Using after-market (non OEM) Batteries... Recommended or not?

[mstroz]

Hi,

Has anyone had any experience with using after-market batteries? I'm
about to buy a few back-up batteries for a Canon XH A1 camcorder and
plunking down $160 to $200 per battery is a bit more than I want to
spend.

Are there potential problems using non-OEM batteries?

Also, if it's ok (advisable) to use an off-brand battery is there a
one you could recommend?

Thanks in advance.
Mark

[Jacques E. Bouchard]

mstroz <mark.s...@gmail.com> wrote in news:9b844fd9-968d-4672-83b0-
829f8b...@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com:

> Has anyone had any experience with using after-market batteries? I'm
> about to buy a few back-up batteries for a Canon XH A1 camcorder and
> plunking down $160 to $200 per battery is a bit more than I want to
> spend.
>
> Are there potential problems using non-OEM batteries?

I've been using a high-capacity battery for my XH-A1 without any problems,
which cost me $20 on ebay. I ordered two more today.

I also bought 4 no-name batteries for my HV-20 a year ago at about $5 each
(plus S&H). They last as long as the Canon original.

jaybee

[David McCall]

"Jacques E. Bouchard" <inv...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9A9EBD53740B7je...@63.218.45.254...

That is all very interesting except that you leave out some important
details.
Who did you buy it from?
What did they call it?
How much money did you part with?

David

[Jacques E. Bouchard]

"David McCall" <mccal...@verizon.net> wrote in
news:f%JWj.10059$mc1.5746@trndny08:

> "Jacques E. Bouchard" <inv...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Xns9A9EBD53740B7je...@63.218.45.254...
>>

>> I've been using a high-capacity battery for my XH-A1 without any
>> problems, which cost me $20 on ebay. I ordered two more today.
>>
>> I also bought 4 no-name batteries for my HV-20 a year ago at about $5
>> each (plus S&H). They last as long as the Canon original.
>

> That is all very interesting except that you leave out some important
> details.
> Who did you buy it from?

Like I said, it was on ebay. They're pretty much all the same, made in
China.

> What did they call it?

They called it a lithium-ion 6000 mah 7.2v battery. Actually higher-rated
than the original.

> How much money did you part with?

That I won't repeat because it was plainly indicated in my reply.

jaybee

[David McCall]

"Jacques E. Bouchard" <inv...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:Xns9A9EC41C27542je...@63.218.45.254...

Thank you.

My bad. You did say $20.

David

>
> jaybee

[Arny Krueger]

"mstroz" <mark.s...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:9b844fd9-968d-4672...@26g2000hsk.googlegroups.com

> Hi,
>
> Has anyone had any experience with using after-market
> batteries? I'm about to buy a few back-up batteries for a
> Canon XH A1 camcorder and plunking down $160 to $200 per
> battery is a bit more than I want to spend.

I winced at the > $50 retail of the lithium battery for my SD-1000. I found
generic replacements on eBay for about $7 each, including shipping.

>> Are there potential problems using non-OEM batteries?

Sure, they may not have the expected life, capacity or safety protection.
With lithum cells, the safety angle is a biggie, as Dell and Sony will
agree.

I shot about 600 stills at my daughter's wedding/reception last weekend. I
had a battery on charge and a battery in use at almost all times for about 8
hours and 5 charging cycles. The batteries lasted just a little longer than
it took to recharge them. I couldn't tell any difference in use between the
Canon battery that came with the camera, and the eBay cheapie.

[webpa]

My experience (over 8 years): eBay'd the cheapest battery promised to
fit my equipment (Sony, IBM, Dell, Panasonic, Samsung, Hitachi); total
around 15 batteries in 10 purchases. One dead-on-arrival
battery...phone call to vendor...they FedEx-overnight
replacement...which worked fine. Note I don't provide names. Reason:
Vendors are almost 100% garage or store-front, drop-ship operations
that change names about once per week. Buy the cheapest that has an
accurate match with your equipment. Amp-hour capacities (mAh-hr, etc)
on most "generic" replacements are "optimistic" sometimes. Sometimes
not. If you have Sony equipment, there is a reasonable chance that a
generic replacement won't pass the equipment's "Genuine Sony" test,
and will shut down. Had that happen...the vendor refunded my purchase
and shipping both ways. They then recommended another vendor, who sold
me (same price, more or less) a pair of batteries that DID pass the
Sony test (Sony DCR-TRV33). Bottom line: Persistance and good luck!