How a Baked Potato Can Extend Your Cameras Battery Life on a Cold Day
Image by psd
Here’s a quick (and rather quirky/novel) tip for extending the life of your batteries in cold weather that we received via email this week:
“In cold temperatures batteries lose their power quickly so it’s a good idea to carry extra. In order to keep your spare[s] from draining in a cold camera bag, use an old trick for keeping warm in the cold. Put a hot foil-wrapped baked potato in your pocket. It will keep your spare batteries warm, give your trigger finger a place to warm up and after you’ve been out shooting in the cold for a while, you’ll have a nutritious snack.”
Thanks to Anne Williams for the tip!
Note: DPS will not be responsible for damage caused to the property of those introducing Baked Potatoes into their camera bags and advises against adding sour cream, butter or any other condiments to baked potatoes used in this way! :-)
A More Serious Note: another method that we know some DPS readers for warming their camera batteries is to keep a hand warmer in their pocket with their batteries.
Got a ‘quick tip’ to share? Stop by the Tutorials section of our Forum and leave your tip there. We’ll pick some of the best to feature here on the blog. Don’t forget to leave a link to your blog/flickr account/website etc so we can give you a little credit if we use it.
Tags: Batteries, Battery
22 Responses to “How a Baked Potato Can Extend Your Cameras Battery Life on a Cold Day” - Add Yours
February 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Safety note: Eating a baked potato after it has cooled in aluminum foil is dangerous because harmful bacteria typically grow on the potato and the skin once it has cooled. Botulism is the most common microorganism that will grow in a baked potato left to sit and cool.
The stick on hand warmers are great for warming batteries, and hands.
February 12th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Ha! DPS’ note was exactly what I was about to comment!
February 12th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Won’t that cause condense and ruin the batteries?
Just saying.. don’t kill me!
(my first post on DPS :D)
February 12th, 2009 at 8:45 am
This has to be the worst tip I’ve seen at this site. In the 1st place the potatoes would have to cool way down to carry in your pocket. After that how long will they stay viably warm in cold weather? By the time your batteries wear down in cold weather, the potatoes will have lost their warmth and I doubt we will have gained much. Besides, who wants to run around on a shoot with a baked potato in his pocket? For Pete’s sake, just buy a good battery operated handwarmer or a pair of electric socks.
Dennis
February 12th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I’d be cautious with a foil wrapped anything next to a battery. Make sure the terminals are covered to prevent a short.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am
…and shorting a lithium ion battery can result in a nasty fire/explosion….which would be very undesirable in your pocket!
February 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
quote “which would be very undesirable in your pocket!” unquote.
So would a hot potato. I’d prefer a hand warmer.
February 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Good to know cold weather has such an influence on a battery’s charge. I live where it’s hot almost year-round, but will soon be using this info for travel.
Ken
February 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I know when it’s cold out there, a baked potato sure can help extend MY Battery :)
February 12th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Great advice, but I’m sure there must be something better to use than a foiled baked potato. I’d feel much better using one of Dennis Newman’s ideas above.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Big stretch there guys….use what I use…
HANDWARMERS. Perfect for keeping your pockets a warm place. Great for your boots too.
This is the amazon link for a box of 40 for 22 bucks…but if you’re really strapped for cash….go to a Menards or camping store and get one pack for 50 cents.
Heh…Potatoes.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I think I will pass on the hand warmer and go straight for the twice baked potato stuffed in my pocket….huh! hahaha
February 12th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Is that a potato in your pocket or did you want to take my photograph?
Sorry… had to do it
February 13th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Who knew that hot foil wrapped baked potatoes were the pre-cursor to the modern day hand warmer. Seems like a feasible idea, but I like my baked in my stomach and not in my pocket.
February 13th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Oh dear,
Looks like you opened a real “Hot Potato” with this topic.
February 14th, 2009 at 4:30 am
I carry baked potatoes around with me, but not to warm my batts but rather to feed me.
February 14th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Handwarmers are okay but then you have to throw chemical waste in the trash. I’ve had good luck just keeping batteries in an inside pocket, under a couple layers of coat, fleece and sweater, so they are close to the body. Body temperature is plenty warm enough but pants pockets are too exposed – not enough layers over. The trick is in dressing so you can get your hand into that inner pocket without having to strip off your outer layers while you’re out in the cold.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Just put the batteries in an inside pocket.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Or you can go into the sporting goods section of most larger stores (like Wal-mart, or Meijer) and pick up a few hand warmers. Through them on your bag and you have instant heat whenever you need it.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Warming batteries will only help with alkaline batteries. Lithium and NiMH batteries operate better at low temperatures.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:09 am
… I can’t possibly be the only female photographer who’s put a battery in my bra to keep it warm… can I?
Also: assuming the photographer also needs to be kept warm, don’t most winter jackets come with at least one inside pocket, these days? Body heat is a wonderful thing.
March 4th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
? How toxic is it? A little over a pound of botulin is enough to kill every human on Earth.? That?s some pretty toxic stuff!!
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