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Digital camera not accepting rechargable batteries
sligorox
15-04-2010
I've got a Canon powershot camera, it's about 2 years old. (I can't remember the exact model, but I can look it up if needed.) It was about £130 at the time, so I realise the answer may be to get a new one, but it was a gift and it does take good photos, so I'd rather not replace it if I don't have to.

It takes AAs, and I used to use rechargables, but recently(ish) it has stopped accepting rechargables. First I thought it was the actual batteries, so I got new ones, they didn't work so i thought it was the charger, I got a new one, but it still doesn't work, so it must be the camera. The camera takes disposable batteries fine, but with rechargables I put them in and am lucky if I manage one shot before the camera says they've run out. If I then put the batteries in another camera they work fine.

Any ideas?
PrinceGaz
15-04-2010
As you've eliminated the batteries and the charger from being faulty by replacing them both and verifying they work in another camera, the only possible problem is with the camera you want to use them in.

Since disposable batteries work okay in that camera but rechargeables are registering as dead almost straightaway suggesting the lower voltage of them is the problem, the best quick and free thing you could try doing would be to clean the battery contacts in the camera with something like isopropyl alcohol on a cotton-bud. It might make no difference, but it won't do any harm and could possibly work (if you're lucky).
chrisjr
15-04-2010
Two things.

Have you changed the type of battery from say NiCad to NiMH. They have different characteristics and that may be confusing the camera.

Also does the camera have a setting to tell it what type of batteries are installed? Some do and if the setting does not match the actual battery the camera can also get confused.

Standard non-rechargable AAs are 1.5V while most rechargables are 1.2V. If the camera thinks there are non-rechargables installed it may think the reduced voltage of rechargables indicates the batteries are on their way out even though they are perfectly healthy.
PrinceGaz
15-04-2010
Good point; I was previously unaware of cameras which have to be told whether they are running on alkalines or NiCd/NiMH cells, and it would be important to set that correctly if it has such a setting.

I don't think that changing from NiCd to NiMH rechargeables would matter as they have almost identical discharge characteristics except NiMH having much higher capacity and lesser capability to handle extreme discharge rates (which a camera will not draw-- by extreme I mean cordless power-tool type loads).
sligorox
16-04-2010
Thanks guys. I'll try cleaning the contacts to start with.

I will also see whether I'm supposed to tell the camera what kind of bettery is being used.
chrisjr
16-04-2010
Originally Posted by PrinceGaz:
“Good point; I was previously unaware of cameras which have to be told whether they are running on alkalines or NiCd/NiMH cells, and it would be important to set that correctly if it has such a setting.

I don't think that changing from NiCd to NiMH rechargeables would matter as they have almost identical discharge characteristics except NiMH having much higher capacity and lesser capability to handle extreme discharge rates (which a camera will not draw-- by extreme I mean cordless power-tool type loads).”

I'm not 100% certain as I don't have my camera with me,, but I have a feeling that buried deep within the menu system there was a setting to tell it I was feeding it rechargeable batteries.

Of course it could all be imaginary But I have certainly seen other kit (not necessarily photographic) that needs to be told what type of battery is being used.
chappie
24-04-2010
Google 1.5 rechargeable batteries,
PrinceGaz
25-04-2010
I've never come across a menu option to tell a device whether it is running off 1.5V alkaline cells or 1.2V NiCad or NiMH rechargeable cells. Normally the device is still able to operate satisfactorily from alkalines when the cell voltage has fallen to 1.2V so it doesn't care which it is running from.

It will probably give an inaccurate battery-life indication if it incorrectly detects the battery type (which is why a device may want to be told which type it is), or to disable a recharging circuit when the device is set to alkalines (or other non-rechargeables).
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