Panasonic V750 batteries

raydawson

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Will the Panasonic HC-V750 work with VW-VBK180 and VW-VBK360 batteries?

The specified batteries VW-VBT190 and VW-VBT380 aren't easy to get hold of cheaply, but the older batteries for the V720 are readily available. They look to be the same size and fitting, it's a question of what the V750 chip will accept.

Any information, or pointers to the information, greatly appreciated.

Ray D
 
I am in the same position. I sourced third party batteries for my V700 quite easily but cannot find a cheap supplier for the V750. Battery chargers are available at around £12 for the V750 batteries so I may get a second 190 and halve the cost of the 380.
I am wondering if Panasonic have made threatening lawsuit type noises towards the third party battery makers.
 
I believe batteries are the new Memory-cards. In the past IEC and others drew up specifications for primary batteries; these were then available in shops. Probably this has lasted since pre-WWII. [ DYOR ].
However with the advent of Lithium camera/phone/other makers see a new way to extract money from their customers..... check out that some devices cannot be opened without specialist tools - or are designed to be thrown away when the battery gives up.

If grey makers can fake the connections then the battery should work. However, the OEMs aren't going to lose out huge profits - so they incorporate "chips" to convince us there is something special . . . the same applies to car-keys if you've ever lost the "Master-Key" it's an expensive business getting a replacement.
My NEX5 takes Sony batteries, or GHrey ones...but I think camcorders like CX410 are "trickier" - so if Terfyn can't with his camcorder... I suspect that's how it is.

Incidentally Terfyn mentioned ( another Thread?), that his camcorder was Upgradable - I understand some clever folks have found a way to "Crack" the firmware of some camera-devices.... so if you trust the Updater ( and maybe you shouldn't), some of the limitations will be disabled. There is nothing inherently good for these chips, although they may perform other features like checking charge . . . but I suspect it is purely a device that allows the camera-device to apply power - in effect a Lock-out.

It's a great shame that Euro Rulers don't step in and prevent such exploitation; when you can see the Genuine Battery is £50 maybe, with a similar-capacity Grey-one priced at £15.
+Much the same applies to Memory, except the SD card was so well designed some Makers used them, so the prices dropped making rival CF and other cards rather expensive. It is difficult to believe that SD association doesn't have very fast cards - yet some makers imply that only their dedicated card is suitable . . . . do I wonder why?

DYOR - the above is as I believe, but cannot G'tee.
 
The VW-VBT190 can be sourced from Discounted Digital for £33.99. Two of these is better than Amazons price for a 380.
Still a work in progress.:zonked:
VW-VBK380E-K £88 from FotoSense.
 
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Hmm - I found a VW-VBK360 on Ebay for £10.30 so I've bought it to see if it works.

Panasonic do imply on page 11 of the manual that batteries other than Panasonic will work, so it's worth a tenner to find out. More when it arrives next week!

I have noticed that there is an extra lug on the VBK360, which isn't there on the VBT380, but it can be removed easily enough if it gets in the way. The VBK380 has 3 one side and 2 the other, the VBK360 has 3 each side.

My new V750 had to be returned yesterday as the box had been resealed and the camera previously set up, but brand new sealed replacement should arrive tomorrow. Until then I can't look at the battery fitting, but I'm optimistic.

I had hoped than someone else may have already tried the older battery in the V750 - I'll post the result when mine arrives :)

Ray D
 
OK - an update.

The VBK360 arrived and, as I thought, one of the lugs had to be removed for it to go into the V750 camera. So far, so good.

The Camera fired up OK but, after about 15 seconds, a message came up onscreen sayong 'This battery cannot be used'

Next, I charged the battery in the camera in case it needed to 'read' the battery state, but no go - the same message came up when I tried to use it again.

So, Panasonic have effectively stopped the use of any other batteries in the V750 - including their own earlier ones which are available cheap on-line.

As a matter of interest, has anyone used a 5 volt battery pack plugged into the power in socket of the V750 camera? I don't see why it shouldn't work, but don't want to waste time or money experimenting. Any idea what the maximum voltage is into this socket? It must be dropped to 3.6V inside the camera, but how high can it start?

Ray D
 
The supplied charger is rated at 5V 1.8A and is fitted with a USB connector so any powered USB supply with enough capacity should work. I suggest you leave the 190 battery in the camera while powering from another source. A battery pack of 3 D size batteries will give a nominal 6V which could be dropped to 5V with a shunt.
As the 750 batteries are common to the 720 (now a year old) there are more OEM suppliers but they are still expensive.
 
3 D size batteries would give 4.5V when new - to get 6V you would need 4 of them. I'll have to see if 4.5V is enough for the V750 socket, or if it needs 4 batteries (6V). I don't know how nominal the 5V is for the external supply input.

I was just thinking of a temporary higher capacity supply until cheaper replacements for the VBT190 and VBT380 are available. By the time that happens Panasonic will have a new camera with an even newer battery ;-0

Ray D
 
Sorry about the silly miscalculation.:facepalm: I still think that, even 'though Panasonic say not to, a supply from a USB based source should work. If not - why did they supply a power cable with a USB plug at one end? There seem to be a number of portable USB power sources available for re-charging phones etc. Just looking at Amazon I spotted a power pack for recharging with an output of 5.3V.
Would this be an option?
 
I found this on Ebay

dodocool 12000mAh Portable External Backup Battery Charger Power Bank Patented | eBay

It could be used either to run the camera using the USB to power cable, or charge the camera battery. It's not too big for the pocket - about 15 x 7.5 x 1.5 cm. At 20 quid it's a lot cheaper than a spare battery - and can be used on anything that uses a USB socket to charge. The outputs appear to be both 1 and 2 amp capable.

Ray D
 
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Looks ideal and it should work OK. Please keep us posted.
 
Yes, do post any tests, comments on this "Power Source".
Whilst it appears to be a Recharger, presumably it could be a battery replacement, provided the right connections are available. How does it trick the camera?
I was a tad confused by Terfyn....ref to "D-cells" ...as Primary batteries, as you know, you'd need four for 6v. but more likely rechargeable NiMH are 1.2v, so four would provide nearly 5v, but probably not enough (headroom), to operate even a switching regulator. However, while these are fairly powerful at 4AHr - - - the posted Li-ion battery claims it is 12AHr ( 12,000 mAHr). If it's really as good as it reads, then it's a lot better than anything home-made (price/convenience- IMHO ).....
 
Hi Ray Dawson did you have any luck with alternative power sources for the 750?
 
Yes - I bought the EC Tech 12000mA power bank from Amazon EC TECHNOLOGY® New 12000mAh Premium Samsung Grade A: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

It works very well, either as a recharger for the camera battery, or as a supply for the camera. It has to be used via the camera USB to DIN power lead, but works with or without the camera battery in place. Basically, it takes the place of the supplied AC power unit.

I haven't done any duration tests, and the camera display doesn't tell you how long it thinks it will last, but at 12 Amp/hours it should be a long time. As long as you don't mind running the camera with a cable between it and the battery in your pocket, it's ideal for extra power in the field. Alternatively, just recharge the battery in between shoots - it's quite quick if you do it off the 2 amp output.

Ray D
 
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Many thanks Ray. I am sorry to use you as a tester of technology but as it works so well I will get on to Amazon ASAP.
This will be very useful for other 750 users and "one in the eye" for greedy Panasonic.
 
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I got a similar charger for my 750 from Amazon for £8.50. The difference is that the plate that carries the battery is specific to that battery. This is how Panasonic make it difficult for third party manufacturers.

You have not made it clear what is wrong. Will the battery charge, when clipped in place on the camera, with the mains charger plugged in? (i.e. Panasonic's method of charging the battery - red light should flash slowly)

These chargers do take a long time to recharge a battery, some 2-3 hours. Are you giving the charger time? Is the charger light on and red?

I got a 360 for my V700 from digitalmediastore: Panasonic VW-VBK360 compatible rechargeable battery from Dot.Foto
plus a charger both at a good price.
 
I got a similar charger for my 750 from Amazon for £8.50. The difference is that the plate that carries the battery is specific to that battery. This is how Panasonic make it difficult for third party manufacturers.

You have not made it clear what is wrong. Will the battery charge, when clipped in place on the camera, with the mains charger plugged in? (i.e. Panasonic's method of charging the battery - red light should flash slowly)

These chargers do take a long time to recharge a battery, some 2-3 hours. Are you giving the charger time? Is the charger light on and red?

I got a 360 for my V700 from digitalmediastore: Panasonic VW-VBK360 compatible rechargeable battery from Dot.Foto
plus a charger both at a good price.

I left it in the charger a good few hours when in my camera the light was flashing.
If I put the power lead in but as soon as I took the power out it just dies.
The red light was flashing fast to.
 
Have a look at P154 of the 700 user manual.

Is the battery/camera new? The 700 has been around for two years or so. If your unit is second hand maybe the battery is finished. Fortunately the third party batteries are fairly cheap compared to the OEM units.
 
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The annoying thing is that 180/360 batteries are easy and cheap but 190/380 batteries are not.
I still think that Panasonic have "got at" the third party suppliers to not supply batteries for the newer models. It is easy and cheap to get a charger but no the battery.
 
I have the HC-V510 and bought a non panny battery. I removed the tab so the battery fits but get the message "This battery cannot be used" so I assume its the same problem?
 
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Yes - I bought the EC Tech 12000mA power bank from Amazon EC TECHNOLOGY® New 12000mAh Premium Samsung Grade A: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

It works very well, either as a recharger for the camera battery, or as a supply for the camera. It has to be used via the camera USB to DIN power lead, but works with or without the camera battery in place. Basically, it takes the place of the supplied AC power unit.
This looks interesting, any idea where I would get the correct usb to din (What size din?) power lead as one was not supplied with my camera
 
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You should be able to get a replacement power lead from a Panasonic shop. The original equipment includes a plug/charger for the mains with a USB socket and a 1 mtr lead with the circular DIN plug on one end. For size - measure the socket on your camera.
 

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