Charging station VMA5400C-100NAS for Pro4???

[IFM]

I purchased a charging station (model VMA5400C-100NAS) for use with my pro4 system - the Arlo web site and the Costco web site both said it was for the pro4.  When it arrived I found the box only says pro3, the two batteries that came with it are half the size of those in the cameras, and the voltages listed on these batteries is different.

Questions -

1. Will this properly and safely charge the larger pro4 batteries?

2. Will these smaller, different voltage batteries correctly power the pro4 cameras or will they cause any damage?

Thanks for your help!

[StephenB]

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@IFM wrote:

I purchased a charging station (model VMA5400C-100NAS) for use with my pro4 system - the Arlo web site and the Costco web site both said it was for the pro4.  When it arrived I found the box only says pro3, the two batteries that came with it are half the size of those in the cameras, and the voltages listed on these batteries is different.

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The charging station normally comes w/o batteries.  You must have purchased the AVM5400C-1CCNAS kit.

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@IFM wrote:

1. Will this properly and safely charge the larger pro4 batteries?

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First - if your Pro 4 batteries are physically larger, then you must have the Pro 4 XLs, which have a larger camera housing and a bigger battery.  In general, Pro 3, Pro 4, and Ultra cameras all use the same accessories.

This charger will properly and safely charge the XL batteries.

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@IFM wrote:

2. Will these smaller, different voltage batteries correctly power the pro4 cameras or will they cause any damage?

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Voltage should be the same as the XL batteries (3.85 volts), just the capacity is different (4800 mAh for the small batteries, 10,000 mAh for the larger ones).

The smaller batteries will power the Pro 4.  But one issue is that the camera shell is sized for the larger battery.  The battery might come loose inside the housing.  I guess you could put some padding in the back of the shell.

[jguerdat]

The smaller batteries may not power other devices. I haven't tried anything other than a smaller batter in a floodlight camera but that didn't work at all. ANd then there was the problem of getting it back out since something clicked it in place...

[StephenB]

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@jguerdat wrote:

The smaller batteries may not power other devices. 

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Of course the Go 2 and the floodlight are designed for the XL batteries.

But the Pro 4 hardware is identical to the Pro 4 XL (apart from the camera shell).  The XL upgrade kit includes only the shell and the larger battery.  So although I haven't tested this, it is pretty clear that the normal Pro 4 battery should power the Pro 4 XL too.

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@jguerdat wrote:

ANd then there was the problem of getting it back out since something clicked it in place...

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I pointed out the mechanical issue of with using the smaller battery.  I was thinking the battery could slip out into the shell.  I'm not seeing an issue with getting the battery out of the camera body in the case of the Pro 4 (since the camera body already accomodates both batteries, it's only the shell that changes).  If someone has tried this with the Pro 4 (as opposed to the Pro 3 floodlight and/or Go 2), it'd be good if they shared their results. 

In any event, I normally wouldn't use the smaller batteries in the XL shell.  If Costco offers the stand-alone charger (w/o the batteries) for less, then I'd exchange the purchase.  Or maybe just sell the smaller batteries - they are hard to find right now.