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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Hand warmers
Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 12:23 AM on 12.05.09 |
->> Does anyone tape handwarmers to their cameras to keep the batteries alive? Just wondering if that's safe. I've got a game which is going to get very cold tomorrow and I'm thinking this might help a great deal.
I'm also wondering if Gaffers tape and hand warmers are a bad combination as far as chemistry is concerned. |
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Justin Edmonds, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Denver | CO | USA | Posted: 12:35 AM on 12.05.09 |
->> I've done it a few times and never had a problem. I never taped the hand warmers to the cameras though because the hand warmers are going to have a hard time trying to compete with the cold air.
Instead, use gaffers to tape the hand warmers to the batteries and keep them inside your jacket and close to your body. Then just rotate the batteries in and out every 20 minutes or so. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 2:35 AM on 12.05.09 |
->> I used to do that back with the original Canon 1D NiMh batteries years ago just to get through half a football game, but never have really noticed the cold to have any noticeable effect on lithium.
The batteries on my old Canon 1D mkIII and current Nikon D3's still give a few thousand frames easy even during 20 degree weather.
Just turn the LCD screens auto review off as thats a big draw of power and I think you should be fine.
If you do tape hand warmers to the bottom make sure your not totally covering them up as they need oxygen for the chemical reaction which produces heat. |
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Jonathan Nimerfroh, Photographer
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Mike Morelock, Photographer
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Steven Bisig, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 12:52 PM on 12.06.09 |
->> I like the zippo, might have to check that out. Thanks for sharing!
steven b~ |
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Max Waugh, Photographer
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Bothell | WA | USA | Posted: 1:18 PM on 12.06.09 |
->> Yes, I've done it while shooting in Yellowstone during the winter. It was a big help on a -33 day. One hand warmer over the battery compartment on a prosumer body sans grip and two over one with a grip.
The important thing to remember is to tape them on before you go out in the cold. If you wait until you get into freezing conditions the tape may have trouble adhering. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 5:50 AM on 12.07.09 |
| ->> Is this really necessary with lithium batteries? |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 10:02 AM on 12.07.09 |
->> In Montana, yes!
In Virginia or Ohio, totally unnecessary.
It's just a different kind of cold... |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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Boise | ID | US | Posted: 10:03 AM on 12.07.09 |
| ->> (and Missouri is in the same category as Virginia and Ohio!) |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 1:22 PM on 12.07.09 |
->> I see. Well, in that case...the suggestion of a battery-powered hand warmer to keep your batteries warm is, well...I marked it like I read it.
Guess it doesn't get real cold in Arkansas either. :) |
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Mike Morelock, Photographer
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Greenwood | AR | USA | Posted: 1:48 PM on 12.07.09 |
->> It doesn't get cold enough here to worry about, but I've been a few places where it does. Spend a week or two somewhere like that and you wind up traveling with a big box of chemical warmer things and the cost adds up, unless you're like me and buy them on closeout in May. Something else that adds up is the weight, and space in your luggage. With the squeeze all non-Southwest airlines are putting on luggage allowance I'll save where I can.
The zippo would not be a consideration for me because I can just imagine the joy that would give a TSA agent. You could carry it empty in a checked bag, but what if you can't find lighter fluid when you get to cold land?
I've never taped to the battery compartment, just kept warmers in a pocket and switched batteries into that pocket when they poop out. |
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Paul Montague, Photographer
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Swisher | IA | USA | Posted: 4:18 PM on 12.07.09 |
->> Battery life doesn't seem to be much of a problem above zero, but I've taped hand warmers to batteries a few times when the temp is below zero.
The first time I did it, I used duct tape and covered the entire hand warmer. Had a bit of a problem with that because the tape doesn't breathe and the warmer needs air to warm up. After that, I made sure I did't cover the whole warmer, and it worked fine. |
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