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M9 Charger died


Burky57

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Mine didn't work straight out of the box. I read online about how some chargers had failed when plugged into an AC outlet but still worked with the cigarette lighter attachment for the car. I tried the car attachment and the charger worked. Out of curiosity I tried the AC outlet again and, lo and behold, it started working. I can't explain why but perhaps the same will work for you. Good luck.

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Anybody recognized the change of suppliers for the Leica batteries and chargers?

 

When I bought my M9 new in June, I was a bit surprised by the illogical arrangement of the battery insertion design of the M9 charger and compared it with the compact charger of my M8.2.

 

The M8.2 charger allows literally to "throw" the battery in and lock it securely.

The M9 charger allows insertion of the battery only from the front, properly aligning the battery.

 

I then looked further and found, that the M9 charger and battery, that came with my camera from the official Leica store in Paris is made by the Chinese company Pisen.

 

Guangdong Pisen Electronics Co., Ltd. - China Manufacturer, China Supplier, China Exporter

 

Pisen is a major battery and charger manufacturer in China/ Guangdong province, majorly known in China mainland, to supply OEM and cheap alternative batteries and chargers for all different small electronic appliance.

 

The third party charger and batteries, I bought for my EPSON R-D1 for cheap back then were from Pisen.

I had to buy three Pisen chargers, to find one, that actually works.

It then died after a few weeks - the batteries work ok though.

 

Who was the manufacturer of the Leica M8 charger and batteries?

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Ansmann is the maker of the original "brick" charger for the M8. Mark Norton dissected one. It looked like the inside was put together by a twelve year old with his first soldering iron.

The M 9 charger I got was the same as the M 8.2. A small one and the battery slides in on the side. It is rather nice. Has it changed again?

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Ansmann is the maker of the original "brick" charger for the M8. Mark Norton dissected one. It looked like the inside was put together by a twelve year old with his first soldering iron.

The M 9 charger I got was the same as the M 8.2. A small one and the battery slides in on the side. It is rather nice. Has it changed again?

 

I don't have my new M9 charger not handy (boxed and stored).

 

I have a compact M8.2 charger Model No: 9994025

Leica Order No: 14470

It is made by ANSMANN and is written "Made in China" on the label.

 

This charger came with my M8.2.

 

 

My M9, bought in 06/2011 (was not long on stock in the shop, but recent production) came with a charger, that has the same out side shape and design.

It has two differences though:

 

The battery can't be put inside half way from the top, as the two "rails" on the side, securing the battery from flipping out of the charger have been changed in design.

You have to precisely line up the batter from the side and insert it from the side.

 

The label on the bottom states, that the charger is produced by Pisen.

 

I dislike the new design (more fiddly).

 

I don't have facts, but suppose, that the older charger (brick) also is produced in Guangdong/ China (as most of the electronic consumer goods these days anyway).

 

The battery, that came with my M9 is also slightly different from the 4 other batteries, I bought fro the M8.2.

the M8 batteries have their inscription molded including model no. and recycling logo.

They have a crude "don't throw into the trash" sticker on the contact side.

 

The M9 battery has a small sticker with item information on the contact side and a big sticker on the flat side instead of the former molded inscription, showing recycling, trash, CE logos.

 

As Pisen is one of the larger battery and charger manufacturers in China and is producing the new M9 charger, I strongly suspect, Leica has also shifted battery production to Pisen as supplier (if Pisen was not already the manufacturer, contracted by ANSMANN).

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Just to add:

as previously written, I do use a batch of Pisen NP-80 batteries in my EPSON R-D1, which in fact do work great.

Quality of the batteries, once handpicked a good batch is ok - no issues with performance.

Quality of the Pisen brand battery chargers, I used so far is not consistent (several for different formats, as I live in Shanghai and buy a lot of local stuff).

 

Most Pisen chargers broke down, just stopped charging.

All have issues with fit and finish (design issues included with mechanical failures).

 

All main brands, I have looked into do produce their battery chargers/ ballasts, etc … entirely in China.

This is nothing unusal and nothing bad, as long, as quality is managed in the scope of the manufacturers sense.

 

I level Leica's approach to quality as one of the highest in the market (besides niggles on high level here on the forum).

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  • 8 months later...
Mine didn't work straight out of the box. I read online about how some chargers had failed when plugged into an AC outlet but still worked with the cigarette lighter attachment for the car. I tried the car attachment and the charger worked. Out of curiosity I tried the AC outlet again and, lo and behold, it started working. I can't explain why but perhaps the same will work for you. Good luck.

 

I've just gone to use mine again after some months without use due to my M9 being away at Solms for a sensor replacement. Suddenly it's not working with the AC plug but I just tried it with a DC power supply in the other socket and like you that is still working. Mine is an Ansmann 9994025 charger!

I've just looked on Ebay and these things sell for around £160! :eek:

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I've just gone to use mine again after some months without use due to my M9 being away at Solms for a sensor replacement. Suddenly it's not working

 

If you are in London at all in the near future take the charger into the Mayfair shop and tell them it is broken. Anecdotal evidence suggests they will swap it for a new one.

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Try one of these

 

Delkin Universal Dual Battery Charger with UK plug: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

along with a set of these (you get 2 in a pack).

 

Delkin Universal Charger Plates for Leica M8/M9 Battery: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

Cheaper than the Leica charger and you can charge 2 batteries at once - so good for travel too. Very happy with mine.

 

Hi Phil,

 

i have a real quick query regarding the delkin dual charger,I purchased one about a month ago from a camera shop in New York while on a weekend break but did'nt get chance to use it until i returned to the UK.

When i plug the unit in to the mains all the leds light up as if in test mode but when i put my batteries in only the 25% led comes on and stays on for approx 2 hours on both sides of the charger before going off.When i put the batteries into the leica charger its basically laughs and says already fully charged.

I rang Delkin to say my charging lights did'nt work correctly and eventually Delkin in the UK sent me a replacement unit..However that unit also is doing the same thing,all leds come on when 1st plugged into the mains so i know they all work but when i put the batteries into this unit the same thing happens...no led charging lights at all....does your unit do the same thing..???? It seems to charge the batteries all ok and they are original leica ones and it does'nt matter if the batteries are fully charged or completely empty charge only the 1 led works....so its just a minor niggle i suppose.

 

thanks in advance.

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Hi Phil,

 

i have a real quick query regarding the delkin dual charger,I purchased one about a month ago from a camera shop in New York while on a weekend break but did'nt get chance to use it until i returned to the UK.

When i plug the unit in to the mains all the leds light up as if in test mode but when i put my batteries in only the 25% led comes on and stays on for approx 2 hours on both sides of the charger before going off.When i put the batteries into the leica charger its basically laughs and says already fully charged.

I rang Delkin to say my charging lights did'nt work correctly and eventually Delkin in the UK sent me a replacement unit..However that unit also is doing the same thing,all leds come on when 1st plugged into the mains so i know they all work but when i put the batteries into this unit the same thing happens...no led charging lights at all....does your unit do the same thing..???? It seems to charge the batteries all ok and they are original leica ones and it does'nt matter if the batteries are fully charged or completely empty charge only the 1 led works....so its just a minor niggle i suppose.

 

thanks in advance.

 

Well, I must confess I could not say for sure as up until now I have just put the batteries in and walked away to return to a fully charged battery either the next day or a few hours later. But now you mention it, I have only ever seen the 25% led come on and whenever i return all the lights are out and so I suspect mine does behave exactly as yours does.

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I appreciate Phil posting the information on the Delkin charger, and IMHO no M8 or M9 user should be without a backup, especially on holiday. All chargers can and do occasionally fail, and as this has the potential to render your Leica little more than a paperweight I always bring a backup along. At first I considered this necessary because of where I live, but I have found that even in the more populous corners of the world an M8/M9 charger isn't necessarily something you can just pop into a camera shop (even a Leica Store) and buy.

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I still use just the compact Leica charger, that came with my M8.2.

I didn't even unpack the M9 charger, when I bought the camera last year - have to try it now it seems.

 

The M8.2 charger works flawless since many, many charges of a total of 7 batteries, which I cycle through this very unit.

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