Where can I buy extra Battery for 200a?!?!?!

Jason_Boone

Jason_Boone

Active member
Where the heck can I buy an extra battery for my 200a? Can't find them for sale anywhere. Bought one on ebay but it doesn't fit.
 
I've got a couple of batteries I bought from Spec-Comm. The DVXUser battery will also fit the 200a.

My original Panasonic battery has died, but the Spec-Comms are going strong.
 
Why not? The ones off Ebay do you mean? I've bought a few, and they've lasted my camera, as well as my secondary, for multiple full day shoots, never had one problem...
 
Me too ! I also got a free one after one pooped out after a couple years from the same company - albeit they were local...
 
Can you use you the same HVX200 batteries on the HVX200a? And would you be able to use them on the HPX170 as well?
 
yes you can. Also definitly go with the Ebay batteries. they are like $25 for 5400mah and they work great for me. Only problem is that they dont seem to fit perfect they wiggle a little bit but thats barely a problem.
 
I've also had good luck with the Ebay batteries, generally $20- $30 each. Just don't expect them to be quite the quality of the original Panasonic - I still go to it when
I need the longest life. When new they last about as long. After a year or so some
may have half to 3/4 of the life of a Panasonic, others may come close. And most
have a sloppy fit - but they never, in my experience, lose their connection.

How do the DVX user batteries compare to the original?
 
I might say to that person.... "to each his own"... depending on how good of a mood I was in :)

I just preferred a one liner rather than saying that I've heard too many horror stories about cheap "ebay" batteries, and (personally) wouldn't trust a 25 dollar battery in my 5k investment, and just with people buying "cheap" batteries in general, and then you rebutting that they worked for you, etc.... to each his own :)

Later,
Jason
 
Jason Ramsey said:
I might say to that person.... "to each his own"... depending on how good of a mood I was in :)

I just preferred a one liner rather than saying that I've heard too many horror stories about cheap "ebay" batteries, and (personally) wouldn't trust a 25 dollar battery in my 5k investment, and just with people buying "cheap" batteries in general, and then you rebutting that they worked for you, etc.... to each his own :)

Later,
Jason
Click to expand...

i'm interested in these horror stories. what is it exactly that makes them so awful? maybe i need to stop using them. i'm not one to follow the scared masses but if there are legitimate risks then inform me please.

i happen to know a little about the battery business and while i can't speak specifically about the panasonic batteries vs. the dvxuser ones or the ebay ones, i can say that more times than not, a branded battery contains the exact same components as a generic. main difference is price.

so if there really is a huge difference between the oem panasonic batteries and the generics, what is it exactly? this info would be a lot more useful than what we have seen thus far.
 
First post here. Great Forum! Learning allot about Digital Video. Although this may be my first post here..... I'm no Noob (I wish I was sometimes) I'm an established Advertising Still Photographer..... No, not the Nikon and 3 lens Volvo Station Wagon kind. I'm the 4000sf Studio, 3 Ton Grip Truck kind. I have the opportunity to Direct some commercials as well as some other moving picture projects.

Batteries!

I go back to the NiCad days, racing 6 cell R/C cars as a semi sponsored driver for Team Associated. We went through hundreds of Sub C NiCad batteries back than trying to understand charging and discharge characteristics.

Fast forward to today's LiIon batteries. There are some bad stories out there with laptop and cell phone batteries exploding/burning. This meltdown creates the most caustic, nasty chemical burns/fumes you can imagine.
That being said, It is a wonderful power source if made and used correctly.
Most all LiIon rechargeable batteries today are made in China. The main problem with Chinese made goods in general is that there are many levels of manufacturing. China is capable and do make some very good products. Most designs come from America, Japan, Germany and other countries that could not manufacture these products at competitive price points in there own country. The down side is that cutting corners to make it cheaper is the name of the game for the companies in China that want to under cut the mainline products.
I prefer to buy cheap made in China 40 piece socket set for $4.00 rather than toxic chemical filled metal tubes that your gonna connect electricity to.

Panasonic is in the battery business. There battery packs probably have high grade cells in them.

OK.... Some general Tips/Guidelines for getting the most out of your LiIon rechargeable batteries.

- Rule #1 Never run your LiIon battery pack all the way down. LiIon cells hate complete discharge. Most multi cell packs have a low volt safety circuit in them. The best way is to recharge at half way..... You will get way more life out of your packs. The problem is when your battery pack gets near the end of it's discharge cycle.... Only one of the batteries in series is dumping. You ruin one battery in the chain, Guess what, now you have a weaker and more dangerous battery pack. That one bad cell can cause havoc to both charging and discharging. A bad LiIon cell can reverse polarity, Can create un even resistance in the chain.....Not good.

I can't say don't use cheap eBay battery packs, Cause I don't know what's in them. They could have good batteries in them or crappy batteries. The other thing is that some battery packs have circuits and or sensors in them.

Rule#2 Use only good chargers. Sorry but a $3.00 charger for LiIon batteries can't happen. The other charging tip is to not leave the battery in the charger just cause the green light is on and you think the charger has stopped charging. The charger may go into trickle charge mode which is actually a good thing for say another hour. This will equalize the cells, But left overnight may overcharge them and cause damage.

I'm not saying I like paying for overpriced factory battery packs. Maybe I'm saying my camera needs to be reliable and safe so it can perform as it's supposed to so I can make imagery that is saleable.

For those of you using the cheap jippo batteries with no problems ..... You win!

NOTE: I may have assumed that the HVX batteries were LiIon.(My 170 camera is due in Sept.) If the pack is 7.2 volts, It may be NiMh (Nickle Metal Hydride) 6 cells @1.2 volts ea. If thats the case, it's a much easier battery to make and they do like full cycles (to 80% used) I'll leave the info up about LiIon batteries. Sorry if this confused any of you. Bottom line is that you do want a quality battery in anything you make your living with. Not saying the factory Panasonic battery is the best.... But chances are it's a pretty good pack.

Hope this helps

frisco
 
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Here's another plug for the DVXUser batteries. After one year, the plastic casing came slightly unattached, and Jared sent out a new battery to replace it. I thought that was excellent service, and I have had a few DVXuser batteries since buying the DVX100 in 2004. Definitely high on my list of recommended batteries!
 
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