Can You Use Rechargeable Batteries in Blink Cameras? Answered [2023]

My Blink Outdoor camera finally died after a full 15 months of use, and this got me to wonder if I can pop in a pair of rechargeable batteries instead.

This can contribute a little bit to the reduction of the sheer amount of e-waste that the plethora of smart devices I use daily.

This got me to write this article, hoping to help you make a better decision on this topic. So can you use rechargeable batteries in your Blink camera?

You cannot use rechargeable batteries in your Blink camera, as per Blink. Blink only recommends using two 1.5 volt Lithium non-rechargeable batteries of size AA to provide a total of 3 volts of steady power. However, there are a few lithium rechargeable batteries that can be safely used in your Blink camera.

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Can You Use Alkaline Batteries in Blink Cameras?

Can You Use Alkaline Batteries in Blink Cameras?

Blink recommends using two non-rechargeable AA lithium batteries and highly disregards the use of alkaline and rechargeable batteries.

Although Blink hasn't explicitly stated the reason as to why not, it is not hard to deduce the actual reason.

To power battery-powered Blink cameras such as Blink XT, XT2, Indoor, and Outdoor cameras, you will need two AA batteries, each providing 1.5 volts.

Alkaline batteries, like any other rechargeable batteries, tend to degrade at a much faster pace compared to lithium batteries, enabling the replacement of the cells frequently.

Also, it can confuse the battery indications by a huge margin, making the whole experience very annoying.

This is the primary reason why Blink does not recommend alkaline and rechargeable batteries in general and tends to prefer non-rechargeable lithium cells.

In fact, your Blink camera will soon flash red indicating that the batteries don't have enough juice.

Alkaline batteries are designed to pump out 1.5V when fresh, but they tend to quickly drain to 1V or less before degrading to 0V.

This essentially means that although the rechargeable batteries will work with Blink cameras, they will die out pretty quickly and you will need to swap or charge the batteries frequently.

There are also added consequences with a Blink camera not receiving its rated 1.5Vx2=3V of steady power.

For one, the battery indicators will fail to properly deduce the charge remaining and provide incoherent ratings.

There will also be functionality-related issues, such as frequent WiFi connection drops and failure to detect motion, amongst other failures.

Blink recommends the Energizer AA Ultimate Lithium batteries for their battery-powered Blink cameras.

They are rated to provide 1.5V, but users have noted that they actually pump out 1.8 volts when fresh and slowly degrade to 1.5V.

At the end of its lifespan, it quickly degrades to 0V, clearly signifying the battery needs to be replaced.

This essentially keeps the Blink cameras powered on all through the battery's lifespan with maximum efficiency.

It also aids the battery indication of Blink cameras, since it is specifically designed to detect between the 1.8V and 1.5V voltage range.

Can you use NiMH rechargeable batteries in Blink cameras?

Can you use NiMH rechargeable batteries in Blink cameras?

The usage of Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries will be an even worst-case scenario for Blink cameras.

Typical NiMH rechargeable batteries are rated for 1.2V, which is fine for powering minor electronic devices such as clocks, but will fail to power Blink cameras.

Again, the Blink cameras will initially seem to work as intended, but will quickly die out and start causing hardware issues such as frequent disconnections.

Can You Use Lithium Rechargeable Batteries in Blink Cameras?

Can You Use Lithium Rechargeable Batteries in Blink Cameras?

Rechargeable lithium batteries, although more expensive than their alkaline counterparts, actually can power Blink cameras safely.

Lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries are two vastly different batteries utilized for radically different applications.

Blink, as well as its strong community of users, strongly advises against the use of Lithium-ion batteries, typically used in smartphones on Blink cameras.

There are options such as the AmpTORRENT AA Rechargeable Lithium batteries and EBL Rechargeable Lithium AA Batteries are rated to provide a constant 1.5 volts and are safe to use.

But the only issue that I, as well as many noticed, is that the battery indicator will fail to show any meaningful value of how much charge it actually contains.

Instead, it will resort to showing absolutely nothing, or show an 'OK' tag indicating that the device is functioning properly.

This also might result in a weird situation where the Blink cameras might shut off abruptly without prior indication.

But considering the Blink camera's excellent endurance of two years, you need not worry too much about it.

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

If you have further doubts as to which type of batteries you can use with your Blink cameras, it is best to get in touch with Blink support.

I hope my article on whether you can use rechargeable batteries in Blink cameras has been a worthwhile read and has aided you with the same.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you use Duracell batteries in Blink cameras?

A typical Duracell battery is rated at 1.5V, making it an ideal fit for Blink cameras.

How long do Blink cameras last on a single battery pack?

Blink cameras such as Blink Outdoor, Indoor, XT, and XT2 are rated to last up to 2 years with two AA 1.5V non-rechargeable lithium batteries.

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About Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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