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April, 2025

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Camera Batteries in the cold

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a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,143
So I have a shitty camcorder I've been playing around with using a fisheye lens, and its fun but the battery dies after about 5 minutes even on a full charge.

The battery is pretty small and I've already ordered a bunch of backups, but has anyone figured out any tricks to keep them warm? I'm tempted to try and duck tape a hand warmer to it and see if that has any effect.
10 years ago
5 3
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LynxNation
Posts: 780 - Karma: 5,853
I keep my camera inside my jacket and out of the cold as often as I can. It helps with battery life and keeping the auto focus quick. I've never tried putting a hand warmer on it but you wanna be careful it doesn't get too hot, that starts a whole other problem.
10 years ago
1 1
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
I do not suggest taping a hand warmer to it. How old is the battery. They only have a certain amount of charge cycles before they die. They don't last forever
10 years ago
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a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,143
Rdwagner2I do not suggest taping a hand warmer to it. How old is the battery. They only have a certain amount of charge cycles before they die. They don't last forever


its probably 6+ years old, wasnt used a whole ton but did sit for a while.

its not a big deal if its almost dead. The new ones I ordered have like 2x the capacity. thanks for the help guys
10 years ago
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[tk]
Posts: 3863 - Karma: 1,906
A_Burgerits probably 6+ years old, wasnt used a whole ton but did sit for a while.

its not a big deal if its almost dead. The new ones I ordered have like 2x the capacity. thanks for the help guys


You should be set with those ones. I had the same problem.
10 years ago
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LukasSchroeder
Posts: 1461 - Karma: 2,683
Rdwagner2I do not suggest taping a hand warmer to it. How old is the battery. They only have a certain amount of charge cycles before they die. They don't last forever


The filmer for 403Media in calgary does that
10 years ago
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
Batteries are not made to be heated. They have chemicals that can sometimes be flammable or exploded under high heat. Heat can also decrease the batteries life span. I'm not saying they will be damaged for sure if you have hand warmers on them. But keeping them on an inter jacket pocket close to your body for heat will also work. If you read the warning on the battery it probably says not to put it by heat.
10 years ago
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
I would just keep them in the same pocket as a warmer. Not taped directly too it.
10 years ago
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
Rdwagner2I would just keep them in the same pocket as a warmer. Not taped directly too it.


Or just on an inner pocket of your jacket or layers, you don't want to 'heat' the battery, just protect it from cold, body temp should suffice.
10 years ago
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