GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used at DVinfo.net

Chad Haufschild · August 27th, 2011, 05:40 PM

I'm suddenly getting the message "This battery cannot be used" when I power up. I'm using the proper Panasonic battery. I've tried both the one it came with and two other batteries I have access to at work. I've cleaned the contacts on the batteries and the camera contacts to the best of my abilities.

As it is I can't access anything before the camera powers off automatically. I've done some searching over the last few days on this forum and elsewhere on the web. It's seems this issue has come up occasionally for others but no one has a good fix for it other than sending in to the factory service center.

Anyone have a suggestion/fix for this issue?

Thanks.

Larry Kelly · August 28th, 2011, 08:45 AM

This is a long shot not knowing what the issue is but I have solved similar problems with other cameras and electronic devices by treating all contacts with Stabilant 22. You can buy this at some electronic supply houses, not Radio Shack but commercial suppliers. Or you can contact them directly from their website. It is a good product to have on hand and will prevent and or cure many problems related to dodgy connections.

Larry

Tim Akin · August 28th, 2011, 11:16 AM

Can a factory reset be done on these cameras?? Do you have an AC adapter?

Jeff Harper · August 28th, 2011, 12:49 PM

I have a GH2 that got weird on me and I researched how to do a factory reset, and from what I remember finding it is a deep dark secret, and I never came up with the method needed to do it. It is done, I believe, by pushing buttons in some particular order, and holding one down while you push another, some such thing.

If anyone has found out how, please do tell us. I ended up sending mine to the factory anyway.

Chad Haufschild · August 28th, 2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Kelly

This is a long shot not knowing what the issue is but I have solved similar problems with other cameras and electronic devices by treating all contacts with Stabilant 22. Larry

Nice suggestion, Larry. Even if it doesn't do the job, it sounds like a must have product for guys like me how do some of there own electronics repair and PC building. Cool stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Akin

Can a factory reset be done on these cameras?? Do you have an AC adapter?

I don't have an AC adapter. I've considered picking one up in the past but found I'm never really in a situation where using one during a shoot made much sense. I can see where you're going with this. Might be worth testing before spending the $275 with the factory service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

... I researched how to do a factory reset, and from what I remember finding it is a deep dark secret, and I never came up with the method needed to do it. It is done, I believe, by pushing buttons in some particular order, and holding one down while you push another, some such thing.
If anyone has found out how, please do tell us...

That's what I'm thinking, too. I've considered cracking the case open to see if there's some kind of reset jumper or battery or something. I really don't want to have to do that with this rig. I may just bite the bullet and spend the money.

Jeff, did it cost you $275 for the fix. That's what the Panny rep told me it would cost.

Thanks.

Tim Akin · August 29th, 2011, 08:27 AM

Chad, make sure you research this one more time before sending it in. I read somewhere, during all my research of the GH2, that some folks were getting "This battery cannot be used" when in a certain mode, sorry can't remember more than that, but you should be able to find out with a little goggling. I know it was in one of the other forums.

Jeff Harper · August 29th, 2011, 08:40 AM

Chad, GH2 comes with AC adapter when new. I don't use mine anyway.

Panasonic probably feels your error is the result of using an aftermarket battery or that camera got damp somehow. Dampness will cause this error according to reports on the web.

They charged me nothing for my repair, I needed a new circuit board in my camera, and it was covered under warranty. If your repair is needed due to defect of the camera, it should be done at no charge.

Chad Haufschild · August 29th, 2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Akin

I read somewhere, during all my research of the GH2, that some folks were getting "This battery cannot be used" when in a certain mode, sorry can't remember more than that, but you should be able to find out with a little goggling. I know it was in one of the other forums.

Hi, Tim. Yeah, I saw that, too, but it was a menu accessible mode and I can't even get into the menu before it powers off. Besides, I hadn't changed any menu settings between working fine and the error message.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Chad, GH2 comes with AC adapter when new. I don't use mine anyway.

Panasonic probably feels your error is the result of using an aftermarket battery or that camera got damp somehow. Dampness will cause this error according to reports on the web.

They charged me nothing for my repair, I needed a new circuit board in my camera, and it was covered under warranty. If your repair is needed due to defect of the camera, it should be done at no charge.

Jeff, that's interesting that you got an AC adapter in your kit. I didn't. The kit purchased for work didn't come with one either. They were body only kits so battery, charger, cables and manuals were the only thing in the box. Perhaps it's different with a lens kit.

I'm definitely using the proper batteries and other than a particularly humid few weeks in August, I can't think of when this thing got wet. It's out of warranty unfortunately.

Thanks for the help, guys. Keep those ideas coming.

Tim Akin · August 29th, 2011, 01:55 PM

Hey Jeff, mine didn't come with the AC adapter. Cost about 50 bucks for the piece that goes in the battery compartment and the AC cord, two different parts.

Jeff Harper · August 29th, 2011, 02:26 PM

Mine didn't either, I am sadly mistaken. The three GH1s that I bought came with the ac adapters, not the GH2, sorry, I was confused.

Tim, I bought my adapter for $14 or something, it was very inexpensive at Adorama (and it was OEM). I imagine you got yours from Ebay? The adapters may cost a bit more now, but I'm glad I didn't pay too much, I never have used it.

Ervin Farkas · July 30th, 2014, 04:14 PM

Anybody ever solved this error mystery?

My wife has a DMC-ZS6, excellent point and shoot camera and it now comes up with the same error: "This battery cannot be used". Purchased an original used battery, same error. Purchased a new after market battery, same error. Called Pana, all they could tell me is to send it in to McAllen TX to their factory service.

As I understand only after some software upgrade the camera should no longer recognize after market batteries, I have never upgraded the software.

August 27th, 2011, 05:40 PM	#1
Chad Haufschild Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 162	GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used I'm suddenly getting the message "This battery cannot be used" when I power up. I'm using the proper Panasonic battery. I've tried both the one it came with and two other batteries I have access to at work. I've cleaned the contacts on the batteries and the camera contacts to the best of my abilities. As it is I can't access anything before the camera powers off automatically. I've done some searching over the last few days on this forum and elsewhere on the web. It's seems this issue has come up occasionally for others but no one has a good fix for it other than sending in to the factory service center. Anyone have a suggestion/fix for this issue? Thanks.

August 28th, 2011, 08:45 AM	#2
Larry Kelly Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 61	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used This is a long shot not knowing what the issue is but I have solved similar problems with other cameras and electronic devices by treating all contacts with Stabilant 22. You can buy this at some electronic supply houses, not Radio Shack but commercial suppliers. Or you can contact them directly from their website. It is a good product to have on hand and will prevent and or cure many problems related to dodgy connections. Larry

August 28th, 2011, 11:16 AM	#3
Tim Akin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 414	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used Can a factory reset be done on these cameras?? Do you have an AC adapter? __________________ Tim

August 28th, 2011, 12:49 PM	#4
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used I have a GH2 that got weird on me and I researched how to do a factory reset, and from what I remember finding it is a deep dark secret, and I never came up with the method needed to do it. It is done, I believe, by pushing buttons in some particular order, and holding one down while you push another, some such thing. If anyone has found out how, please do tell us. I ended up sending mine to the factory anyway. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

August 29th, 2011, 08:27 AM	#6
Tim Akin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 414	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used Chad, make sure you research this one more time before sending it in. I read somewhere, during all my research of the GH2, that some folks were getting "This battery cannot be used" when in a certain mode, sorry can't remember more than that, but you should be able to find out with a little goggling. I know it was in one of the other forums. __________________ Tim

August 29th, 2011, 08:40 AM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used Chad, GH2 comes with AC adapter when new. I don't use mine anyway. Panasonic probably feels your error is the result of using an aftermarket battery or that camera got damp somehow. Dampness will cause this error according to reports on the web. They charged me nothing for my repair, I needed a new circuit board in my camera, and it was covered under warranty. If your repair is needed due to defect of the camera, it should be done at no charge. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

August 29th, 2011, 01:55 PM	#9
Tim Akin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 414	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used Hey Jeff, mine didn't come with the AC adapter. Cost about 50 bucks for the piece that goes in the battery compartment and the AC cord, two different parts. __________________ Tim

August 29th, 2011, 02:26 PM	#10
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used Mine didn't either, I am sadly mistaken. The three GH1s that I bought came with the ac adapters, not the GH2, sorry, I was confused. Tim, I bought my adapter for $14 or something, it was very inexpensive at Adorama (and it was OEM). I imagine you got yours from Ebay? The adapters may cost a bit more now, but I'm glad I didn't pay too much, I never have used it. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described." Last edited by Jeff Harper; August 29th, 2011 at 10:55 PM.

July 30th, 2014, 04:14 PM	#11
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Re: GH2 ERROR - This battery cannot be used Anybody ever solved this error mystery? My wife has a DMC-ZS6, excellent point and shoot camera and it now comes up with the same error: "This battery cannot be used". Purchased an original used battery, same error. Purchased a new after market battery, same error. Called Pana, all they could tell me is to send it in to McAllen TX to their factory service. As I understand only after some software upgrade the camera should no longer recognize after market batteries, I have never upgraded the software. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com