dmw-dcc8 DC coupler where is it in stock?
- Thread starter Ram S.O.S
- Start date
You better check out your DC coupler... I have bought "Genuine Panasonic DMW-DCC8 DC Coupler" from ebay seller "buyfromjapan" and it does not work! Tried to supply voltage of 7.2v to 8.4v from both - the battery and AC adaptor and I am only getting " This battery can not be used"... It does not work even when I supply voltage from original GH2 battery! So it seems there are some fake (not GENUINE Panasonic) DMW-DCC8 DC couplers...
soarprod
Veteran
Hey Ram S.O.S. I produced the GH2 custom battery solution video - I have run with my Rhino adapter several times with no problem. I sent you a message back about it - exchange at Frys.
Ram S.O.S
Well-known member
I bought mine from H and B digital and it came in the correct packaging I don't think it's a fake. I bought an extra battery and it came in the same packaging.
Ram S.O.S
Well-known member
Thanks for the info I had not gotten around to checking my vimeo messages earlier. Thanks for your help. I'm hopeful that a replacement adapter will do the trick.
Got mine from H and B also. Works just fine.
I am not talking about H&B or Adorama but eBay.
I seriously doubt that the adapter is bad. There are no electronics in the adapter. So if the camera has the proper contact with the adapter then the adapter is working.
The message means that the voltage coming in is too low - below 8.4v - for some reason. The only way the adapter can cause this is by having bad contacts.
So the contacts should be examined. It would not hurt to clean them just in case using a pencil eraser. On the real adapter they are gold plated.
Good luck.
Thank you tyampel. So if there is no any chip or electronic inside - what is the purpose of two contacts between "+" and "-" of the DC coupler? Anyway, I have used a multimeter to confirm I was feeding exactly 8.4v from the 3rd party AC/DC adapter (Canon brand) providing voltage of 8.4v and 500mA current. Maybe I need more mAmpers, If so - how much?
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All right, I have supplied higher voltage (my multimeter showed 9.46v) and my GH2 with dmw-dcc8 (from eBay) worked! Many thanks tyampel - you gave me a clue I was feeding dc coupler with too small voltage. So it seems voltage of 8.4v is not enough, must be bit higher and it works.
One question: I'm using tamiya-like RC battery with Panasonic dmw-dcc8 DC coupler. On a battery's label it says 8.4v/4600mAh, but my multimeter shows that voltage is 10.16v when I measure it right after I have fully charged it. GH2 works with it at no problem but - is it OK to use this battery..? I am worrying as it seems to be too high. On the other hand, my AC/DC adaptor measured with the same multimeter shows exactly 8.4 voltage and GH2 does not work with it, prompting only "this battery can not be used".
Most adapters do not provide stabized output voltage, meaning the voltage drops under the load of the camera.
Same is true for most batteries. So feeding the camera a slightly higher voltage is OK. If possible measure the voltage under the load, when the camera is turned on.
Use safety pins to puncture the adapter wire (in different places so they don't touch each other) if no other access points are available.
If it is less than 9.5v I would not worry about it.
As for the purpose of the the other two terminals (between + and -) on the adapter, they are not serving any. So I would say they are there to confuse the enemies.
If you look at my previous posts, you can see my own adapter built from a piece of wood. Is has only two terminals and works fine.
Same is true for most batteries. So feeding the camera a slightly higher voltage is OK. If possible measure the voltage under the load, when the camera is turned on.
Use safety pins to puncture the adapter wire (in different places so they don't touch each other) if no other access points are available.
If it is less than 9.5v I would not worry about it.
As for the purpose of the the other two terminals (between + and -) on the adapter, they are not serving any. So I would say they are there to confuse the enemies.
If you look at my previous posts, you can see my own adapter built from a piece of wood. Is has only two terminals and works fine.
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How could I have missed it..? Your wooden dc coupler is brilliant!
BTW - thank you very much indeed for all your help and explanations.
Just so it matches with the battery and has indents for the contacts so it doesn't bend them. On the battery they would be to monitor what the charge status of the battery is and maybe an authentication check
This is crazy! Here it is March 2011 and we can't get power to our lovely cameras! We should start a battery rental/ exchange program where we ship batteries to those in need for a week and in turn we can make money. $10 bucks for a week rental? Or given the demand, $500,000 per day. 
Do I seriously have to build a "battery" out of wood??? (nice job there).
Do I seriously have to build a "battery" out of wood??? (nice job there).
Sun
Carbonite Member
Its best to slow charge batteries to avoid the voltage spikes they sometimes show with fast charging. if your worried about the voltage spike you can run an old fashioned bulb across the terminals just to soften the top voltage a little. I have no idea if the battery coupler has any kind of voltage regulator in it which it should.