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Battery Contact Cleaning
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I've noticed that some of the pattern batteries don't hold their charge too well after 6 months or so. I put one on charge the other day, and it only gave me 100 shots before getting to the 1/3 full mark.
I put it on charge again and it said fully charged fairly quickly, but the camera still said only 1/3 charge, so I put it to one side.
Then I had a thought, and checked the contacts. I cleaned them up, finishing with a plastic eraser (as per cleaning lens contacts). Putting the battery back on charge indicated only 1/3 charged. After a while, full charge was indicated by the charger, and also the camera. I've not tried it yet, but it will be interesting to see how things go.
I assume that higher contact reistance is giving a higher voltage to fool the charger into finishing it's cycle early.
Looking through my batteries, I note some have what look like gold plated contacts, and the cheaper ones nickel. in future, I will stick with the more expensive Canon ones as these don't seem to have the same problems as the pattern ones.
So, if you have battery problems, I suggest you clean the contacts before the next charge
Originally posted at 8:21AM, 16 July 2008 PST
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Pixelda edited this topic 5 months ago.
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Not just the contacts on the batteries, but also the contacts inside the battery compartment. If you live in a wet environment they can corrode.
Posted 5 months ago.
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Funny, I've noticed the same thing recently. The battery appears to lose charge quicker (according to the lcd) but when I put it in the charger it's charged in 10 minutes!
Thanks for the tip. I'll give the contacts a clean and see if that makes a difference.
Posted 5 months ago.
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Richard - agreed
Posted 5 months ago.
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Admittedly not in one of my 5Ds but one of my 20Ds lies consistently about the battery charge, telling me it's almost out. But it isn't. I have one spare Canon battery (rather than Hahnel which I seem to have accumulated from somewwhere) which has a massive split down the side. That one lies, too -- should I bin it?
Posted 5 months ago.
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pixelda I have also been getting false battery readings on camera (could be to do with someone spilling tea on it)! but have also noticed that the battery contacts are a bit dirty so how exactly do you clean them and what is a plastic eraser? Cheers.
Posted 5 months ago.
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Electrical contacts don't like water - if you flush the area in water, it sucks itself into cracks, which can cause issues later, so the least solution the better.
A cloth or kitchen roll with a drop of alcohol is fine (to dissolve grease e.g. from your hands). Beware of using certain light spirits as they can dissolve plastic.
Don't use an abrasive
I googled the "Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser" www.dickblick.com/zz215/00/
Posted 5 months ago.
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Ok I had cleaned the contacts and am still getting the same problem, even with both batteries fully charged in the grip within half a day of shooting it will be on low power and will give up completely before the day is done. Before, I would easily get a whole day shooting before any sign of the battery losing power. So have just gone and bought 2 Jessops BP511's (as they are less than half the price of the Canon ones) and am about to charge them up and try them tomorrow as will be using camera all day. If I get the same problem then it must be the grip or worst case the camera that has a problem. If anyone has any other ideas I would be very grateful as can't afford to buy replacement grip or get the camera checked out. Thanks.
Posted 4 months ago.
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Carefully clean all the contacts you can get access to. Use a rubber as it will clean the contacts without damaging any coatings.
Check out www.7dayshop.com for cheap batteries, they are about 5 or 6 quid each and work just fine. That's what I'm using. If they go off a bit after a year or so, well you just buy another couple.
Make sure you give a brand new battery a darn good charge first time.
And a good reminder from Pixelda (currently in God's own country) of the importance of keeping electrical contacts clean.
Posted 4 months ago.
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I've charged the battery once after a couple of sessions. It was still on FULL. used it again today and it's been fne.
Gareth - we have loved it here in Wick - so much so, we are coming back next year, despite the Loooong drive
Posted 4 months ago.
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Didn't think Wick was that exciting, however it is a good base for getting around Caithness etc. And of course you must pop over the water to Orkney sometime. Then there is the Hebrides and so on.
And of course you could pop round my way, often over looked but pretty spectacular in it's own right.
As you know I don't generally do landscape, but check out these local snappers;
www.flickr.com/photos/85152114@N00/
www.flickr.com/photos/gordoncowan/
Posted 4 months ago.
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