Bringing Camera Gear

[ggunn]

I know what a power bank is now - it's just an extra battery for a cell phone. I don't see why they would be treated differently from any other spare batteries - at least the ones that are the same size as a cell phone..

 

[Titatom]

TSA allows 100 watt-hour (or less) battery in carry ons. In the Philippines, I was told by a friend that the airline limit is 20,000 Mah for the domestic flights.

 

[DandyDon]

With airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium-ion batteries (101–160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries (2-8 grams).

Excerpting from What Can I Bring? All | Transportation Security Administration...

Lithium batteries with 100 watt hours or less in a device​

• Carry On Bags: Yes
• Checked Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)

Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. Lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries are limited to 2 grams of lithium per battery. Lithium ion (rechargeable) batteries are limited to a rating of 100 watt hours (Wh) per battery. These limits allow for nearly all types of lithium batteries used by the average person in their electronic devices.

This instruction covers spare lithium metal and spare rechargeable lithium ion batteries for personal electronics such as cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, watches, calculators, etc. This instruction also includes external battery chargers (portable rechargers and power banks) containing a lithium ion battery. For more information, see the FAA regulations on batteries.

For lithium batteries that are installed in a device (laptop, cell phone, camera, etc.), see FAA regulations for "portable electronic devices, containing batteries".

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Lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours​

• Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)
• Checked Bags: No

Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only.

With airline approval, passengers may also carry up to two spare larger lithium ion batteries (101–160 Wh) or lithium metal batteries (2-8 grams). This size covers the larger after-market extended-life laptop computer batteries and some larger batteries used in professional audio/visual equipment. There is a limit of two spare batteries per person for the larger lithium ion batteries described above (101–160 watt hours per battery. For more information, see the FAA regulations on batteries.

This instruction covers spare lithium metal and spare rechargeable lithium ion batteries for personal electronics such as cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, watches, calculators, etc. This instruction also includes external battery chargers (portable rechargers and power banks) containing a lithium ion battery. For lithium batteries that are installed in a device (laptop, cell phone, camera, etc.), see FAA regulations for "portable electronic devices, containing batteries."

 

[ggunn]

TSA allows 100 watt-hour (or less) battery in carry ons. In the Philippines, I was told by a friend that the airline limit is 20,000 Mah for the domestic flights.

That is the same; most external batteries for cellphone and tablet are 5V.

20,000mAh @5V = (20,000mAh/1000)(5V) = 100Wh

Is the 100Wh limit per battery or per traveler?

 

[Titatom]

Looks like it's per traveler. You can carry more than one power bank in your carry-on bag without airline approval - as long as the total capacity does not exceed 100 Wh. More than that will need airline approval.

Passengers can bring up to two spare lithium-ion batteries that are 101–160 Wh with airline approval. Lithium-ion batteries that are over 160 Wh are not allowed.

 

[ggunn]

I bring a couple of spare batteries for my camera and one for my phone to Cozumel, but I have never looked to see what their capacity is. I just don't want to run out of battery while i am shooting video out on a fishing boat. I have never had anyone in TSA or Customs try to read that squinchy little low contrast text on the bottom of any of my batteries.

 

[Nemrod]

I have been asked several times going into Cozumel about my camera gear. It is one Nauticam housing, camera, lenses and strobes. Never had a problem, but I have been asked. I have two cameras and would like to bring both but I am not going to push my luck. I could say it is my wife's but she is no longer diving for the time being. Hmm.

Makes me wonder how a wife and husband team each with an UW camera would fair.

I did forget an Allen kit set that came with my Nauticam housing. Several times I went through leaving Cozumel but then it was confiscated, oh well. I should have not forgotten it.

 

[ggunn]

I have been asked several times going into Cozumel about my camera gear. It is one Nauticam housing, camera, lenses and strobes. Never had a problem, but I have been asked. I have two cameras and would like to bring both but I am not going to push my luck. I could say it is my wife's but she is no longer diving for the time being. Hmm.

Makes me wonder how a wife and husband team each with an UW camera would fair.

How would a Customs official know or even care that your wife does not dive? Why would a couple each with an UW camera be a problem?

 

[DandyDon]

I could say it is my wife's but she is no longer diving for the time being.

As long as you're traveling together, great. Do you have a problem with such a minor lie?

Makes me wonder how a wife and husband team each with an UW camera would fair.

One each works easily.

I've traveled with a land camera and a dive camera both on the last 20 or so entries with no problem.

 

[ggunn]

As long as you're traveling together, great. Do you have a problem with such a minor lie?

It isn't a lie; as a married couple both cameras belong to both of them, just like everything else they own. That's something my wife reminds me of all the time.