"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article , "Dan K"
wrote:
Hi all

Had battery issues with a new digital camera and put in a new pair of
non-alkaline AA's. Camera would not power up, just flashed an led green
for
a flash on two then red for a couple of flashes. Took batteries out and
put
them in a flashlight and its as bright as can be. Back in camera and
nothing. The old alkaline's that came out of the camera seem to power
the
flashlight pretty bright too, not pretty much dead as I would of
expected.
New alkalines and newly recharged NiMH seem to run the camera ok. Is
this
normal? Could the camera be detecting low batteries before they are
really
low? Thanks

Are you saying carbon zinc's will not work? Alkalines don't work that
well, or
at least don't last long. Lithium's work well and are a sure thing
for a spare backup.

greg

The battery has to be able to supply adequate current at a minimum voltage.
I took 2 used but quite well functioning alkaline D cell batteries from a
flashlight and put them in a battery pack and then plugged the pack into an
MP3 player that only requires 2AA alkaline/NIHM batteries. All it would give
me was a "low battery message". Plenty of current but not enough voltage.
Likewise the carbon zincs aren't able to supply enough voltage and current
at the same time. Even if it worked you'd end up spending more money on the
carbon zincs. Alkalines are produced in such quantity that the price is hard
to beat in non-rechargeables. I use NIHM in my digital camera with alkaline
for backup. Keeping one set charged is enough time/work and more is seldom
needed.

Before alkaline batteries, the definition of a flashlight was "dead battery
carrier".