Need a spare BLK22 battery and discovered this... USB-C BLK22

[Oíche]

With the Lumix cameras not being supplied with chargers (which is a good thing) and realising I need more than one battery I discovered this...



https://newell.pro/product/newell-dmw-blk22-usb-c-battery-for-panasonic/

The money Panasonic try and charge (excuse the pun ) for their charger makes Apple look like a charity. This battery includes the simple charging electronics and chip. Yes you can buy 3rd party chargers but I like minimalism AND...

With these you get USB-C which is now really universal so you should never be stuck anywhere.

PS Did you know there are 2x standard cells in these and not some specialist proprietary hocus pocus nonsense that brands charge extortionate prices for?



I don't buy the must use brand batteries propaganda, you can buy better 3rd party that are cheaper. I've seen threads about faulty new Lumix batteries with them causing operational problems and discharging over a short time period.

I have a LED Lenser torch with a USB battery and it's the handiest thing in the world not needing a charger.

 

[pdk42]

Yes, OEM batteries are really overpriced, but the problem with 3rd party batteries is that it’s hard to know whether the cells are good quality or not. I’ve had problems with non OEM batteries that swelled up and would no longer fit into the camera. And that’s before we get into real world capacity. If you find 3rd party batteries that you’re happy with, then all is good, but there’s a lot of junk out there.

 

[Oíche]

These have a 40 month warranty, I've never had problems with batteries except the cheap zinc ones leaking that my mother still buys for TV remotes etc.

These are £32.99 on Ebay so not the £30 2x BLK22 batteries and charger combo that possibly use lesser quality cells.

As for capacity It'll probably beat the Panasonic as stated. I've used different types of individual Li-Ion individual cells and the good ones are good ones.

Sure even the Tesla cars run on 1000's of these cells wired together and some get 400,000 miles and still have 80% plus capacity.

I'll be getting it soon so I'll let you know about real world capacity soon.

 

[Oíche]

Even Wex sell a USB-C BLK22... well if it was in stock.

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/matho...WX*MTcyNjMyNjYxOS4xLjEuMTcyNjMyNjYzMy4wLjAuMA..

 

[CharlesH]

I'll be getting it soon so I'll let you know about real world capacity soon.

Interesting, let us know what you find.

I like the concept; direct USB-C charging. I wonder how they could eliminate the memory effect?

 

[Oíche]

Interesting, let us know what you find.

I will indeed, last photo session turned into a video clip session (to stitch together) and it flattened the Lumix battery rather and probably for the first time ever coming recently from DSLR I completely ran out. So I'll do a similar session with the new USB battery to compare.

I like the concept; direct USB-C charging. I wonder how they could eliminate the memory effect?

Yip, just having a power bank can charge both camera directly with Lumix battery and the USB battery. You could even charge the USB battery inside a backpack on the move or from car USB sockets etc. I have several mains USB sockets in the house too.

The camera USB battery has an LED charging indicator also like this one below from a torch.

• Xiaomi - 24069PC21G
• 4.9 mm
• ƒ/1.6
• 1/50 sec
• Center-Weighted Average
• ISO 100

 

[Babylonia]

.....I wonder how they could eliminate the memory effect?

Memory effect is related to Nikkel Cadmium (NiCd) battery's, not Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion).

I am using cheapo Ali Express battery's for my S1R (including charger), already for several years.
Having more high capacity and lasting longer than my original Panasonic battery.

(The Panasonic S1R model camera was sold including a battery charger).

 

[cascadian]

I see wasabi sells it in the US for $26.99

 

[Oíche]

I see wasabi sells it in the US for $26.99

I found it direct from then for £24.75 as 25% discount... Postage £7 though unless spending £45 which it is free...

Shall I buy 2 of them?

They have loads of gear, tempted by a lens heater for cold winter nights doing astro in which the front element does get covered. I'm doubtful it'll work on the 24-105 f4 at 24mm and it covers the focus ring on it and my astro only Samyang 14mm.

I now hate buying anything I won't or can't use and in a process of selling possessions that are a nuisance to own. More Pentax lenses, cement mixer, table saws, most construction gear etc. I want rid of it

I don't even want to buy this battery

 

[CharlesH]

I see wasabi sells it in the US for $26.99

When @Oiche introduced this I thought it was a specific brand with a unique approach. Now we are seeing the USB-C charging approach on numerous brands. This is back to the same old issue of not knowing who to trust. There are bound to be the unreliable players, along with some good brands.

 

[robin0112358]

I don't buy the must use brand batteries propaganda, you can buy better 3rd party that are cheaper.

It's not propaganda. There are teardowns you can watch that clearly demonstrate the protective circuits in OEM batteries versus the lack of same in off-brand. Simple testing will demonstrate the longer capacity of OEM cells.

I am not specifically taking Panasonic here, just my experience with several other brands, like the Canon-style that Blackmagic cameras use.

This is not to say that there aren't some OK third-party devices. But why risk a fault when you've invested so much already in the camera system? False economy IMO.

But regardless of one's opinion or risk aversion, calling it "propaganda" is counterfactual.

 

[Babylonia]

I never go to the most "cheap" options.
Then you know in advance that you will be disappointed. Always use your common sense.
Also looking to (many) "shopping" reviews. To have "some" confidence for best "balance" price-wise.

Also take into account that in case of less quality.
You always have to calculate for best "efficiency". It still can be (a far) better deal, to buy those "cheap" batteries.

As by my experience, my situation. I bought two batteries including a battery charger, for about half the price of one Panasonic battery.
So "IF" those two batteries are already "empty" / lasting by "half" of the time of one Panasonic battery.
(So only have a lasting of 25%). It still is not more expensive than using only one "Panasonic" battery.
So there is not an advantage, nor loss. However could be annoying to exchange batteries far more by "wors" battery capacity.

But that is not my "real" experience in general "over the years" of many kind of "white labelled" batteries.
ALWAYS have a big advantage using "white labeled" offerings, versus taking into account the "original" branded batteries.

Already described in my previous post. Even those "cheapo" Ali Express battery's for my S1R. Using them over about 3 years time.
Do have more high capacity and lasting longer than my original Panasonic battery, by the same time coverage.

So by calculation already "at least" already 4x "more as cheap" - for "the same" Panasonic offering.

 

[Oíche]

The thread was about USB batteries (as Lumix don't make them) with built in charging electronics, not hearsay and fear stories about electronics being missing and destruction of equipment. USB batteries obviously have to have electronics (a mass produced chip mostly that probably costs pennies) just as your phone does or any of the billions of USB chargeable devices out there that last for years or even decades.

Remember there is a 3 1/2 year warranty with the Neweer USB. I don't see Panasonic Lumix offering that, maybe it is 1 or 2 years as per the camera depending where you live.

Neweer sell loads of equipment, even flashes and there is loads of stuff for videography enthusiasts...

https://uk.neewer.com/

 

[Travis Butler]

When @Oiche introduced this I thought it was a specific brand with a unique approach. Now we are seeing the USB-C charging approach on numerous brands. This is back to the same old issue of not knowing who to trust. There are bound to be the unreliable players, along with some good brands.

I’ve had mixed luck with Wasabi batteries. Definitely better than some of the generics, but still fail more often than the OEM batteries.

While the idea of built-in USB-C charging is indeed very cool, I’m a bit wary; the charging circuitry is very important with lithium-ion batteries, both for safety and battery health. I’d want to see a bit more of a track record.

 

[Oíche]

I’ve had mixed luck with Wasabi batteries. Definitely better than some of the generics, but still fail more often than the OEM batteries.

While the idea of built-in USB-C charging is indeed very cool, I’m a bit wary; the charging circuitry is very important with lithium-ion batteries, both for safety and battery health. I’d want to see a bit more of a track record.

How many other chargeable USB devices do you own? A phone for starters.

Like I said the charging circuit is a generic chip with 5V input, exactly what are you wary of? There will be 10s of millions or more of these or similar in use... How many mobile phones are there? 2+ billion? More?

Now I had a Panasonic Eneloop mains battery charger blow up, a capacitor literally blew the housing to bits but thats 240V, the batteries were fine and still have them.

 

[CharlesH]

The thread was about USB batteries (as Lumix don't make them) with built in charging electronics

I did end up ordering the Wasabi battery from Amazon US. I would like to take a look at the USB-C charging idea. Wasabi is a fairly good rated brand on Amazon, but this particular battery is brand new so there are almost almost no reviews. (One review said it fit too tight.)

 

[Oíche]

I did end up ordering the Wasabi battery from Amazon US. I would like to take a look at the USB-C charging idea. Wasabi is a fairly good rated brand on Amazon, but this particular battery is brand new so there are almost almost no reviews. (One review said it fit too tight.)

Some negative reviews are from Canon just released cameras so no surprises as it's not chipped for those to provide capacity levels. It works perfectly with all the Lumix models including G9ii.

Says 2.8 hours for charge via USB which seems about the same as charging in camera but I've never really timed it or experimented with bigger USB adapters? I think the USB charge is limited to 2A so 10W, one reviewer said they measured it at 9W.

No harm not fast charging batteries anyway, probably better for them to not fast cook them for longevity.

 

[Travis Butler]

How many other chargeable USB devices do you own? A phone for starters.

Yes, which by definition includes an OEM charging circuit.

And that's precisely the point. The company that built the device knows the battery usage cycle, and can design the charging circuitry for both safety (overcharging can cause Li-Ion batteries to overheat and explode) and optimal battery health/longevity (when to fast charge vs trickle charge, for example). A third-party charger with only basic charging circuitry won't have that; one with a higher-quality charging system that tracks usage will.

Like I said the charging circuit is a generic chip with 5V input, exactly what are you wary of?

Well, gee, let me count the ways...

• My own personal experience with third party batteries:
  • All of them have had lower capacity than OEM batteries; as someone noted above, sometimes that can be a worthwhile tradeoff for a lower price, but it's definitely evidence of lower production standards.
  • I've owned at least 20 over the years, and at least a third of them have died long before the OEM battery died.
  • Worse, several of those that died were swelling in a way that made them hard to get out of the camera; I had to be very careful to avoid puncturing the battery and ruining the camera.
• Several take-aparts documenting batteries and chargers that take dangerous shortcuts; for example, leaving out buffering circuitry.
• A documented history of Li-Ion battery fires and explosions when companies didn't take enough care.
  • https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/why-are-hoverboards-exploding-and-catching-fire/
  • https://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-galaxy-note-7-battery-fires-heres-why-they-exploded
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Boeing_787_Dreamliner_grounding
  • https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/09/tech/lithium-ion-battery-fires/index.html

I've had good luck with some third-party batteries. Others have been garbage. So I'm going to wait until these batteries have more of a track record, and see where they end up.

 

[pdk42]

I recently made up a small UPS for powering instruments in a glider in case of failure of the main batteries. I used 18650 cells. As such, I read a bit about Li ion charging strategies. In brief, it’s fair to say that you can make it simple or complicated depending on how much you care about long term battery health.

A simple circuit will use a constant current approach that will shut off when the individual cell voltage reaches 4.2V.

But then things can get more complicated. If multiple cells are used, additional circuitry can be added which will bleed charge across the cells to balance them (a so-called BMS). Then the charging strategy can be made more sophisticated with things like:

- dealing with deeply discharged cells by adopting a reduced-voltage “pre conditioning” phase

- doing periodic top-up charges to combat against self discharge

- sensing the temperature of the cells to avoid excessive charge rates

Here’s a paste of a typical change profile:

None of this is especially difficult or expensive to do and I’d hope that any manufacturer would implement these strategies. But of course, it’s hard to know for sure.

 

[Travis Butler]

But then things can get more complicated. If multiple cells are used, additional circuitry can be added which will bleed charge across the cells to balance them (a so-called BMS). Then the charging strategy can be made more sophisticated with things like:

Yup. This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about.

None of this is especially difficult or expensive to do and I’d hope that any manufacturer would implement these strategies. But of course, it’s hard to know for sure.

Sure, I'd hope they would.

In the real world, given the number of shoddy third-party batteries I've run into, there's no way in hell that I would trust them to.

Until the manufacturers have time to demonstrate a track record, it's a crap shoot. That's why I'm going to wait for the track record.