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View Full Version : 1D Mk3 owners, need help/advice on suspect faulty LP-E4 battery.


bachscuttler
16th of June 2009 (Tue), 02:21
Guys, I need your help verifying a possible LP-E4 battery problem.
My Mk3 arrived from the States to the UK last night.
I immediately got the battery on charge then thought I would set the camera up using the AC-E4 mains adapter. I only had one UK mains adapter plug (to make the 2 prong plug convert to the 3 pin UK socket) so popped that onto the mains charger and plugged the DC coupler into the camera.
Dead as a Dodo.
To cut a long story short, the UK adapter plug supplied externally with the camera had a way under-rated fuse for the AC-E4, so went and bought 2 UK adapters from the local store.
Put the battery on charge and merrily worked away with the AC-E4, setting the camera up.
2 hours later, plugged the presumably fully charged battery into the camera and all fine...5 minutes later, it died.
Put the battery back on the charger, no red calibration lights and when the button pressed, indicated 100% charged.
During charging, the green led's exhibited the following behaviour:
50% and 80% LED's are on and the 100% LED flashes.
In aprox 5 second cycles, all LED's go out then blink.
The manual suggests the battery is out of it's operating temperature range and the charger will interrupt until it returns to normal.
I've left the battery on charge overnight and same symptoms this morning, with no power-up on the camera (the red led on the camera doesn't blink when the battery lock handle is turned)
I'm hoping it's just a duff battery and have ordered a replacement anyway, but am worried whether it is the charger and the whole lot has to go back.
Operating voltages shouldn't be an issue, although it was bought from the States and using in the UK as the range for the charger and AC-E4 is 100v-240V
Camera still works fine with the AC-E4 adapter...sorry for the lengthy post but thought the background information might be relevant.

NeoTokyo
16th of June 2009 (Tue), 03:59
If you have any local stores I would grab a new LP-E4 from them, charge her up and give her a try too.

Too bad about the old one, remember though. Dont throw it out, recycle it.

-Eric-

Saint728
16th of June 2009 (Tue), 04:07
Use a multimeter and see if there is a charge in your battery. If its flat then its your battery that's shot. If it has a charge in it then its your charger that's shot.

Take Care,
Cheers, Patrick

bachscuttler
16th of June 2009 (Tue), 04:42
Thanks guys.

I've ordered a replacement to give that a try.
If it's the charger I should have 2 good batteries and will send the charger back under warranty.

I will try metering the battery if I can find which pin is which.

MT Stringer
16th of June 2009 (Tue), 20:58
Was this a new camera with all the accessories or a used one?
Just curious. My batteries are good for 2500-3000 shots each.
Mike

bachscuttler
17th of June 2009 (Wed), 01:49
Mike, it was brand new out of the box with all the accessories, imported from the States.
The charger and DC coupler will operate on 100-240v.

New battery arriving today so I will take it from there and hope it isn't the charger.

MDJAK
17th of June 2009 (Wed), 07:32
It isn't unheard of to get a bad battery. Doesn't happen often but it can. I got a bad eneloop (sp?) once. Just wouldn't take a charge.

Anyone around you has the same camera that you can try their battery on your charger?

mark

bachscuttler
17th of June 2009 (Wed), 08:17
Anyone around you has the same camera that you can try their battery on your charger?

mark

Unfortunately not, and I would be reluctant to let anyone try their battery in my suspect charger in case it kills it.

New battery arriving today.
My local Canon Service Centre advised me that the DC Coupler (mains adapter) and battery use different circuitry and pins when inserted in the camera, so there's still a remote chance it could be the body, but unlikely.

They told me to put the new battery in the camera before charging to ensure it will power up (this will rule out both the body and the battery) , then give it it's 2 hour charge and monitor the LED's on the charger.

If I immediately get the flashing 5 second cycle with the charger LED's then it's the charger.

The camera still works with the DC Coupler, but unfortunately, the lead isn't long enough to reach from my house to the top of mountains for landscape work.

I suppose I could always buy a small diesel generator :lol:

bachscuttler
17th of June 2009 (Wed), 13:27
Looking very promising tonight.

New battery is on charge and the charger lights are behaving as expected.
I'll stick it in the camera after the 2 hour charge and run it for the rest of the night just in case the body is FUBARing the batteries.

Canon...your quality control sucks..£3k camera/£100+ battery and a month and a half wait.

Thanks for all the help/advice in this thread guys ;)