M9 Battery problem?

[TRIago]

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I’ve done some research and couldn’t find this issue I’m having. I’ve found quite a few of battery problems issues online but the one I’ having is the following:

I got two M9 batteries. Bought them together brand new. One of them works like a champ but the other one only charges up until 50%.

I’ve tried charging and using it several times and it is still only charging half way through, meanwhile the other battery charges all the way up until 100%.

The camera is not defective, I use it normally with the good battery (and also with the problematic one, only problem is that the battery doesn’t last that long since it’s only half charged - although the charger says it’s full)

Any ideas?

Thanks!

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[Ko.Fe.]

My only battery from Leica has Made in China on it. I would be surprised if yours is made in Japan. 

[Rus]

I experienced similar problems with two of the batteries I own before. They won't charge to full capacity, at least not so according to the battery level gauge in the camera's info screen, although the charger would show both the green and the orange led lights. 

I didn't notice any significant differences in terms shots per charge between the "faulty" batteries and other normal ones, though. The "faulty" ones will make the camera show a "battery level low" message a lot sooner, but I simply ignored it and continued shooting until the camera showed the final "low battery" message, at which stage it wouldn't fire another shot. 

I suspect that the "half-full" issue might be simply an issue with the camera not recognising the battery level correctly. I read elsewhere before that this could sometimes be rectified by completely draining the battery once or twice before recharging. I had some success with this method before, although it does not seem to work every time. 

Edited June 2, 2019 by Rus

[Photoskeptic]

I’m traveling with my M9P right now and had an interesting battery situation. I carry my spare battery in the charger in a separate plastic bag. The spare battery was charged to 100% before leaving. When It came time to use the spare battery it was dead. I re-charged it and then it was fine. Apparently in some way leaving the spare in the charger discharged the battery. Anyone else experience this problem?

[silverchrome]

20 minutes ago, Photoskeptic said:

I’m traveling with my M9P right now and had an interesting battery situation. I carry my spare battery in the charger in a separate plastic bag. The spare battery was charged to 100% before leaving. When It came time to use the spare battery it was dead. I re-charged it and then it was fine. Apparently in some way leaving the spare in the charger discharged the battery. Anyone else experience this problem?

Haven't experienced this with the M9 (or any other camera) because I don't leave my batteries in the charger once they are charged, but I know it can happen.  Something to do with the circuits being still connected...

[lysardman]

Have a look at my post of May 12. I have exactly the same problem as you. 

 

[AceVentura1986]

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On 6/3/2019 at 3:28 AM, Photoskeptic said:

I’m traveling with my M9P right now and had an interesting battery situation. I carry my spare battery in the charger in a separate plastic bag. The spare battery was charged to 100% before leaving. When It came time to use the spare battery it was dead. I re-charged it and then it was fine. Apparently in some way leaving the spare in the charger discharged the battery. Anyone else experience this problem?

I reverse the battery whenever I carry it in a charger, that way electronic contact is broken. 

[Hanen71]

On 6/2/2019 at 3:11 AM, TRIago said:

I’ve done some research and couldn’t find this issue I’m having. I’ve found quite a few of battery problems issues online but the one I’ having is the following:

I got two M9 batteries. Bought them together brand new. One of them works like a champ but the other one only charges up until 50%.

I’ve tried charging and using it several times and it is still only charging half way through, meanwhile the other battery charges all the way up until 100%.

The camera is not defective, I use it normally with the good battery (and also with the problematic one, only problem is that the battery doesn’t last that long since it’s only half charged - although the charger says it’s full)

Any ideas?

Thanks!

I have had the same issue with my M9 batteries not charging to full power.

You must drain the battery completely every now and then. Usually I leave the camera with display on over night which solves the problem.

[Voigtlanderr2]

So I've had the same issues described and been very frustrated that a battery right off the charger will immediately show low power and die. I purchased a new battery after a couple of years of really not using the camera out of frustration. When I recharged the new battery, same issue. SO I began thinking, maybe the charger itself is at fault, but before buying a replacement I took an exact knife and gently scraped the topped sides of the contacts on the charger that slide into the battery. I took an old battery that I'd given up on and put it on the charger. It fully charged and I used it fro several days only running it down by half, It is still showing nearly half power a few weeks later. I'm of the opinion that insufficient contact due to corrosion on the contacts that just looked like dull brass was my culprit. hope this helps someone. 

[jaapv]

On 6/2/2019 at 5:19 AM, Ko.Fe. said:

My only battery from Leica has Made in China on it. I would be surprised if yours is made in Japan. 

Indonesia, actually 

[jaapv]

2 hours ago, Voigtlanderr2 said:

So I've had the same issues described and been very frustrated that a battery right off the charger will immediately show low power and die. I purchased a new battery after a couple of years of really not using the camera out of frustration. When I recharged the new battery, same issue. SO I began thinking, maybe the charger itself is at fault, but before buying a replacement I took an exact knife and gently scraped the topped sides of the contacts on the charger that slide into the battery. I took an old battery that I'd given up on and put it on the charger. It fully charged and I used it fro several days only running it down by half, It is still showing nearly half power a few weeks later. I'm of the opinion that insufficient contact due to corrosion on the contacts that just looked like dull brass was my culprit. hope this helps someone. 

A puff of contact spray works better. If scraped the roughened surface will corrode very easily again.