Unified Battery Desire, am I crazy?

[1leglance]

Ok setting aside the pining for simpler days when things were wound up, cranked, pushed or prodded....

I would be interested to see how others have dealt with the various battery types and needs they have when overlanding.

This thread was sparked by Doug Hackneys recent camera review where he showed the various cameras and their charging setups...that reminded me I needed to work out more details on the Disabled Explorers Sportmobile.

Another forum I am on called equippedtosurvive.org has hosted a number of discussions on sticking to 1 battery type..AA or what have you.

Has anyone around here made a choice in camera, gps, or other gear based on battery type?
Does anyone around here buy a backup battery when traveling to remote areas where sourcing that Nikon, Cannon or Sony battery could be a real problem?
What about chargers?

I figure I am looking at the need to charge..
a camera
a handheld gps
flashlight/headlamp
laptop
video camera
portable printer (future thought as it would be cool to give remote locals a copy of a family pic..idea stolen from wiser people here)
power wheelchair

I do have my handheld gps, pocket camera, headlamp all down to AA only at least.

This doesn't count the power needs of a fridge, laptop, and a few other things.

I would love to find a DSLR & pocket video camera that used AA batt's but there always seems to be some reason not to choose those.

I am thinking of turning 1 wall of the Sportsmobile into the battery base...velcro the various chargers on the wall or something
Or maybe under the gaucho where the Tripp Lite inverter is would work as a hidden battery charging hideout.

Ok fire away with some killer ideas

 

[Rallyroo]

I try to keep my electronic gadgets down to AA and AAA's. But that doesn't always work. Some products require the use of proprietary batteries.

I do have a prosumer Nikon dSLR that uses a proprietary LiIon battery. Nikon does offer a battery grip for it where one could use 8 AA's in the event you're away from any possibility of recharging the LiIon battery.

 

[Redline]

I think you are on the right track Lance, trying to limit the need for too many types of batteries and chargers. Having said that, I think most of us will always have a need for a few batteries/charging systems unless we are willing to severely limit our choices based on the type of batteries devices will accept.

I have always been one who has liked portable equipment and being prepared. I have a couple extra batteries for my systems so I'm not caught needing urgent battery charging. For example, even though cell phone battery life is good on most new devices, and salespeople would tell me I didn't need spare batteries because of the battery life, my real world tells a different story. When a battery inevitably dies, its not necessarily convenient or possible to plug-in and be tethered. Of course when I changed to an iPhone recently that tactic went out the window because the battery is not removable.

With spares and the SMB charging station, I think you will be fine. I usually carry three batteries for each of my Canon camera systems (one for dSLR and another for P&S) and never seem to have a battery emergency in the field, though I still bring chargers.

 

[Fish]

Clamshells

In the wildland fire world, we use clamshell battery adapters for our Bendix King radios instead of NiCads. They hold 9 AA batteries, so they're 13.5 volts. Batteries are supplied by the case at camp.

Of course some enterprising soul built an adapter to be able to use a cigar lighter. Adapter You will particularly like the builder of these, as he's a disabled former hotshot. Had his spine crushed by a falling tree. Krstofer

When remote from your vehicle, you could use a clamshell, adapter and various car chargers to charge your individual power hungry devices. Obviously, in the vehicle, just use the car charger. You could use rechargables to cut down on the cost. Just charge them in the car.

I do try to buy devices that use AA's exclusively. It sure simplifies things.