External power supply

[timgor]

Hello, I have a question about external power supply for Canon powershot cameras.

Regular battey use about 3.6V to power the cameras.

Some cameras can work with external power supply and they rate as 4.3V

First question: 4.3V value sounds very strange to me. Is it made specifically that users would buy only recommended 4.3V adapter and wouldn't buy any other? I tried to measure real voltage and it varies plus minus 0.1V

Second question: What is the top safe voltage that I can use for my camera? Can I use 5V for exmaple? 5V power supply costs $1.

If somebody don't have an answer I can make a test and "fry" my old camera by increasing the voltage.

I know that lowest voltage is 2.3V (2.2V just shut down the camera).

This is question to experienced users, not to officcial Canon representatives

[timgor]

Are you serious? I should not publish that sort of investigation?

[timgor]

Ok, my last questions is should I publish my results here or I should avoid doing this not to offend somebody from Canon?

[kvbarkley]

They are pretty loose, you can publish it, but if it gets deleted, don't complain.

And you never can tell with power supplies, many depend on a particular load to put out its rated voltage - which Canon can do since they are camera specific.

You have been spoiled by the tightly regulated USB supplies.

[timgor]

Ok, I will wait untill get permission from them. I want to be friendly.

Another question:  can I read something about the third (middle) electrode of battery? How it measures the battery temperature and how does the camera regulates it. I notised that when I have extreme temperature (for example in a hot day in a closed car) - camera shuts down on itself. That means it has overheating protection. I would like to know more details and more numbers about it.

[kvbarkley]

That is an internal Canon thing, We have no info on that, but I suspect it is more than just temperature, (i.e., it is a serial connection to an internal microcontroller on the battery.)  I think it also keeps track of charge/recharge cycles and the state of the batteries charge.

[timgor]

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@kvbarkley wrote:

That is an internal Canon thing, We have no info on that, but I suspect it is more than just temperature, (i.e., it is a serial connection to an internal microcontroller on the battery.)  I think it also keeps track of charge/recharge cycles and the state of the batteries charge.

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I expected that nobody know and nobody really need this information. Just interesting...

official canon power supply has just two electrodes so it must work in a different way than battery. It would be interesting if it still shut down in case of extreme temperature with the extwernal power supply. If yes than what is the maximum temperature in both cases. Does it have some other temperature sensors inside the camera?

[kvbarkley]

Yes, because they monitor the temperature of the sensor during video.

[timgor]

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@kvbarkley wrote:

Yes, because they monitor the temperature of the sensor during video.

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During video? It's a new information for me. Can you please explain, does it monitor and protects camera (shut down) during video only or it's monitoring temperature constantly but it overheats especially during video?

Do you understand what I mean?

In other words if I don't run video will it shut down anyway if it would reach some maximum temperature?

[kvbarkley]

I believe it is for live view in general, not just shooting video, but I am not a Canon Engineer.

[timgor]

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@kvbarkley wrote:

I believe it is for live view in general, not just shooting video, but I am not a Canon Engineer.

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Sounds like reasonable, anyway I will publish my results here If I measure this. i think there is no chance to get this information from engineers.