DC device working from outlet, but not working on batteries

[Nick Zalutskiy]

I have one of these: http://www.ktnc.co.kr/product_04_01.asp
Its a security camera.

It is rated to work at 12V DC. They suggest that you should use a 300
mA 12V dc power supply to connect to an outlet. When I do that, the
camera works fine, note however, that all 12V psu (the ones you plug
into the outlet) seem to provide somewhere around 18V.

When I try to connect this camera to 8 AA batteries ((12.4V) or 8AA
batteries + a 6V battery (18V) or 2x 9V batteries (dead batteries
~13V), all in series, the camera does not want to work. I have no idea
why...

Can anyone guide me in the right direction?

 

[Nick Zalutskiy]

This is something like the setup I'm trying to make ( for personal
use, if that matters, I'm a psychopath skiier =D ).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pro-Sony-520-li...ryZ23780QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm pretty sure they even use the same camera.

One interesting observation about this camera. It has three wires
going out of it: female power connector, BNC video signal, and an RCA
remote (not connected in the final setup).
If you connect the PSU to the outlet and only AFTER that connect the
PSU to the power connector on the camera, the camera does not start
properly, you see random noise on the screen or nothign at all.
However, if you connect the PSU to the power connector and only then
connect the PSU to the outlet the camera starts properly and you see
an image on the screen. Not sure if this helps or not, but this was
driving me nuts.

Thanks in advanced,
I really want this thing to work, going skiing tomorrow!!

 

[default]

This is something like the setup I'm trying to make ( for personal
use, if that matters, I'm a psychopath skiier =D ).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pro-Sony-520-li...ryZ23780QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm pretty sure they even use the same camera.

One interesting observation about this camera. It has three wires
going out of it: female power connector, BNC video signal, and an RCA
remote (not connected in the final setup).
If you connect the PSU to the outlet and only AFTER that connect the
PSU to the power connector on the camera, the camera does not start
properly, you see random noise on the screen or nothign at all.
However, if you connect the PSU to the power connector and only then
connect the PSU to the outlet the camera starts properly and you see
an image on the screen. Not sure if this helps or not, but this was
driving me nuts.

Thanks in advanced,
I really want this thing to work, going skiing tomorrow!!

This is tomorrow

One assumes you got the polarity correct.

Should work. Using rechargeable batteries with only 1.2 volts output
(standard NiMH or NiCad) you would need ten cells to keep the camera
happy. 8 cells is 9.6 V and that falls below the Sony spec. of +_10%.

Lot of stuff today relies on micro processors or programmable
controllers. If the power comes on slowly they don't reset properly
and that might be what you are seeing with the connectivity issue.
With batteries, and an on/off switch, that shouldn't be a problem.