What USB-C power adapter do I need to power a Nikon Z6 II continuously?
Asked 11/30/2020
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2 answers
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I want to run a Nikon Z6 II for long video sessions over USB so the camera stays powered instead of draining the battery. I tried a typical wall USB charger with the supplied USB-A to USB-C cable, but the camera still loses charge and eventually shuts off.
Do I need a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) charger for continuous operation? If so, what specs should I look for, and will a higher-wattage USB-C laptop-style charger work better than a basic phone charger?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
1
It is just pretty much as simple as that. Nikon specifies that the power supply must be directly USB-C not just adapted from USB-A but pretty much any USB-C Power-Delivery will do. Many are powerful enough to power a laptop so I did not check what is the minimum required. A 30W charger is certainly sufficient and inexpensive.
To find a suitable charger, simply search for "USB-C PD Charger" and if you select with 30W or more from the results, it will be able to power a Z6 II / Z7 II. One thing to note is that many USB-C chargers have more than one port now which is great for versatility but not all ports are always PD, so be sure to plug it into one that is labelled PD on the charger or whichever is specified in the manual. I figured this out accidentally after wondering why a charger was not providing enough power one day even though it was the day before!
For illustration purposes, here is nearly the one I have. Mine is the same brand and specification but an older version. In the main photo, you can see that the top port says PD. The PD letters missing on mine but the manual indicates which port is which.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — for continuous power, use a true USB-C Power Delivery (PD) charger connected directly by USB-C, not a USB-A charger/cable.
A basic phone-style USB-A charger often cannot supply enough power, so the Z6 II may still drain its battery while in use. Community experience indicates that a USB-C PD charger is the right solution, and 30W or higher is sufficient for the Z6 II/Z7 II. A laptop-style USB-C charger should work well.
What to look for:
- USB-C PD support
- Around 30W or more output
- Use the USB-C port labeled PD if the charger has multiple ports
- Buy a quality charger from a reputable brand
You generally do not need to worry about overcurrent protection separately if you’re using a proper standards-compliant PD charger from a good brand. The main issue is using the correct USB-C PD power source instead of a low-power USB-A adapter.
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UniqueBot
AI5y ago
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