Urgent: Batteries died?

[Adam T]

I go to charge my BP-511 batteries up for tomorrow (these are not official Canon ones, but have always done me fine) - I plug the charger in and go to charge them both, but no lights flash as normal. I assume the charger is broken (it's about 6 years old with my Canon D60)

But, I thought back to whenI went to switch my camera on, and nothing started up. So I put my backup battery in and it worked. So I charged my backup battery and the lights flash and it charges fine.

So, I have 2 completely dead batteries, I used them a few nights ago, but now they won't even charge. The odd thing is, they both went at the same time?

Has anyone got any ideas to savour them? I don't mind buying new batteries but kind of could do with more than 1 battery for 4-5 hours tomorrow.

Does anyone have an accurate idea of how long a fully charged battery will last under 'regular' shooting activities? (Sports)

Thanks
Adam

[Box Brownie]

These are Li Ion batteries, aren't they? If so as far as I know they can die suddenly, unlike NiCd or NiMH they require to have maintained a minimal level of charge at all times and the more often they are left completely drained the shorter the life.

Just how old are they?

HTH maybe :)

[Adam T]

Probably a year old...Li-ion, yes.

[JC4]

Like Box said, completely draining Lithium's is bad for their life.

Also, when they are completely drained they don't like to take a charge. But, usually the charger will start charging, then quit soon after. When this happens, SOMETIMES you can take them on/off the charger several times, getting enough juice in them so they are willing to take a charge. The little bit the charger puts in before shutting off gets the batteries off of the flat, dead state.

If your charger isn't doing anything, then its possible the circuitry in the battery(s) got zapped. I've had this happen to Li batteries. Since you had two die at the same time, I'd advise buying a new charger when you replace the batteries. It(or possibly your camera) may have killed the batteries.

JohnC

[Adam T]

My charger has just charged my spare battery with absolutely no problems, is there still a possibility it's the charger?

[Box Brownie]

I wonder whether this is one disadvantage of buying (cheaper) 3rd party ones. Are we really paying just for the Canon name on the branded ones or do they have something in them that influences their total life perhaps a bit like the Epson ink carts that will not let you use them until drained???

For the record for my 350D I have two Canon branded ones both 2 years old and still OK (so far, says he tempting fate).

[JC4]

My charger has just charged my spare battery with absolutely no problems, is there still a possibility it's the charger?

Sorry, not an expert. I would suspect it, only because you lost two batteries at once. There might be nothing wrong with it but, it's cheaper to replace the charger than ruin another battery or two.

[Adam T]

Ok thanks, my second question - Does anyone know where I can get a Canon 511 battery for a reasonable price in the UK. Jessops want £30.99 for their unbranded batteries. No mail order place will be able to do it for this afternoon (7dayshop.com £9.49 for 2)

[gjl711]

Do this at your own risk. It is not recommended by anyone sane, but I have used it and it does sometimes bring back and unchangeable batteries. It probably wreaks havoc with battery life so again, I do not recommend this except in cases where the battery is headed to the recycling bin anyway. Also, do this outside as it has the potential of popping the battery or some other real bad stuff happening. Again WARNING!! Do this at your own risk and only if you don’t mind loosing the battery.
The procedure is simple. Measure the voltage of the battery. It’s probably way less then the voltage marked on the battery. Clearly identify the positive and negative poles of the battery. Then with a car charger turned off set to the lowest setting put positive to positive and negative to negative. Stand clear of the battery and turn it on for 10~15 seconds, then off. You might have to do this a couple of times giving the battery some cool down time in between jolts. Alter letting the poor thing cool, measure the voltage across the battery. If it has come up a bit, try it in the regular charger again.
As I said, this is drastic and terrible for the battery, but I have used it successfully on mobile phone batteries, camera batteries, and even on my Palm.

[JohnJ80]

You're right. it is not recommended by anyone sane. Don't do it. New batteries cost $11 from Sterlingtek.

J.

[Rob.B]

I anve a car charger for my 511 battery, Can't remember where I got it from, but when I had this issue with the Canon charged not charging one of my four batteries (2 sets for a 20D grip), a charge from the one in the car sorted it out, and it has been no trouble since.

[memorex88]

Ok thanks, my second question - Does anyone know where I can get a Canon 511 battery for a reasonable price in the UK. Jessops want £30.99 for their unbranded batteries. No mail order place will be able to do it for this afternoon (7dayshop.com £9.49 for 2)

Here you go... link (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=319434)