Carrying extra batteries in hand luggage

LCPete

LCPete

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When flying with British airways you are allowed to take batteries fitted into electronic equipment and 4 spares as hand luggage
Would a battery grip count as electronic equipment in addition to the camera if it wasnt fitted to the camera?
Am thinking of getting a couple of spare cheap grips as a way of carrying extra batteries
We are going camping in Botswana soon and will need lots of spare batteries as there won't be any mains electricity
I have bought 12 spare batteries for my 2 canon 7ds but have just found out that I'm only allowed 4 spares per person in hand luggage but am allowed to carry one in electronic equipment
If a get a couple of grips but not fit them to the camera I could carry more batteries
I have tried phoning BA for special permission to carry extra batteries but without success
 
I suppose that technically, a grip filled with batteries then becomes a single battery in its own right - a battery of batteries containing individual cells! BUT, I wouldn't argue with an airline's check in staff. You say "WE are going" so maybe your co-traveller could take another 4 batteries in their hand baggage. There are plenty of universal type chargers for LiIon batteries which plug into car "lighter" sockets - might be worth taking one of them and slipping your driver some beer money...
 
Nod said:
I suppose that technically, a grip filled with batteries then becomes a single battery in its own right - a battery of batteries containing individual cells! BUT, I wouldn't argue with an airline's check in staff. You say "WE are going" so maybe your co-traveller could take another 4 batteries in their hand baggage. There are plenty of universal type chargers for LiIon batteries which plug into car "lighter" sockets - might be worth taking one of them and slipping your driver some beer money...
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Thanks Nod :) good point about charging in the vehicle I do have an adaptor for my charger
I'm going with the missus she will be able to take one of my batteries she's taking 3 spares for her camcorder
We are going for a week I guess if I'm careful and can top up the battery from the vehicle as well I should be ok with what I can take
I'm taking my 7d mk1 and mk 2 so the spare batteries will fit both camera's
Am also taking a sony rx100 compact for landscape and people shots but I think that the battery in that will last for a week:)
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Why not put the rest of the batteries in your checked in luggage in the hold?
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Definitely don't do this. Airlines can recognise batteries from the signature when they are xrayed. Some airlines are starting to fine people who ignore these regs
 
Spares aren't, but they can be installed in equipment, which I'm presuming a grip is.

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/lithium_battery.pdf

I don't know how many a grip holds but you'd have to get a few to carry 12 batteries! Alternatively you could try a solar charger but I don't think they're terribly efficient.

How long will you be in Botswana for?
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Spares aren't, but they can be installed in equipment, which I'm presuming a grip is.

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/lithium_battery.pdf

I don't know how many a grip holds but you'd have to get a few to carry 12 batteries! Alternatively you could try a solar charger but I don't think they're terribly efficient.

How long will you be in Botswana for?
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Thanks yes that's what I thought that was my main question if anyone knew if a grip counts as equipment?
if I put 2 batteries in each grip then I should have enough batteries to last me
I am going for a week 6 days shooting I thought that one battery for each camera per day would cover me:)
 
I don't think the airlines will have a definition of equipment, but in a grip, the batteries will be enclosed and connected to a terminal and if they're anything like my Nikon ones will have an on/off switch so will presumably draw current. That would be my argument anyway.
 
viewfromthenorth said:
I don't think the airlines will have a definition of equipment, but in a grip, the batteries will be enclosed and connected to a terminal and if they're anything like my Nikon ones will have an on/off switch so will presumably draw current. That would be my argument anyway.
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Thanks yes think that you are right there
I'll get a couple of eBay cheapies one for each camera but not fit them to the camera
That way I'll have 2 batteries one in each camera
4 in both grips and the 4 spare batteries that I'm allowed so should be ok:)
 
I've double checked on the british airways site and it mentions batteries installed in equipment so I should be ok with battery grips
I've ordered 1 cheapie grip for each camera from ebay
Not going to fit them to camera just use them to hold batteries :D

that will give me 10 batteries in total plus the missus can carry one as well
So I should be ok :)
 
How about taking a solar charger?
 
Why not email BA and tell them how many you plan to take and why? You will get a definitive answer from the airline.

That way you have an authorisation if you get a jobsworth at the airport check in. Just hand over the paperwork. Makes their job easier and less room for conflict.

Otherwise its to late to do anything about it.

Have a great time out there. :)
 
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Am I the only one who has carried DSLR batteries in hand luggage and checked luggage multiple times over the years with multiple airlines and not one person has batted an eye lid?
 
noneforit said:
Am I the only one who has carried DSLR batteries in hand luggage and checked luggage multiple times over the years with multiple airlines and not one person has batted an eye lid?
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No you're not the only one, I normally carry eight batteries with me when traveling. That's two in the camera grip and the others in hand luggage with their covers held on by an elastic band and placed inside a zip lock poly bag to stop any chance of them shorting. I've never had any problems touch wood.

Also when on safari I've never had a problem charging batteries as most camps will have a central charging station in camp although it may not have 24 hour power and/or adaptors to use in the vehicles. I'd contact your camp to see what they do, but I'm sure they will have something sorted as they see an awful lot of photographers with many different cameras.
 
drounding said:
Wouldn't fitting fit the grip to the camera help?
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Thanks I know what you mean but the idea of the grip was just a way of being able to carry more batteries :)
 
shreds said:
Why not email BA and tell them how many you plan to take and why? You will get a definitive answer from the airline.

That way you have an authorisation if you get a jobsworth at the airport check in. Just hand over the paperwork. Makes their job easier and less room for conflict.

Otherwise its to late to do anything about it.

Have a great time out there. :)
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Thanks I have phoned them and they said that they would be able to inform the airport what I was trying to do but as you say getting something in writing as an email would be better :)
 
noneforit said:
Am I the only one who has carried DSLR batteries in hand luggage and checked luggage multiple times over the years with multiple airlines and not one person has batted an eye lid?
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Yes I have too but I've never carried more than 4 or so as I've never gone anywhere without mains electricity before
But I know what you mean I don't think that they will be that worried about it :)
 
Big Andy said:
No you're not the only one, I normally carry eight batteries with me when traveling. That's two in the camera grip and the others in hand luggage with their covers held on by an elastic band and placed inside a zip lock poly bag to stop any chance of them shorting. I've never had any problems touch wood.

Also when on safari I've never had a problem charging batteries as most camps will have a central charging station in camp although it may not have 24 hour power and/or adaptors to use in the vehicles. I'd contact your camp to see what they do, but I'm sure they will have something sorted as they see an awful lot of photographers with many different cameras.
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Thanks Andy that's a very good idea about using an elastic band to make sure that the battery covers don't come off
It's a temporary camp that we are staying in without electricity but I have just found out that they have a proper setup on the vehicle (land cruiser) for charging with an inverter set up to a spare car battery with power points on each row of seats
And apparently I will be able to charge from this while the land cruiser is parked up at camp
I didn't realise this I assumed that the charging was from cigarette lighter socket and could only be used when the engine is running but apparently not
This is great news and I'll not have to worry about running out of battery power just at the wrong moment
I have bought loads of memory cards 12 32gb transend ones and my 7d mk 2 also can save to an sd card so I'm good to go:):)
 
I've been tempted by the solar charger in Hoppy's suggestion but lots of the 5* reviews contain "Disclaimer: I received this item free or discounted as part of a product trial and to provide an honest product review." or similar... If you ignore the shill reviews, the 1* scores are too close to the 5* in number for me to risk even just £20.
 
What about taking a ravpower external battery and a usb chargers for your camera/ video. You should get a dozen+ charges on a camera battery out of one of these over a week and it can be left trickle charging off a cigarrette lighter whilst charging up to 3 usb socket devices at the same time. Sorts out kindles, phones, tables etc. Charge it before you go and only take another 3 decent batteries and that should see you through your week. £35 on amazon.

http://www.ravpower.com/22000-external-battery-charger-iSmart2.0-black.html
 
Nod said:
I've been tempted by the solar charger in Hoppy's suggestion but lots of the 5* reviews contain "Disclaimer: I received this item free or discounted as part of a product trial and to provide an honest product review." or similar... If you ignore the shill reviews, the 1* scores are too close to the 5* in number for me to risk even just £20.
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Thanks think that you are right:) it also doesn't look big enough to charge DSLR batteries
 
Jim_Tod said:
What about taking a ravpower external battery and a usb chargers for your camera/ video. You should get a dozen+ charges on a camera battery out of one of these over a week and it can be left trickle charging off a cigarrette lighter whilst charging up to 3 usb socket devices at the same time. Sorts out kindles, phones, tables etc. Charge it before you go and only take another 3 decent batteries and that should see you through your week. £35 on amazon.

http://www.ravpower.com/22000-external-battery-charger-iSmart2.0-black.html
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Thanks that looks really good I'll have a look at that:)
 
Just flown with Easyjet, two cameras one with a grip ,that was three batteries. Then eight spare batteries packed in groups of two in plastic boxes. That makes eleven batteries in total but only three in equipment. All they were interested in was doing a drug swab because I triggered an alarm. All clear seems my prescription drugs set of the alarm.!
 
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Wee man said:
Just flown with Easyjet, two cameras one with a grip ,that was three batteries. Then eight spare batteries packed in groups of two in plastic boxes. That makes eleven batteries in total but only three in equipment. All they were interested in was doing a drug swab because I triggered an alarm. All clear seems my prescription drugs set of the alarm.!
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That's good to hear thanks sounds like I should be ok :)
 
HoppyUK said:
Not used one myself, but these solar-charged power banks look good to me. Well worth a try at £20 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1WW097J7BNIPN
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I'm not so sure about these things now, like others who have raised doubts. I guess they work, and handy in an emergency, but too slow and under-powered to rely on as the main power source.

Google just found this review, but as one of the posters says, "solar ain't there yet". http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-portable-solar-battery-pack/
 
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