How To Charge A Camera Battery Without Charger? Learn The Easy Tricks!

As a photographer, there is nothing more frustrating than finding out that your camera battery has died in the middle of an important shoot and you don’t have a charger with you. This can be a nightmare for most people, however, this situation does not always spell disaster. You can learn easy tricks to charge your camera’s battery without a charger.

While it may seem impossible, charging your camera battery without a charger is indeed possible. There are various methods that photographers use when their charger is unavailable or broken. These methods can come in handy especially during emergencies.

“When you know how to efficiently charge your camera battery without a charger, it gives you peace of mind even when you’re away from home without all the necessary equipment.”

In this post, we will share some tried-and-tested techniques to revive your exhausted camera battery without requiring any additional equipment or accessories. We will also give tips to help prolong the life of your battery so that you won’t find yourself in such a sticky situation again in the future.

Whether you want to recharge your battery using your laptop, car charger, solar panel, or other options, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn about the easy tricks to charge your camera battery without a charger!

Use A USB Cable

Connect Your Phone to Your Laptop or Desktop

If you own a laptop or desktop computer, connecting your phone via a USB cable is the easiest way to charge it without a charger.

To do this, simply plug one end of the USB cable into your phone, and the other end into your computer’s USB port. Your phone should start charging automatically.

Note that charging speeds may vary depending on the type of USB cable and port you use. For faster charging, consider using a USB 3.0 port or upgrading to a USB-C cable if compatible with your device.

Plug Your Phone into a USB Wall Charger

If you don’t have access to a computer, another way to charge your phone with a USB cable is by plugging it into a USB wall charger.

This is similar to charging your phone from a laptop or desktop, except you’ll need to locate a spare USB wall adapter instead of a computer.

You can usually find USB wall chargers at electronics stores or online retailers like Amazon. Make sure to choose a reputable brand and check that it’s compatible with your phone model before purchasing.

Use a USB Car Charger to Charge Your Phone on the Go

If you’re on-the-go and need to charge your phone while in the car, using a USB car charger is a convenient solution.

To use a USB car charger, simply connect your phone to the charger with a USB cable, then plug the charger into your car’s cigarette lighter socket.

Again, make sure to choose a reputable USB car charger and check that it’s compatible with your phone model before purchasing.

“Using a USB cable to charge your phone is a great alternative to using a traditional charger, especially if you’re in a pinch and need to charge your device quickly.” – PCMag

“It’s important to use caution when purchasing USB chargers from third-party retailers. Cheap knockoff chargers may not be built with the same safety standards as reputable brands, which can put your phone at risk for damage or even potential harm to yourself.” – Forbes

Use A Power Bank

If you find yourself in a situation where your camera battery is low and you have no charger on hand, using a power bank can be a convenient solution to charge your camera battery. Here are some tips that you should keep in mind:

Choose A High-Quality Power Bank

Not all power banks are created equal. When choosing one to charge your camera battery, it’s important to choose a high-quality one to avoid any potential damage to your battery or camera. Look for one with good reviews and ratings from reputable sources.

“When selecting a power bank, check out the manufacturer details and look up its reputation over time.” – Amy Johnson, Tech Writer at Best Buy

A reliable power bank will also give you peace of mind knowing that it has multiple safety features to prevent overheating or overcharging, which could cause harm to your camera battery or device.

Use A Power Bank With Multiple Charging Ports

A power bank with multiple charging ports allows you to simultaneously charge more than one device at a time, including your camera battery. This can come in handy if you need to charge your phone or tablet as well while traveling or on the go.

“A power bank with multiple USB-A, USB-C or Lightning charging ports may be ideal for powering multiple devices on the road without having to carry around multiple cables and adapters.” – Tim Fisher, Computer Networking Expert at Lifewire

Make sure to use the right cable and adapter that fits your camera battery port, and double-check if the voltage and amperage output of the power bank match those required by your camera battery to ensure safe and efficient charging.

Using a power bank can be a practical option when you need to charge your camera battery on the go. Just remember to choose a high-quality and reliable one, and use it in conjunction with the right cables and adapters for safe charging.

Use An External Battery Charger

If you forget your camera charger or cannot access an electric outlet, there are still ways to charge a camera battery without a charger. One of the best methods is by using an external battery charger.

An exterior battery charger can charge various devices including smartphones, tablets and cameras and is portable and easy to carry as it provides power from its own battery. Quality-wise, this option is better than charging a camera battery through a USB cable linked with a computer since it usually takes long hours to bring back full life for the battery to perform well in outdoor shoots.

You have to ensure that the external charger suits the battery type and voltage specifications of the camera before buying one. Do not use any old charger laying around; doing so may damage both the battery and device due to incompatible power output levels or incorrect polarity. This could accidentally cause a short circuit and destroy your favorite high-quality camera.

Use a Battery Charger with Fast Charging Capabilities

The key benefit of using a fast battery charger is time efficiency. Digital Camera World claims modern batteries suitable for mirrorless/DSLR models such as Sony A7III-series and Canon EOS R5 come with fast charging capabilities. Improved electronic technology means products which used to take several hours to power up now need much less time. Recently released GoPro Hero7 Black instantly achieves 50% potential within just half-an-hour via USB-C Type cord when supplied with QuickCharge-supported components rated at 18W DC voltage compatibility.

If you are someone aiming to spend more time shooting than waiting for recharging batteries, choose a faster charger with compatible gadgets increasing their lifespan each charge cycle evenly over extensive periods of time than slow-charging alternatives, meaning the price-to-performance rate is a good investment.

Choose an External Battery Charger with a Large Capacity

In addition to fast-charging, picking an external battery charger with considerable capacity is necessary for longer outings when plenty of photos need taking. Most modern digital single-lens reflex cameras have high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that provide power to function correctly throughout long hours and many gigs consisting of hundreds or thousands of shots without the urgent need of recharging via an additional port method.

For example, RavPower offers 26800mAh capability ensuring up to one week’s worth of one-time charging for DSLR models such as Canon EOS Rebel. Similarly, Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD complies with all USB-compatible portable devices consisting of digital camera charging. Moreover, this model provides extremely lightning-fast performance for other tech items after plugging in conveniently where needed.

“A proper supply of camera batteries can be crucial when travelling,” says Richard Trillo from The Guardian. “Take spares and charge them before leaving…I also carry a portable power bank for additional battery life.”

Avoid interruptions due to low-battery situations by carrying quality external chargers whose features are compatible with your device specifications. Choosing ones which offer larger capacities happen to increase efficiency along with saving costs spent on changing batteries regularly. This way you will keep taking those unforgettable picture-perfect moments while making lasting memories for years to come.

Use A Solar Panel Charger

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or a traveler who likes to keep your gadgets charged up on-the-go, charging your camera battery without a charger might seem like a challenge. But fret not; there’s still hope! One of the easiest and most practical ways to charge a camera battery without a charger is by using a solar panel charger.

Choose a Solar Charger with High Efficiency

If you’ve decided to go for a solar charger, it’s important to choose one with high efficiency. The efficiency rating of a solar panel charger indicates how much energy from the sun can be converted into usable electricity that can be used to charge your camera battery. Generally speaking, the higher the efficiency rating, the better the performance, and quicker charge times.

To get the best results from your solar charger, make sure you choose one with an efficiency rating of at least 20%. This will ensure that even in low-light conditions, your camera battery charges effectively. Some reliable options include Anker Power Port Solar Lite, Nekteck Solar Charger, and RAVPower Solar Charger.

Find a Solar Charger with Multiple Charging Options

The last thing you want is to invest in a solar charger only to realize that it doesn’t have the required ports to charge your camera battery. Therefore, before buying a solar charger, always check if it has compatible ports to connect your camera. Look for chargers that come equipped with multiple charging options such as USB-A, USB-C, or DC plugs.

Apart from compatibility, it’s also worth considering other useful features such as foldable designs, built-in flashlights, and rugged construction. Remember that durability is critical when it comes to equipment geared towards outdoor activities and travel.

Charging a camera battery without a charger might seem impossible, but using a solar panel charger could be the solution to your power woes while on-the-go. Make sure you choose one with high efficiency and multiple charging options so that it meets all of your specific needs.

Use A Car Charger

If you find yourself without a camera charger, one of the best ways to charge your camera battery is by using a car charger. This is especially useful if you are on the go and need to take photos or videos while traveling.

Choose a Car Charger with Multiple Charging Ports

When choosing a car charger for your camera battery, it is important to look for one that has multiple charging ports. This will allow you to not only charge your camera battery but also other electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets at the same time.

You may want to consider purchasing a multi-port USB car charger that is capable of charging up to four devices simultaneously. This option ensures that all your electronic devices remain charged throughout your trip.

Find a Car Charger with Fast Charging Capabilities

In addition to having multiple charging ports, it’s recommended to choose a car charger that has fast charging capabilities. This feature ensures that your camera battery charges quickly and efficiently, allowing you to spend less time waiting around for your battery to charge.

With quick-charge technology becoming increasingly popular, most new chargers offer this feature. It is advisable to choose a Volt Power Delivery (PD) car charger since they can support faster smart-charging standards.

• A wide range of compatible devices: Car chargers with USB-A and USB-C PD ports can be used to power all types of USB-powered devices, including cameras, laptops, phones, and tablets.
• Cables included: Ensure that the car charger comes with several cables for different device connectors in case you’re using an old model.
• Safety certifications included: To avoid potential hazards such as overheating, ensure that the car charger comes with safety certifications such as FCC, CE and RoHS.

By taking into account these features of a car charger, you can choose one that is suitable for your camera battery charging needs. With enough power to charge your camera quickly and additional ports for all your other electronic devices, this is an excellent option when traveling without a typical camera charger, or alternatively if you need to overall reduce bulk while traveling.

“A car USB charger not only supplies the most efficient source of energy to anything directly connected (in this case, your camera) but also provides extra port options so you won’t be out of juice halfway through the day.” – YdxLabs.com

Use A Laptop Or Computer

If you’re in a pinch and need to charge your camera battery, using a laptop or computer can be a viable option. Here’s how to do it:

Plug Your Phone into Your Computer’s USB Port

The first step is to find a USB cable that fits both your camera’s charging port and your computer’s USB port. This may require some digging through drawers or borrowing from a friend.

Once you have the right cable, plug one end into your camera and the other into an available USB port on your computer.

Note: Some newer cameras may not charge through their USB port. In this case, you may need to purchase an external battery charger.

Choose a Laptop or Computer with a High-Powered USB Port

Not all USB ports are created equal. If you want to ensure your camera battery charges as quickly as possible, look for a laptop or computer with a high-powered USB port.

USB 3.0 and above typically provide more power than older USB 2.0 ports. You can also check your device’s specifications to see how many amps or watts its USB ports can output.

Keep in mind that charging your camera battery through your computer’s USB port will likely take longer than using a dedicated charger. However, in a pinch, it can save the day!

“If you are stranded without your regular charger but have access to a USB cable, many devices including smartphones can act as chargers themselves.” -Adafruit Industries

Frequently Asked Questions