name/type of DC power connector? (Nikon D70, pic)

Hi,

I'm looking to make a portable battery pack (12V lead-gel battery and 9V step-down switching reg) to power a Nikon DSLR. The Nikon docs state that the 4-pin DC-in connector is an "industry standard DC connector". While it looks familiar somehow I couldn't find anything like it in those catalogs I glanced through.

So, would anyone here be kindly able to identify the connector shown here:

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(actually it is a pic of the label of the EH-5 AC PSU, but shape and pinout of mystery connector is shown below the CE)

Many thanks! - Jan

Reply to
Jan Wagner
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It doesn't look very familiar to me. I'm looking right at it, and it's got little recessed blades. Maybe a Japanese-standard automotive stereo connector?

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to use such a heavy battery? The power consumption of the D70 is pretty low, and the Li-ion batteries last a long time, even with the camera on. Much, much better than earlier cameras which ate 2500mAh NiMH cells for lunch.

Reply to
Spehro Pefhany

Hmm, could well be something in that direction, yes...

Or some later version of the prehistoric plus/4 power connector?

In the end it might be faster to just assemble something from bits of a DIL spring socket and epoxy resin, instead of hunting through component stores. (Of course, if someone knows what that connector is and what Farnell etc catalog number, comments are still welcome :-))

Short answer: for astronomy pics. For "normal" use I get the Nikon batteries to last pretty well, no problem there :-)

Longer answer: 1) shutter is open and the mirror is up for a long time, battery seems to drain faster. 2) unless the D70 has external power, its IR remote receiver automatically switches off after 15min of inactivity. The D70 should work with an bulb exposure IR remote control "intervalometer"/timer (PIC12F675 plus some bits&pieces) at all times. And D70 has no bulb exposure feature over USB, only IR, AFAIK.

But I obviously haven't thought this fully through yet ;-) E.g. portable telescope really has battery-powered tracker (eats alkaline AAA's right now i.e. $$$), thus the heavy battery wouldn't actually be solely for the D70.

- Jan

Reply to
Jan Wagner

In message , Spehro Pefhany writes

If it's the same of the one on my D50, then it looks very similar to the connector used on CCTV cameras for auto iris lenses, I don't have one to hand ATM but I'll try and find one tomorrow.

Again, may be slightly different but the D50 has had two battery charges so far (initial charge included) and it's filled the 512Mb SD card eight times so far (over a thousand pics) since Christmas.

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Clint Sharp
Reply to
Clint Sharp

Hirose RP-34 series? The three-pin version is commonly used as a power supply connector on older Dell laptops, and is approximately D-shaped. There is a four-pin version - never seen one in person, but Digi-Key carries them. Take a look at page 6 of the PDF available at

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Clint Sharp suggested it might be an auto-iris connector; Mouser sells a Kobiconn auto-iris connector as catalog number 163-196J. Drawing in the PDF linked from

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Alternatively, you could cut the PSU output cable in half and install a connector that mortals can purchase on both ends. Then, you can swap the end that fits the camera between the AC PSU and your battery.

Matt Roberds

Reply to
mroberds

Many thanks you both! Those are already very very close to the actual connector :)

Seems like the right direction to go, thanks for pointers, I'll dig a bit further before going home-brew if necessary...

Hmm, yes. PSU price is ~$90 on eBay and it could be a good solution. The bit with the AC PSU would be superfluous for my needs, though. Well I'll check maybe Nikon repair here has some dead AC PSU's to give away. (BTW strange that there are no 3rd party PSU's for Nikon Dxxx around... maybe it's a proprietary connector after all...)

- Jan

Reply to
Jan Wagner

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