Fake Nikon Batteries Explode

[birddog114]

FYI,
Just the warning to all, but take your choice if you're happy with them.

http://mobilemag.com/content/100/336/C4733/

[cordy]

Intresting Birdy.. I have a non-nikon battery but it only gets used pretty sparingly - given I can take quite happily 1500 shots on my Nikon battery

Chris

[Alpha_7]

Hmmm I have my spare (non-nikon) loaded in the camera now..
I think stubbsy mentioned he had 3 batteries, so two spares. If I got another Nikon, I'd drastically reduce the risk, by only using the non-nikon in emergencies.

[DionM]

I have 3x generic batteries for my 20D.

1x stopped working.
2x the 20D refuses the use (voltage too low).

So my experience with generics has been less than successful.

[stubbsy]

Hmmm I have my spare (non-nikon) loaded in the camera now..
I think stubbsy mentioned he had 3 batteries, so two spares. If I got another Nikon, I'd drastically reduce the risk, by only using the non-nikon in emergencies.

I indeed have three batteries. One genuine Nikon, two clones. I use all three interchangeably and so far have had no problems.

I'm a little suspicious of this story. There must be thousands of non genuine batteries out there being used on a regular basis. This is the FIRST report of a SINGLE battery exploding that I've seen. Surely if this was a problem we'd be hearing more than this.

[MCWB]

Well I don't want to go all 'conspiracy theory' on you all, but that article is just rubbish! It doesn't offer anything but an emotive 2nd hand testimony of 'several' (how many?) 3rd party (oh sorry, I meant FAKE FAKE FAKE!!!) battery failures. How many explosions due to Nikon EL-EN3s has the 'Nikon camera service centre' leaked to the press? I'm sure there are some substandard batteries out there, but given the statistics, the above article proves nothing and in terms of its journalistic quality, it's little more than a rant.

Edit: Yup, right with you on this one Peter!

[sirhc55]

I am sorry to say ladies and gentlemen that it does not matter at all what name is on a product - if it decides to, anything will catch fire, blow up, dissolve, snap your hand off or murder the mother-in-law

[birddog114]

I am sorry to say ladies and gentlemen that it does not matter at all what name is on a product - if it decides to, anything will catch fire, blow up, dissolve, snap your hand off or murder the mother-in-law

This statement is exactly right!
But once it accidentally happened then people have to get someone to blame!
At the end, all are your choices and decisions! Some goods, some bads, some boggies.
It's our life!

[moggy]

And the point in the article about useing holograms to differentiate between real and fake is a joke! I bought a 'genuine' battery for my SE phone with a hologram label on it and it turned out to be fake. It was also a crap battery which wouldn't hold it's charge. I now buy genuine batteries - they're dearer but up against the cost of your equipment it's good insurance.

Bob.

[marc]

Hmmm I have my spare (non-nikon) loaded in the camera now..
I think stubbsy mentioned he had 3 batteries, so two spares. If I got another Nikon, I'd drastically reduce the risk, by only using the non-nikon in emergencies.

I indeed have three batteries. One genuine Nikon, two clones. I use all three interchangeably and so far have had no problems.

I'm a little suspicious of this story. There must be thousands of non genuine batteries out there being used on a regular basis. This is the FIRST report of a SINGLE battery exploding that I've seen. Surely if this was a problem we'd be hearing more than this.

TOTALLY agree with you Stubbsy (have 2 generic also)
Just a slow news day!...............never let the TRUTH get in the way of a good story

[Jumbuck]

I agree with sirhc55. But I think we may be talking about two different things here, fake Nikon branded batteries and non-Nikon branded batteries.

Nikon don't own a battery factory so it would be a little far fetched to argue those batteries made by the same company would be more likely to be defective than the ones they stamp with particular marking or logo.

Of course there is a plentiful number of sub-standard battery manufacturers and here rests the problem.

I have 2 x Metz 45's and have been using the Energiser 2500 mAH AA rechargeables to great effect. Very happy with them indeed.

I don't agree with manufacturers of electronic components locking you in to having to use their branded consumerables (and yes even a rechargeable battery is a consumerable at the end of the day).

However, in the case of DSLR's there is too much at risk. A few extra dollars is nothing compared to the security of knowing your warrantee remains intact. But once out of warranttee if you are careful in choosing the right battery from the right battery manufacturer then what logo is actually printed on the casing should mean nothing at all - a bit of ink, or lack of it, does not make a battery defective.

Jumbuck

[digitor]

Lithium-Ion batteries are not inherently safe devices - which is why you can't buy them as individual cells, only as packs with inbuilt safety devices, which are intended to be used with matching proprietary chargers.

Acording to a presentation on Lithium-Ion safety at the "Power 2002" conference, the incidence of this sort of failure is about one per million cells. 740 million cells are produced each year, so as you can see, it's rare, but it does happen, and is definitely not a beat-up.

Cheers

[Michael]

I've been looking at a few reputable ebay stores and they have genuine d70 batters for around 40 dollars.

Thats pretty inexpensive when you're talking about camera gear.

[birddog114]

I've been looking at a few reputable ebay stores and they have genuine d70 batters for around 40 dollars.

Thats pretty inexpensive when you're talking about camera gear.

Yes, it's, the genuine EN-EL3 in the bargain section is $45.00, why should we bother paying the non-genuine for $15.00-$20.00.

[DionM]

What price can you get genuine BP-511As for Birddog? I only see them for around $80 which is why I was tempted by 3rd party.

[Killakoala]

I have to laugh because on the same page as that article is an advert for a non-genuine battery supplier.

I disagree with the use of the word 'explode' as well. They don't 'explode', they just catch fire or overheat and then melt.

TNT explodes, batteries don't.

[digitor]

I disagree with the use of the word 'explode' as well. They don't 'explode', they just catch fire or overheat and then melt.

TNT explodes, batteries don't.

I think the term used at the conference I referred to above was "fully vent" or something like that. Certainly the "venting" is quick enough to blow the battery door off the equipment to which the battery is fitted.

Another interesting characteristic of Lithium-Ion batteries is that when they are overcharged, metallic lithium is formed. Lithium is, to put it mildy, somewhat unstable in air.

Cheers

[mdboo]

Weird how they claim it only happens to D70's...

[digitor]

Weird how they claim it only happens to D70's...

??

"We have reported in the past on after-market and imitation OEM batteries of various Nokia cell phones having exploded."

As the article says, this has been a well known problem with Nokia batteries.

Cheers