M6 battery problem

[jreitner]

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I'm on an assignment here in eastern europe and my m6's batteries needed changing, i normally use a varta DL1/3, but the other photographer with me only had 2 SR44s and I was hiding my camera so naturally i didn't bring my bag . I loaded the SR44s and everything was fine. When i got home that night I threw in a DL 1/3 and it didn't work. I figured it was just a bum battery then I tried 12 more I had and none of them worked. Does anyone know what's going on?

 

 

They went through an airport xray, but so did the one I had in the camera that worked fine for the first month. could it be the coating on the SR-44? I'm at a loss and all my spares have always been DL 1/3- I've never encountered this problem before.

[rubenkok]

Hi jreitner,

Did you check the contacts ?

Maybe this is some help:

m6-battery-question

 

regards

Ruben

[jreitner]

The contacts seem fine but i'll give them a clean anyway, the funny thing about this is that another set of SR44s i was able to acquire worked in the camera fine. Its seems its only the 1/3s that don't work now.

 

 

Can anyone recommend the best way to clean the contacts?- given the place i'm in supplies are VERY limited-

[richam]

If the M6 still works with the SR44s, sounds like a mechanical problem with the contacts. They may need a bit more tension, having been bent back a bit by the pair of SR44s. Are the DL 1/3n batteries loose in the compartment? If so, GENTLY bending the cover contact up a bit may solve the problem.

 

BTW, I always use an inexpensive voltmeter to check and verify batteries. It really helps with troubleshooting problems like this.

[elmarman]

When I put my M6 away for any period of time I always put the shutter onto 'B'as then if the shutter release is pressed in the bag the LED will not come on and drain the batteries- I had that trouble just after I bought it secondhand,the batteries went dead.

[jreitner]

its a ttl with the off switch and I know the batteries aren't dead. I don't have the drainage problem most people seem to have. My batteries usually last a good 20-25 rolls.

[jreitner]

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If the M6 still works with the SR44s, sounds like a mechanical problem with the contacts. They may need a bit more tension, having been bent back a bit by the pair of SR44s. Are the DL 1/3n batteries loose in the compartment? If so, GENTLY bending the cover contact up a bit may solve the problem.

 

BTW, I always use an inexpensive voltmeter to check and verify batteries. It really helps with troubleshooting problems like this.

 

I'll try this when i get back to germany. I don't have any tools around me to do this gently, but it does feel like there's enough tension.

[rubenkok]

Hi,

Here is some more info on BATTERY CONTACTS:

KODAK: Super 8mm Film General Tips

 

 

BATTERIES AND ELECTRICAL CONTACTS

Many cameras need batteries--for built-in flash, exposure meters, or electric motors. So it's quite important that you test our batteries and clean the battery and camera contacts periodically.

 

If the contacts in your equipment are difficult to reach with a cloth, clean them with a water-dampened cotton swab. Some batteries have a battery compartment with contacts on the underside of a sliding door or on the sides of the compartment. There's no easy way to reach these contacts, but you can clean them by opening and closing the battery-compartment door several times with the batteries in place. The friction is enough to clean the contacts. Never use anything rough, like sandpaper, emery cloth, or a nail file, to clean the contacts. These will remove the plating on modern electrical contacts.

 

If your camera will be idle for some time, remove the batteries to prevent corrosion damage. Storing batteries in a freezer will extend battery life. Be sure to wrap them in plastic to protect against moisture.

 

Sometimes the spring tension of the contacts might be too weak to provide good battery contact. If so, adjust the tension by bending the contacts slightly with a nail file or small screwdriver so that the batteries are held firmly in place. Recessed contacts can be lifted with a hook made from a paper clip.

 

 

Or: Clean Your Camera

 

Clean the Battery Contacts

 

I thought that finding minor corrosion on battery contacts was a thing of the past, but I recently encountered not one, but two different cameras in which the metal contacts had corroded slightly from long-term exposure to a battery. How do you get rid of such grime? With a $50 Battery Contact Cleaning Kit, you ask? No, with a pencil eraser: Gently "erase" the corrosion. But be careful, you don't want to remove the metallic coating on the contacts. Keep in mind that the eraser is a mild abrasive; that's how it can remove the corrosion. You can also blast dust and grime out of the compartment with your compressed air.

 

Maybe this is some help

regards

Ruben

[richam]

I'll try this when i get back to germany. I don't have any tools around me to do this gently, but it does feel like there's enough tension.

 

An alternate idea. Fold a small piece of foil several times to provide extra spacing and tension, and install between the battery and cover.

[phc]

I had a problem like this years ago. I used to carry a small plastic box full of spare batteries with me, about six of them, taken out of their wrappings so as to fit in the box easily. When I came to use them they had all drained, as if they had drained each other by being in close proximity. Now I always carry my spares still in their wrapping, and haven't had a problem since.

 

Cheers, P.

[jreitner]

This is what happened. I put the spares in a film can. Thanks so much.

[phc]

I endeavour to give satisfaction, sir.