVL%2Bg2xfgaCHIa6Hd7QIp6qtNV7XeA6FkDPB917i%2Bi6OANJeLuv3RxrFF4FNlmpIIRIRog3kIe49LRKrWritIQHa%2FJHkYVHCJXAzcerBSamqqi9QqDN9RPcV4FL6Db%2FPRlX1N0O0UzLhtDpwMLHpeb9urxMalYtLqf3UDkXeN5G6XQyE1ksopvvWcgRjGGsIjZZjRVjiVKdsXjUYtJDj3aOUZKkhYtoGa%2F3n74Y1rnG21kK0vrJvPdzkxbBO7erxx6w912ctxvRtlyQYWjjQCAPTeHeg2brjBNOyntTvkRpSbt%2BzxiU1XM93ynecGHenpkyH4JFs4LopN0Gfe7o%2BHHWzXrdHOG849CX%2FoJ18pFY8sgUtqyYYTAijN9IFs6TSKIBnmRNm1Rxvfje%2Bat1yPAxElF4fEXZPVB985J0v9N%2Bc%2FPtys%2FOKdQK%2Ba2n7x2G2PNKIfU9fMFwFa%2BO1V%2BsrPNQwFYVY%2F8sF4bM%2B%2FLkDd60i9qMHbnOkiMrxBthOGvQBPN0g7hzt2npCRiytFmMDiOJ46Ixcnw75V4rpDVAMxdFJq0hfk2nKdXk8OgRuaZwQi92pkrsL2cP6bocr0wd%2B9HTQ4oJaG3MhLqIOqviv%2FDk2ziOOT39YoWgafsh2RKX9N0%2FG%2F7Xm6VT2sUfKdTFWBXzsxCpeHB0%2FHGKHH4G4JzSos0q%2FXNeqZhNgURpqhDz%2FV8kUDYp259cGNSzhoSyssd8IhRHnCYHyAaumtIOXe9RKT4%2FfkON%2FmYvw2ORw6mNmZBE07YcUmEkkQA4A4boPQsY3m%2Bkc641N0SvD4j%2FZ5GljlIJilHa7iA5JBFwvI6sF59yNFX7Q4qkD0Lq9UX%2FHDB%2FydpEswk%2BRGCJI9KSXo%2FibDCEBdAtq08l9rJBxa1Rq9E5DTTKewxZIMIrV%2BDTI1pc%2FlMBTX%2B2zmoPLE9i85lc2N%2BEs8CEh9fyPeLJWaxRLZH&checksum=263567679708a8819ee729604352ad45f12f5bf5b45a

AAA size
 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-Eneloop-AAA-Micro-750mAh-Eneloop-NiMH-Ready-to-Use-Rechargeable-Batter/223105469821?epid=1841921198&hash=item33f21f4d7d:g:2csAAOSwMUNbdbd~

I use these in all my flashes, triggers, lights and others.

GeoffR

 

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Eric wrote:
Never understood the need for such precise specification power packs....when 6 Duracell's will apparently do the same job? The reasons are simple; the EN-EL3e is a "smart" battery and can report its state of charge accurately to the camera/grip. Earlier EN-EL3 series batteries are not "smart' in the same way.

The grip needs to accurate state of charge information to determine when to switch to the battery with the higher charge. It is likely that the third party EN-EL3 battery speaks Nikon with an accent and the grip is discriminating against it. Two identical batteries should solve the problem.

The reason for the range of power options with the Digital grips is equally straight forward. A professional using, say, D3 and D300 bodies has the option to use a common battery in both, the EN-EL4; alternatively AA batteries are readily available in quantity making their use attractive. The option to have an EN-EL3e in the grip works for the person who does not have/want EN-EL4 batteries but does want the additional capacity of a second EN-EL3e. The same is true for the D4 and D800 user with the option to use the EN-EL18 with the D800 grip. In both cases the AA battery holder comes with the grip but the battery lid is an option (not clever because third party lids are 1/3 of the price of a Nikon one).

Nikon appears to have lost the plot with the D4 because anyone using both D3 and D4 has to either buy an adaptor for the MH26, to charge the EN-EL4, or carry two chargers. That the EN-EL4 and the EN-EL18 are functionally similar makes the situation even more frustrating. The only obvious difference is the positioning of the connector.

GeoffR

 

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jk wrote:
Yes it seems like over engineering. Sorry to disagree JK but it isn't "over engineering". Batteries are consumable items so replacing, for example, the EN-EL3 with the EN-EL3a on the production line is simply a sensible upgrade that allows users of older cameras to keep using the new batteries but allows Nikon to add functionality to a new camera body. The same applies to later variants of the battery. In your case the EN-EL15b can be charged in the Z7 because it was designed that way. The new battery works just fine in the D800, good backward compatibility, keeping the D800 user supplied with new batteries as required.

jk



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GeoffR wrote:
Sorry to disagree JK but it isn't "over engineering". Batteries are consumable items so replacing, for example, the EN-EL3 with the EN-EL3a on the production line is simply a sensible upgrade that allows users of older cameras to keep using the new batteries but allows Nikon to add functionality to a new camera body. The same applies to later variants of the battery. In your case the EN-EL15b can be charged in the Z7 because it was designed that way. The new battery works just fine in the D800, good backward compatibility, keeping the D800 user supplied with new batteries as required. I understand the new specs and the desire for progress so while I havent taken the individual batteries apart to identify the individual differences. 
I am however pretty sure that the only difference is the control circuitry.

Robert



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Re the latest version of the EN-EL15 battery, as I understand it the cell manufacturers have very slightly increased the capacity of the chemistry by using slightly thinner membrane with improved resistance to leakage, which is how the Eneloop, Panasonic and Fujitsu batteries (I am led to believe they all come out of the same factory) achieve their better performance.  None of the leading manufacturers make the older type cells any more, The EN-EL3 cells were Samsung, the EN-EL15 cells may well also be Samsung.

In order to get the extra capacity I understand you need to use a Z charger, which slightly increases the charge compared with the original chargers.  I will be collecting one mid May.

GeoffR

 

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Robert wrote:
Re the latest version of the EN-EL15 battery, as I understand it the cell manufacturers have very slightly increased the capacity of the chemistry by using slightly thinner membrane with improved resistance to leakage, which is how the Eneloop, Panasonic and Fujitsu batteries (I am led to believe they all come out of the same factory) achieve their better performance.  None of the leading manufacturers make the older type cells any more, The EN-EL3 cells were Samsung, the EN-EL15 cells may well also be Samsung.

In order to get the extra capacity I understand you need to use a Z charger, which slightly increases the charge compared with the original chargers.  I will be collecting one mid May.
Robert, as far as I know Eneloop is a product of Panasonic, they produce Ni-Mh batteries and the chemistry is very different from the Li-Ion cells used in the EN-EL15 thus their construction is equally different. Thus it is very unlikely that the same method will increase the capacity of both battery types.

Robert



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GeoffR wrote:
Robert, as far as I know Eneloop is a product of Panasonic, they produce Ni-Mh batteries and the chemistry is very different from the Li-Ion cells used in the EN-EL15 thus their construction is equally different. Thus it is very unlikely that the same method will increase the capacity of both battery types. Well that just shows how little I know!  Thanks for putting me right.   Apart from that I think I'm right, ish?

jk



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GeoffR wrote:
Robert, as far as I know Eneloop is a product of Panasonic, they produce Ni-Mh batteries and the chemistry is very different from the Li-Ion cells used in the EN-EL15 thus their construction is equally different. Thus it is very unlikely that the same method will increase the capacity of both battery types. Actually while they claim to be NiMh batteries their characteristics i.e. weight and performance are closer to Li-Ion.  Most useful is their non-use discharge characteristics which are also more Li-Ion like as well, but they do take a longer time to charge which may or may not be a bad thing.  I use an intelligent charger with them and typically they charge in 8-10hours compared to overnight with a standard charger.

The reason I moved to using these Eneloop batteries was that I could charge them and then use them a month or two later with little charge loss.  This is definitely not the case with standard Ni-Mh batteries.

GeoffR

 

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jk wrote:
Actually while they claim to be NiMh batteries their characteristics i.e. weight and performance are closer to Li-Ion.  Most useful is their non-use discharge characteristics which are also more Li-Ion like as well, but they do take a longer time to charge which may or may not be a bad thing.  I use an intelligent charger with them and typically they charge in 8-10hours compared to overnight with a standard charger.

The reason I moved to using these Eneloop batteries was that I could charge them and then use them a month or two later with little charge loss.  This is definitely not the case with standard Ni-Mh batteries.
Indeed not but the characteristic terminal voltage of a Li-Ion cell is 3.7V and Eneloop cells don't display this characteristic. Legally there would be issues with shipping them if they were Li-Ion cells because of their flammable electrolyte.

I too use Eneloop batteries where I need them to retain charge for long periods, flash guns for instance, and they are extremely good.


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