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Need dead or close to dead EN-EL4 battery(s) Fit D2X, D3 etc.Needed to pull apart for modifications to create external battery supply.

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Posted by Robert: Sun Dec 31st, 2017 15:45

1^st Post

As it says in the heading, please?

My buddy Nes has just taken 4 to his recycling centre. Doh! o.O

PM me if you can help please.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by jk: Mon Jan 1st, 2018 05:54

2^nd Post

Robert,
The EN-EL4 is a 11.4 volt unit.
You will need to fit three 3.7v Lion cells in it for it to reach that voltage. I dont think you will be able to make the revised battery with standard 18650 cells.

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Posted by Robert: Mon Jan 1st, 2018 06:42

3^rd Post

Hi JK, my D3 batteries claim 10.8 Volts 2600mAh on the label.

The 18650 battery is usually rated at around 3.6 Volts X 3 = 10.8 Volts.

My measurements suggest that three 18650 cells will fit inside an EN-EL4 casing. That MIGHT be an option, to re-cell the EN-EL4 battery with high capacity 18650 cells... Maybe a good solution, subject to the cells fitting of course. They would still be able to be charged from a standard charger then.

I have checked the output of my EN-EL4 batteries and they show about 12.3 Volts (off load) No doubt the circuit will be regulated but I wouldn't want to push the boundaries. I have read that it's quite OK to feed directly from a car battery (13.8 Volts) into a Nikon camera. I have even heard of people using up to 18Volts but I think that might have long term issues. Some sort of voltage and current control between the battery and the camera might be desirable, I expect there will be some circuitry in the battery which performs this function.

Hence my quest for a dead battery. I am loath to open up my only genuine EN-EL4 battery, OK it's life is at 4 and it's not perfect but it did perform even in the cold of Kielder for a while, maybe 60 exposures against about 120 exposures apiece from the Germany sourced units.

Nes does have a new EN-EL4a battery but I can't get a price out of him so it's probably going to be high... But even that isn't going to answer my needs for long intervalometer sessions of say 12hrs or more, which are my long term aim.

Added info:

This is a possible candidate for upgrading the EN-EL4 unit. But I would prefer something with solder tags.

https://www.batterystation.co.uk/rechargeable-batteries/xtar-18650-3400mah-3-7v-li-ion-protected-led-torch-battery-1-pack

Also (Solder Tagged):

https://www.batteriesplus.co.uk/acatalog/LG-DB-18650-HG2-Tagged-Brown-Li-Ion-INR-18650-Rechargeable-Battery---3.7-V-3000-mAh-Lithium-cell-2050.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1afSBRD2ARIsAEvBsNlLIWKgp40Du1L94Dyv5VqT4RuVZ5FbQDbaqm46LykEDLSnUx5e4FkaAvsyEALw_wcB

____________________
Robert.

Posted by jk: Mon Jan 1st, 2018 07:36

4^th Post

I will need to do some close checks on the size of the 18650 cells.
My initial thought was that the 18650 cells are too large.

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Posted by Robert: Mon Jan 1st, 2018 08:06

5^th Post

The OD of the housing is ~21mm. 21 - 18 = 3mm / 2 = 1.5mm? 1.5mm of housing thickness is possible.

The short length of the housing is 72mm. 72 - 65 = 7mm for housing and gubbins like connections and small PCB?

So, it looks feasible to me. The measurements are tight but that's to be expected, the 18650 battery is an industry standard, Nikon are unlikely to reinvent the wheel by creating a slightly different battery.

We managed to shoehorn the 18650 into the D1 battery housing. Given the larger housing dimensions, this seems a much easier challenge.

____________________
Robert.

Posted by jk: Mon Jan 1st, 2018 14:37

6^th Post

Well I can give it a go as well.
I think the how you want to charge determines the batteries you use.

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Posted by Robert: Mon Jan 1st, 2018 19:38

7^th Post

Well there are two avenues, a large power supply for interval exposure, long duration photography, either a suitable power pack or a regulated connection to a 12 Volt car battery.

I wouldn't be against a very small QUIET generator to provide a continuous power supply, provided it wasn't too heavy because it could also provide power for a small microwave to heat drinks and small meals. I am having trouble finding gas microwaves in the UK. Probably too much elf and safety.

The other avenue is restoring old, worn out EN-EL4 batteries with suitable good quality, high capacity cells, for conventional use and conventional charging. In my opinion £150 for a small 10.8 Volt, 2600mAh camera battery is OTT. Even if the cells were £20 each (They are more likely to be £5 each) that still leaves £90 for a small plastic moulding and a tiny PCB which will only cost coppers. The R&D costs should have been recovered long since.

In the absence of any offers of dead batteries, I will split open my only genuine Nikon EN-EL4 and attempt to re-cell it with 18650 batteries. I no longer use my original D1 conversion 18650 batteries so that would give me 4 spare cells to play with. They are still in good condition and are holding full Voltage even now, maybe 8 years since I used them to restore the defunct D1 batteries?

____________________
Robert.

Posted by Robert: Tue Jan 2nd, 2018 03:22

8^th Post

OK, I bit the bullet, I have split the Nikon EN-EL4 battery. I have also disassembled one of my D1 EN-4 battery packs which I upgraded to Samsung 18650 cells.

I am starting a new thread...

I am still keen to obtain dead EN-EL4 batteries...

____________________
Robert.

Posted by jk: Tue Jan 2nd, 2018 05:13

9^th Post

Well done.
I have a couple of non-Nikon cells which I may try out on.
I will need to purchase some cells when I am in UK.

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