Olympus RC6000 Replacement Battery 6V 2100mAh Ni-MH

Olympus RC6000 / VM380 / VN3000 Series — 6V 2100mAh Ni-MH Replacement Battery

This is a 6V, 2100mAh Ni-MH battery for the Olympus RC6000, VM380, VM385, VN3000, and 16 additional compatible models. It replaces the original cell in cameras that have lost charge capacity or no longer hold a usable charge. Capacity is drawn from the product specification — 12.6Wh total energy storage.

• RC6000 / VM / VN series compatibility: These models share the same 6V cell format, connector configuration, and BMS voltage thresholds, which is why a single replacement covers the range. The camera body draws from the same voltage rail across this cluster.
• Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this cell through charge and discharge cycles on compatible camera hardware. The BMS accepted the cell without rejection flags, and voltage output stayed stable through the discharge curve we recorded.
• First-install charge cycle on the RC6000: Insert the new cell and run one full charge inside the OEM charger or camera body before shooting. Some Olympus BMS systems need that first in-body charge cycle to calibrate the battery-remaining indicator accurately on a new Ni-MH cell.

Camera showing dead battery indicator on a partially charged replacement cell

Ni-MH cells have a flatter discharge curve than lithium chemistries. The RC6000's battery indicator is mapped to voltage thresholds, and a new Ni-MH cell fresh out of packaging often sits at a resting voltage that the camera reads as critically low. This is not a fault with the cell. Run one full charge cycle through the OEM charger first — the indicator should track correctly at 7.2V fully charged.

Battery percentage jumping erratically mid-shoot

This happens when the camera's voltage-to-percentage map doesn't yet match the new cell's discharge curve. The Olympus firmware reads instantaneous voltage and converts it to a percentage — a fresh Ni-MH cell discharges differently to a worn original, so the reading jumps. After two or three full charge and discharge cycles, the readings stabilise. If jumping persists beyond three cycles, check that the cell contacts are clean and making firm contact at both terminals.