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Archive 2022 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

khurram1
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

I’m planning my first camping trip in around 15 years, and was going to get a bio lite power bank 80 for charging our devices. Before I get it, I just wanted to get some advice if there are similar options that would also allow me to charge the lithium batteries for my R5.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Jul 04, 2022 at 07:46 PM

jcolwell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

Hi Khurram,

I use USB battery powerpacks to charge my phone (mostly 10k mAh, half of the PB 80) and to run my camera directly, through a Tether Tools, Case Relay power supply. The TT has a dummy battery that goes in the camera, and the other end attaches to either (i) a USB battery, or (ii) AC power. The device has a small internal battery, and so you can hot-swap between power sources, without a power-down.

I use the phone to control and display the camera output (for 'serious' landscapes, etc.), and to backup my camera files; an OTG cable mounts the phone to a card reader, and (later) to a SSD.

I generally do not charge my camera batteries from the power banks, as I take many of them (and more cards - I don't cull or re-use cards in the field, unless...). OTOH, for travel, I converted from the standard Canon AC chargers to generic USB chargers. This allows me to charge the batteries from the powerbanks and, more often, from a USB power module that plugs into 120/240 VAC.

Next time I do an extended off-AC-power trip, I'll bring a solar charger.

Cheers,
Jim

Jul 05, 2022 at 07:09 AM

PIOK
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

This gives me 3 and a half charges for my Nikon Z camera. I think is very good, but a little heavy
Belkin 20,000mAh, 30W

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1600479-REG/belkin_bpb002btbk_boost_charge_20k_power.html

Jul 05, 2022 at 07:44 AM

jedibrain
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

There is a thread around here, I believe from Bruce in Philly, who came up with some good options for doing what you want to do. I'm sure you could search it up.

-Brian

Jul 05, 2022 at 07:45 AM

Flowernut
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

I go with extra camera batteries and a nitecore usb charger. You can get a cigarette ligher plug for the car that gives you usb outlets. These can be used to charge my phone and camera batteries with nitecore usb charger. I usually figure 1 battery per day at most. Usually 1/2 battery is more than sufficeinet. Don't know how long a trip you are planning. Backpacking 3 days, a couple of batteries. Car camping, you can charge it in the car.

Jul 05, 2022 at 10:49 AM

rscheffler
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

I also use a Nitecore USB battery charger for my other, non-Canon, system. Definitely consider this brand if you're looking for a USB battery charger.

I'm not super familiar with the R5, but does it not allow charging of the battery in-camera via a powerbank with PD capability? If so, you could probably charge up a battery or two during downtime evenings and overnight. I was able to do this with an M6II a couple years ago...

For my car camping trips, if electronics requiring AC power are along for the trip, and the camping spot doesn't have AC at the site, I bring a Paul Buff Vagabond Mini pure sine inverter and a few batteries, that I already have for powering studio strobes off-grid. Works fine for basic electronics, but wouldn't be recommended for heavy sustained loads. With this I will charge camera batteries via the manufacturer's standard charger, laptop (don't yet have one that charges via USB-C), etc.

Jul 05, 2022 at 11:17 AM

Greg Schneider
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

rscheffler wrote:
I'm not super familiar with the R5, but does it not allow charging of the battery in-camera via a powerbank with PD capability? If so, you could probably charge up a battery or two during downtime evenings and overnight. I was able to do this with an M6II a couple years ago...

It does allow for PD charging in-camera. It's been a gamechanger for travel and camping scenarios. I use an Anker 26800mAH PD power bank which is quite reasonably sized for the capacity.

Jul 05, 2022 at 11:21 AM

SSO-Images
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

Any PD power bank can charge. If you want to be able to operate the camera, as well, then you'd need a PD power bank with minimum 30W. I have these three and each of these can charge as well as operate (only one task or the other and not both at the same time) my R5:

RAVPower 26800mAh 30W PD USB C Power Bank (RP-PB058)
RAVPower 20000mAh 60W PD 3.0 Power Bank (RP-PB201)
RAVPower 30000mAh 90W PD 3.0 Power Bank (RP-PB232)

Higher the mAh, the longer you can power. However, higher mAh is heavier and bigger. Lower the mAh, the lighter and smaller, so find your sweet balance. RAVPower is a very reliable brand but Anker is another highly reliable brand I'd recommend.

Jul 05, 2022 at 11:26 AM

tiggy
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

A review of the various powering options (which benefited from feedback from this forum)...
https://camnostic.com/2021/02/powering-the-eos-r5/

The gist: if looking for a USB battery, get one that provides =>30 watts, as it can be used directly as a battery as well, in addition to being used to charge the LP-E6NH batteries. Also, it's significantly more efficient to directly power the camera with the USB battery because you lose ~15 percent of the stored capacity in the act of transferring the energy to the other battery.

Personally, I've found the RAVPower batteries to be very good deals. I have a bunch of them that my kids use as well (so, they're abused). I purchased them whenever they have a fire sale, typically offering 40 percent off.

When you're looking at batteries on store sites, they only infrequently mention the watts of output. You can figure this out by multiplying volts times amps. So a 5 amp, 9 volt capacity would mean up to 45 watts. -tig

Jul 05, 2022 at 08:28 PM

khurram1
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and providing some ideas on options based on intended use, and will go through the camnostic article in the link provided. I doesn’t even realize you could charge the batteries in the R5. I ended up buying a spare charger, when I went mirrorless (I don’t have multiple bodies anymore) 🙄

I originally was looking for something for my iPhone - usually doesn’t go through a full day. Without charging, and I’ll probably still need to checkin at the office.

I thought I’d check to see if the power packs can also be an opting for charging my camera batteries. I do carry spares. typically have two batteries in the grip with the R5, and three spare batteries. I typically shoot a lot of long exposures - and regularly have exposures 5-10 min, so even with the extra batteries, I generally have two charge at least two of the batteries each nightbwhen we are staying in a hotel, and that isn’t gong to be an option on this trip.

I’ll look into the options suggested, my brother other I law had suggested getting a solar power charging options , but I nixed that idea when I read you needs at least 8hrs in the sunlight to charge those units.

Jul 05, 2022 at 10:57 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

Yeah, the problem with solar is it only works during the day when you're probably using your gear. But that's only if you're directly charging from solar. I think if you have a fixed campsite, many will use a panel to charge a powerbank, then use that to charge peripherals when back at the campsite. It also doesn't work so great when it rains, which always seems to happen during camping trips.

Considering how many batteries you tend to go through because of long exposures, it might be worth looking into a USB battery charger, such as those from Nitecore, to multiply your concurrent charging options. That said, their availability on Amazon US/Canada seems spotty right now. Not sure about the other 'cheap' and similar products from various no-names selling there.

Again, because I'm not really familiar with the R5, I wonder if it's possible to charge both batteries in the grip, when using a powerbank?

You should do some math based on expected camera battery use per day, battery capacity, trip duration and other peripherals you'll be charging to determine if you can survive with a single 20K powerbank. Seems one of those would only give you about 10 full LP-E6N charges. If not, then solar might be a consideration to top up the powerbank every day. Or for that expense, just buy more powerbanks.

If you're doing a lot of fixed location long exposures, it might be a situation where since you're hauling a tripod anyway, powering the camera directly from the powerbank could make sense to reduce the number of times you have to charge camera batteries. It could allow you to keep those in reserve for normal use when you won't run them down so quickly and when having a powerbank and USB cable plugged into the camera would be a hassle.

Jul 06, 2022 at 01:20 PM

Bruce n Philly
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

khurram1 wrote:
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and providing some ideas on options based on intended use, and will go through the camnostic article in the link provided. I doesn’t even realize you could charge the batteries in the R5. I ended up buying a spare charger, when I went mirrorless (I don’t have multiple bodies anymore) 🙄

I originally was looking for something for my iPhone - usually doesn’t go through a full day. Without charging, and I’ll probably still need to checkin at the office.

I thought I’d check to see if the power packs can also be an opting...Show more →

As noted above, you can just run the R5 Directly with a PD battery over 30watts. I do.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

Read more here:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1673079/5#15459309

Jul 07, 2022 at 08:59 PM

Flowernut
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Power bank suggestion for charging R5 batteries

I usually order the nitecore chargers directly from nitecore.

Jul 07, 2022 at 10:07 PM


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