Not just Nikon

Moderated by: chrisbet,

Battery Education

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Posted by Squarerigger: Fri May 4th, 2018 15:33

1^st Post

My D7500 came with a Nikon EN-EL 15a rechargeable Li-ion battery. I still have some Nikon EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion batteries on hand and according to the manual it is ok to use the EL15 in the camera.

I am unable to see from the information which came with the batteries what makes the EL-15a cost more?

I tried a search but came up empty, so if someone would direct me to any posts or educate this none technical person why I should buy any EL 15a's?

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Gary

Posted by Robert: Fri May 4th, 2018 18:50

2^nd Post

Hi Gary, welcome back, have been very busy last few days.

As far as I know the EN-EL15a is a slightly higher capacity version of the EN-EL15.

Like the newer version EN-EL4a, essentially the same as the EN-EL4 original but slightly higher capacity taking advantage of advances in battery technology.

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Robert.

Posted by Squarerigger: Fri May 4th, 2018 19:32

3^rd Post

Ah Robert, the technology guru! I missed your insights to the tech world for which I am totally unprepared! :bowing:

Good to see you are still in the Nikon fold and ready to help me with my question. So the battery has advanced somewhat but is it worth the price of admission?

You look quit dapper in your yellow vest at the sporting event.

Thanks as always for the info. Hope all is well.

Gary

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Gary

Posted by Robert: Sat May 5th, 2018 03:31

4^th Post

Blush! Not an expert but try to understand as best I can.

I guess Nikon have little choice with the batteries, they are constructed using industry standard cells which are as you will no doubt be aware are in a constant state of development. Power tools are probably the main driver to the development. It's not like Nikon have been striving to get a slightly better storage cell, that's down to the likes of Samsung and Panasonic who invest in that side off things.

Nikon have little choice but to use the cells available, they discontinued the earlier version by default, no longer make them, no point. I recently re-celled a D3, EN-EL4 battery using the latest Samsung cells but it wasn't easy. Not sure I would bother doing it again.

As for the cost, original branded batteries are always expensive, I think 'good' third party batteries get the job done more economically and are 'good enough' I see no difference in capacity between the two options. Cold weather is the real enemy, can reduce a 1300 exposure battery to 150 or 200 exposures at minus 7ºC.

A Nikon EN-EL4a battery costs around £150, from memory a recommended third party EN-EL4a equivalent battery from Germany cost me about £30; new Samsung cells equivalent to the EN-EL4a cost me about £27 plus a LOT of very tricky fiddling.

When I bough my D200's, new from Calumet I twisted the salesman's arm and he gave me an additional battery for each camera.

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Robert.

Posted by Eric: Sat May 5th, 2018 16:34

5^th Post

I just bought a 15a battery for my D500. Admittedly I am doing al out of testing so the rear screen is burning bright...but it's gone down just as quick as my 15 battery. Maybe it's better when just taking photos?

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Eric

Posted by Robert: Sun May 6th, 2018 03:15

6^th Post

The development won't be earth shattering, guessing five % improvement maybe? One of the things that has happened is the plastic bag or pouch the chemicals are wrapped in has been made thinner and is more effective at isolating the layers, I understand the inside of these batteries are a bit like a swiss roll, with a thin, sealed pouch of plastic containing the active chemicals is rolled up inside.

The leak-down over time is caused by some chemical reaction across the layers causing the battery to loose charge on the shelf. More modern technology has improved the charge shelf life and slightly increased the charge capacity. Newer cells are more efficient due to improved technology, they still have the same basic chemistry.

This is why leakage of rechargeable batteries is dangerous, if the plastic pouch ruptures then the chemicals can react and catch fire. Overheating is one risk, that's why soldering tags directly to the cels is a big no-no, they have to be spot welded, where the heat while hotter it is much more localised and safer when done in the factory or with properly regulated welders.

Panasonic, Fujitsu and Eneloop batteries are a big improvement compared with previous generations of rechargeable batteries, but EXPENSIVE.

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Robert.

Posted by jk: Sun May 6th, 2018 04:51

7^th Post

Robert wrote:
The development won't be earth shattering, guessing five % improvement maybe? One of the things that has happened is the plastic bag or pouch the chemicals are wrapped in has been made thinner and is more effective at isolating the layers, I understand the inside of these batteries are a bit like a swiss roll, with a thin, sealed pouch of plastic containing the active chemicals is rolled up inside.

The leak-down over time is caused by some chemical reaction across the layers causing the battery to loose charge on the shelf. More modern technology has improved the charge shelf life and slightly increased the charge capacity. Newer cells are more efficient due to improved technology, they still have the same basic chemistry.

This is why leakage of rechargeable batteries is dangerous, if the plastic pouch ruptures then the chemicals can react and catch fire. Overheating is one risk, that's why soldering tags directly to the cels is a big no-no, they have to be spot welded, where the heat while hotter it is much more localised and safer when done in the factory or with properly regulated welders.

Panasonic, Fujitsu and Eneloop batteries are a big improvement compared with previous generations of rechargeable batteries, but EXPENSIVE.
Yes indeed. The technology improvement is more about thinner, lighter ans hopefully safer rather than improved charge capacity.
We need a newer better battery technology to come along to get the large charge capacity.

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Still learning after all these years!
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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jun 6th, 2018 05:52

8^th Post

The D500 and D850 both came with a light grey coloured battery compared with the older battery that were black and many of these older batteries are no longer holding a charge for as long as the new grey ones.I understand that the new grey ones have no problems working with older Nikon DSLRS.

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Graham Whistler

Posted by GeoffR: Thu Jul 26th, 2018 15:42

9^th Post

Battery development usually moves in the direction of greater energy density. The EN-EL18a having some 25% more capacity than the original EN-EL18. However, other improvements are also desirable such as lower self discharge, less heat generation during charge and discharge, less expansion over time and faster charging. Without a full specification of each specific battery it is difficult to determine which of these advances has been incorporated in any given model.

I would strongly recommend consulting the Nikon web site.

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