20D Date & Time problem

[FlatBattery]

Does anyone else have the problem on a 20D where the date & time resets when the main battery is removed, and what did you do about it? I've tried replacing the backup battery to no avail and a search of this forum and the internet does not help. It still takes great pictures, but resetting the date and time every time I swap batteries is a pain!

Camera is a couple of weeks old, bought from B&H in NYC (What a fantastic place!) Trouble is, they are a 7 hour plane ride away, so taking it back is not an option.

Firmware version is 1.1.0

[robertwgross]

Memory for date and time is maintained by the memory battery. If you remove the main battery, then the memory battery should keep memory alive. If you replaced your original memory battery with another good one, then that should have done it. If not, then that suggests that there may be something wrong a little deeper. The actual battery contacts might be dirty or oily, or the spring that holds the memory battery down might be loose.

If you think one of the batteries might be flat, then measure it with a DC voltmeter. Generally they keep their voltage constant and good for a few years.

If you have already gone through all of this, then the camera will have to go back.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

I might add that you want to check the battery to see if it is the correct type.

CR2016 lithium.

---Bob Gross---

[Salleke]

Does anyone else have the problem on a 20D where the date & time resets when the main battery is removed, and what did you do about it? I've tried replacing the backup battery to no avail and a search of this forum and the internet does not help. It still takes great pictures, but resetting the date and time every time I swap batteries is a pain!

Camera is a couple of weeks old, bought from B&H in NYC (What a fantastic place!) Trouble is, they are a 7 hour plane ride away, so taking it back is not an option.

Firmware version is 1.1.0

I have had this problem to. I took the backup battery out of it's holder and cleant the contacts from that battery with a paper towel. Many contacts are dirty and therefor make no contact. The second thing you can do is cleaning the battery contacts in the camera. You can do that with some alcohol on a cleaningstick. Pay attention to the polarity when you reinsert the backup battery. Be shure to push it firmly into the camera til it snaps in place. If you replace the battery be shure to replace it with the same one. There are battery's who are sometimes a littele smaller and therefor make no or bad contact. I hope this will solve your problem like it solved mine. Good luck.

[robertwgross]

Although it is designed that you can't put the battery in backwards, I suppose that anything is possible.

---Bob Gross---

[FlatBattery]

Thanks guys, looks like it may have to go to Canon and I'll just have to pay if I can't get Canon to honor the US warranty in the UK