HELP! EX1 will not power up on BP battery

[Ronn Kilby]

Inserting 2 week old fully charged Sony BP-U60 and BP-U30 batteries - unit will not power up. It WILL power up fine using the power supply connected to DC in or either of 2 other batteries (Anton Bauer or Tekkeon) connected to DC in jack. I tried a full reset to see if there was some setting that got turned on but no change. Is there a fuse somewhere?

[Brian Cassar]

Try putting the batteries on charge even for just 30 minutes and try again. It seems that either the batteries have suddenly lost all their charge or maybe somehow they have shut down.

[Ronn Kilby]

Originally Posted by Brian Cassar

Try putting the batteries on charge even for just 30 minutes and try again. It seems that either the batteries have suddenly lost all their charge or maybe somehow they have shut down.

I'm charging the crap out of them and no go. They both show 19v+ with multimeter.

[Dave Morrison]

19+ volts? Shouldn't they be closer to 12v?

[Brian Cassar]

Ronn, I think 19V+ is a bit too much. Pro cameras can take up to 16V but 19V is pushing the limit. Did you try to take a reading from the AB or Tekkeon batteries following a full charge?

[Ronn Kilby]

Originally Posted by Brian Cassar

Ronn, I think 19V+ is a bit too much. Pro cameras can take up to 16V but 19V is pushing the limit. Did you try to take a reading from the AB or Tekkeon batteries following a full charge?

They're both putting out 12-14volts. The Power Supply is putting out 12v. Now checking the sony batteries, they're up to 20-21v. They both show "full" 4 green lights when you push the "check" button. I wonder if my charger's screwie. I'm going to let them sit a few hours and see if they drop down to 14v and try em again.

I am dreading decending into B&H/Sony Warrantee Hell. Glad I checked it today instead of at the shoot tomorrow.

[Ross Herewini]

If your camera doesn't have the battery discharge fix, then leave the battery on the camera, and it will discharge it down to a level that may work. It may take more than a couple of hours to do this.

Have you tried removing and replacing the lithium ion battery on the bottom of the camera to ensure a complete reset?

[Ronn Kilby]

Originally Posted by Ross Herewini

If your camera doesn't have the battery discharge fix, then leave the battery on the camera, and it will discharge it down to a level that may work. It may take more than a couple of hours to do this.

Have you tried removing and replacing the lithium ion battery on the bottom of the camera to ensure a complete reset?

Thanks for the reply Ross - what exactly is the "battery discharge fix?" I did try removing and replacing the backup battery and did a complete reset. I'll try leaving the battery on the camera, but since it doesn't even "see" it I doubt that will do anything.

[George Strother]

Ronn

Just topped up a BP-U60. It measures 16 volts right off the charger, with charger showing steady green. My EX1 powers up with no complaints.

20 - 21 battery volts shouldn't be possible unless the charger or your meter is malfunctioning. If the charger is overcharging, the batteries may be damaged too.

[Ronn Kilby]

Originally Posted by George Strother

Ronn

Just topped up a BP-U60. It measures 16 volts right off the charger, with charger showing steady green. My EX1 powers up with no complaints.

20 - 21 battery volts shouldn't be possible unless the charger or your meter is malfunctioning. If the charger is overcharging, the batteries may be damaged too.

George - thanks for taking the time to check that. If you have a minute tonight, give me a call at 619.794.7188.

[Alex Dolgin]

Originally Posted by Ronn Kilby

I'm charging the crap out of them and no go. They both show 19v+ with multimeter.

It is impossible. The battery can not generate more then 16.8V. If the charger is faulty (higher voltage than should be), the battery would protect itself above about 17V. It is your meter that is giving you wrong information.
Your problem might have something to do with the battery not making connection to the camera.

[Ross Herewini]

Originally Posted by Ronn Kilby

Thanks for the reply Ross - what exactly is the "battery discharge fix?" I did try removing and replacing the backup battery and did a complete reset. I'll try leaving the battery on the camera, but since it doesn't even "see" it I doubt that will do anything.

The EX1 had a fault where leaving a battery attached to the camera would discharge the battery even though the camera was in the "OFF" position. If left on the camera for more than a couple of days, it would completely discharge. Some cameras I have heard have been fixed with the replacement of a board in the camera, and I would imagine the newer ones have had the fix at the factory. Mine is not one of them. I was suggesting to you a way of removing the excess charge from the battery if you had no other way.

Another suggestion might be to try rigging up a small camera light to the battery, keep the wattage of the bulb right down say no more than 20W, as you may damage the battery if the drain is too high.

Does sound like the battery had been overcharged, especially when as Alex Dolgin says max for the battery is 16.8v.

I wonder if the camera has an over voltage limiter, that stops it from powering up if the voltage is too high? This would give relief to many who are trying to power the camera by external means other than the charger.

Further to what Alex said, and not telling you how to suck eggs, but have you checked that the battery is connected properly, it needs to be inserted then moved to the left to lock in place.

[Ronn Kilby]

Originally Posted by Ross Herewini

The EX1 had a fault where leaving a battery attached to the camera would discharge the battery even though the camera was in the "OFF" position. If left on the camera for more than a couple of days, it would completely discharge. Some cameras I have heard have been fixed with the replacement of a board in the camera, and I would imagine the newer ones have had the fix at the factory. Mine is not one of them. I was suggesting to you a way of removing the excess charge from the battery if you had no other way.

Another suggestion might be to try rigging up a small camera light to the battery, keep the wattage of the bulb right down say no more than 20W, as you may damage the battery if the drain is too high.

Does sound like the battery had been overcharged, especially when as Alex Dolgin says max for the battery is 16.8v.

I wonder if the camera has an over voltage limiter, that stops it from powering up if the voltage is too high? This would give relief to many who are trying to power the camera by external means other than the charger.

Further to what Alex said, and not telling you how to suck eggs, but have you checked that the battery is connected properly, it needs to be inserted then moved to the left to lock in place.

I assume that since it is a 2 week old camera, it includes the "battery drain solution" so there may be something to that. Yes, battery is connected properly. Exactly as it was the previous 50 times over the last 2 weeks, when I had no problems. I think it's a bad charger. I am hoping to try nearby George's charger and/or battery to narrow the problem down to camera, charger or (less likely) battery - although if charger is bad, batteries could be bad now as well. I see no way battery connection to charger can be bad - it is very positive with "click." The reassuring thing is that the camera works fine with alternate power. I just can't work that way except in an emergency. So now I go back to my "B" camera.

Tomorrow, a nice glass of wine and a long chat with B&H and Sony. AArrrgghh.

[Ronn Kilby]

Update: Thanks to George Strother, I now know my volt meter was wrong, so disregard that 19-21 volts part. My batteries are fine, fully charged and functional (on his camera) and the charger is good too. His batteries (also fully charged and functional) will not run my camera either. Which means something went south inside the camera where the battery connects.

I have a call in to B&H now, we'll see how long before they follow up.

[Ronn Kilby]

Absolutely nothing from B&H. This is a 30 day old camera. Sending to Sony Repair in San Jose tomorrow. Stay tuned.