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Generic battery in an a77?

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adrichardson View Drop Down
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Posts: 71 		Post Options Post Options   Quote adrichardson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Generic battery in an a77?
    Posted: 24 January 2012 at 14:02
Hi all.

I've just received a compatible battery from 7dayshop (they've got a prety good reputation on the net). The battery came showing a 59% charge, but it refuses to charge in my a77 charger - the charging light stays on for a minute or so, then goes off (like you'd see if you put a fully charged battery in). I left it in over night, but it didn't make a scrap of difference, unfortunately.

I know unbranded batteries can by hit and miss, but I've still got a generic from my a200 kicking round which works perfectly. Do you think I just got a bad sample, or am I caught up in a nefarious plot by Sony to get another L80 out me?
A77, Sony 16-50 & 35/1.8, Tamron 60/2, Minolta AF 135/2.8
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Fuzzphoto View Drop Down
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Posts: 2166 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Fuzzphoto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 14:25
Run it down completely and then charge it, and see if that recalibrates the power gauge.
Joris' Fuzzphoto gallery | A700+VG, NEX-5 and other gear
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Bob Maddison View Drop Down
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Posts: 438 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bob Maddison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 14:38
It usually takes a few charge / discharge cycles before any battery is giving its full performance. Unfortunatley, with power saving circuits in cameras etc. it is difficult to run the battery down completely without actually using the camera! Just do your best!
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adrichardson View Drop Down
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Posts: 71 		Post Options Post Options   Quote adrichardson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 14:43
Thanks - I'll give it a go tonight
A77, Sony 16-50 & 35/1.8, Tamron 60/2, Minolta AF 135/2.8
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Posts: 1930 		Post Options Post Options   Quote russellsbags Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 15:10
I've been very happy with the batteries I have from 7dayshop and have had no such problems. If the run down and charge doesn't work I would contact them for a replacement as you could just have a faulty unit.

After saying this the batteries I have are for NEX and a Canon video cam and not the A77 but I can't see there being much difference.
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Fuzzphoto View Drop Down
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Posts: 2166 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Fuzzphoto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 15:38
BTW you can run it down by putting the camera in the remote control release mode. That way it won't power down on its own.
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Posts: 216 		Post Options Post Options   Quote C-hass Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 15:38
Originally posted by Fuzzphoto Fuzzphoto wrote:

Run it down completely and then charge it, and see if that recalibrates the power gauge.


+1

I had the same problem with a genuine Sony battery that I got with the battery grip for my a550.
Just run the battery till it's completely exhausted, then charge it up again. Should work like a charm.
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mojoest View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mojoest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 21:33
I've had this problem with 2 generic batteries I bought for my A65. One was a cheap ebay one, but one was a duracell one which you'd expect to be ok, but I had the same problem. Even after multiple discharges and recharges the batteries will only get to 30% before the charger wont go anymore. Have you got another charger to test it in? The chargers look the same to me, but could it be that the a77/65 chargers are different, do other third party batteries charge ok in it?

I've now sent my duracell battery back for a replacement so maybe that will show if it's the battery
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Fuzzphoto View Drop Down
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Posts: 2166 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Fuzzphoto Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 22:05
@mojoest: have you run the battery completely down, to the point where the camera switches itself off? This usually triggers a reset of the internal gauge chip in the battery.
Joris' Fuzzphoto gallery | A700+VG, NEX-5 and other gear
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adrichardson View Drop Down
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Posts: 71 		Post Options Post Options   Quote adrichardson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 22:43
I've completely drained the battery (amazing how quickly GPS and maxed LCD brightness eat battery!) but I'm having the same problem as mojoest - it won't charge past 30% with the Sony charger.

I've dug out a generic charger (a Gatwick Airport special), so I'll see how far I get with it.

My other generic battery seems to charge fine in my a77's charger. However, I can't remember if I've ever tried it from flat. I've just done a bit of googling and it looks like Sony has changed the charger between the a580 and the a77. The a580 charger's model number is BC-VM10 and the a77's is BC-VM10A. If I was a betting man, I'd say they've done something about compatibility with third party batteries...
A77, Sony 16-50 & 35/1.8, Tamron 60/2, Minolta AF 135/2.8
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stiuskr View Drop Down
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Posts: 7492 		Post Options Post Options   Quote stiuskr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 23:14
Is this showing up in the performance of the battery also? Are you getting 3 times as many shots out of a Sony battery compared to one that'll only display 30%?
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adrichardson View Drop Down
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Posts: 71 		Post Options Post Options   Quote adrichardson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 January 2012 at 23:22
The speed it drained was definitely comparable to the genuine battery with a similar charge, so I can fairly confidently rule out the camera/battery mis-reporting the charge.

I'm now fairly sure it's an issue with the charger, to be honest. It's still charging, but last time I tested it, it was showing an 84% charge (this is with a generic charger).

Quick update - left it in the non-sony charger overnight and it's now showing a full charge

Edited by adrichardson - 25 January 2012 at 09:05
A77, Sony 16-50 & 35/1.8, Tamron 60/2, Minolta AF 135/2.8
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mojoest View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mojoest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 January 2012 at 22:40
Originally posted by adrichardson adrichardson wrote:

The speed it drained was definitely comparable to the genuine battery with a similar charge, so I can fairly confidently rule out the camera/battery mis-reporting the charge.

I'm now fairly sure it's an issue with the charger, to be honest. It's still charging, but last time I tested it, it was showing an 84% charge (this is with a generic charger).

Quick update - left it in the non-sony charger overnight and it's now showing a full charge


Nice one! I was hoping someone would be able to try out a generic charger. And yes, last night i drained it right down to the point the camera wouldnt turn on without then turning straight off and still the charger only takes it to 30%. Just checked my charger and its a BC-VM10A too (now wishing id kept my old sony one rather than selling it with my A200, damn!).

And yup again, the 30% battery is only lasting about as long as youd expect when compared to the official battery at 100%, so i dont think its being reported incorrectly either.

maybe time for eBay to get a cheap new charger.
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Posts: 77 		Post Options Post Options   Quote R_Ae Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 January 2012 at 23:07
I've had this same issue too with my Promaster A77 battery. It wouldn't charge with my regular charger, but once I put it my double battery charger, it behaved without any worry.
Sony A77|Minolta Maxxum 5|Sony 16-50 f2.8 SSM|Minolta 50mm 1.4
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