JCpenny BP-122 12V Camera Replacement Battery 1800mAh

JCpenny 686-5111 Series — 12V Ni-MH Replacement Battery (BP-122)

This is a 12V, 1800mAh nickel-metal hydride replacement battery for JCpenny cameras using OEM part number BP-122. It fits the 686-5111, 686-5115, 686-5116, 686-5335, and six additional models in the same camera line. Capacity matches the original specification at 21.6Wh.

• 686-5111 series compatibility: These models share the same voltage rail, physical connector, and BMS communication protocol. The 12V Ni-MH cell chemistry is consistent across the series, so one battery pack covers the full range without modification.
• Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this cell through charge and discharge cycles on a 686-5111 body. The BMS accepted the pack, cell temperature stayed within operating range, and the indicator reported charge state without fault flags throughout the test.
• First-cycle calibration on camera body: Run the first full charge cycle through the camera body itself, not an aftermarket charger. Some JCpenny camera BMS firmware maps the battery-remaining display to a charge curve it calibrates on that first in-body cycle — skipping this step causes the indicator to read incorrectly from the start.

Camera showing dead battery indicator on a partially charged BP-122 replacement cell

Ni-MH cells have a flatter discharge curve than the lithium chemistry some camera firmware expects. The 686-5111 body may misread remaining charge at certain voltage thresholds, triggering a low-battery warning while the cell still holds usable capacity. This happens because the voltage-threshold map in the BMS was written for a specific discharge profile that doesn't always align precisely with a fresh Ni-MH replacement. Running one full charge-discharge cycle in the camera body allows the BMS to re-map to the actual cell behaviour. After that cycle, the indicator tracks correctly.

Flash not fully recycling between shots with the new battery installed

Flash recycling draws a high burst of current to recharge the capacitor between shots — this is one of the heaviest loads the camera places on the pack. On a new Ni-MH cell, internal resistance is slightly higher until the cell completes a few charge cycles, which can slow capacitor recharge and cause missed or weak flash output. This is not a fault — it resolves after three to five full charge-discharge cycles as the cell conditions. If recycling lag persists beyond that point, check that the pack voltage at rest reads at least 12V before shooting.