D90 saying no battery, off then on and OK again

SnappyHappy

SnappyHappy

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Craig
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Guys,

I've been having this problem on the D90 for a little while now.
I've got full batteries (use 2 3rd parties with the mb-d80 grip), snapping away, or even just reviewing a few pics and off she goes with the low battery level on the top display showing empty/1 bar whatever it is...

Switch off and back on and OK again, sometimes will take 2 or 3 attempts to work again but it always does.

This has got to be connections surely, I searched the web and there is talk of SBD (Sudden Battery Death:lol: ) with the D90 but seems to show slightly different symptoms. These batteries are showing as new, fully charged etc, and I get about 700 pics out of each battery which seems OK.

I get it without the grip as well (maye not as much but that could be imagination as the difference is marginal), also using the grip plus AA batteries (trying to rule out 3rd party en-eln whatdoyoumacallthems), 1 battery only and all those combos I can think of.

Got to be the connections inside the body where the battery contacts (or the grip contacts), but doesnt seem to make much difference?

Any ideas, it's happening fairly often now:bang:

Cheers.
 
Last edited:
Good idea, thanks.
A B and L all say 1.0 so i'm guessing not? I'll have a google, cheers
 
Just that version 1.002 seems to be for distortion control (probably just include a few newer lenses)
Firmware upgrades make me nervous (especially with a camera liable to switch off half way :) )
 
The contacts were dirty again on the body, i check this before but i reckon the gunk is actually coming of my 35mm 1.8, cleaned proper and this is the longest camera has stayed on for a long time! ....fingers crossed...
 
SnappyHappy said:
Just that version 1.002 seems to be for distortion control (probably just include a few newer lenses)
Firmware upgrades make me nervous (especially with a camera liable to switch off half way :) )
Click to expand...

The latest lens distortion database firmware (L) is 1.006. As far as I know there have never been any other firmware updates for the D90.

I would first try to get hold of a Nikon EN EL3e battery and try that to eliminate the third party batteries as a cause of the problem.
 
Nikon site says .2 against d90 in the table, but i could be misunderstanding, i hear there has only been one update also.

I know, its just that i never seemed to have the issue until very recently, so was suspecting contacts, but was trying to put 2 and 2 together and this 'must' mean battery/body contacts rather than lens (!)

Not helping as i just bought a) a grip, b) a new battery, c) a flash (even thinking something is shorting) getting a pattern going has been a mare too many variables recently changed :)

Thanks for replying if it is firmware i'll check out your .6 suggestion - cheers.
 
Cheers sphinx, yeah tried before....camera still on i wouldnt have got 5 photos this morning it was that bad, so looking good!!

Was a mare with new grip, potential extra 2 battery sockets to go wrong plus a new 'rip off' battery :) even put the aa batteries in....swapping the lot in every combination.

I like to think my gear is spotless, but obviously not - not quite 'how clean is your house' but still... :)
 
other have the same problem .

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikond90club/discuss/72157610233869526/?search=MB-D80

there is a cardboard fix you can try :

IMG_0440.jpg
 
SnappyHappy said:
Guys,

I've been having this problem on the D90 for a little while now.
I've got full batteries (use 2 3rd parties with the mb-d80 grip), snapping away, or even just reviewing a few pics and off she goes with the low battery level on the top display showing empty/1 bar whatever it is...

Switch off and back on and OK again, sometimes will take 2 or 3 attempts to work again but it always does.

This has got to be connections surely, I searched the web and there is talk of SBD (Sudden Battery Death:lol: ) with the D90 but seems to show slightly different symptoms. These batteries are showing as new, fully charged etc, and I get about 700 pics out of each battery which seems OK.

I get it without the grip as well (maye not as much but that could be imagination as the difference is marginal), also using the grip plus AA batteries (trying to rule out 3rd party en-eln whatdoyoumacallthems), 1 battery only and all those combos I can think of.

Got to be the connections inside the body where the battery contacts (or the grip contacts), but doesnt seem to make much difference?

Any ideas, it's happening fairly often now:bang:

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a well known and acknowledged (by Nikon) problem, which is dead easy to remedy. Remove the grip and take a look at the centre battery contact pad. There should be a nice clear mark somewhere near the middle where the pin (actually spring loaded, pointed blade) in the body makes contact. What you might find is that the contact mark is close to, or actually at the edge of, the pad. If that's the case then just carefully adjust the body pin to centralise it again and hey presto! No more problems.

The middle contact is the battery sense which the body uses to gauge the amount of charge remaining.

Hope that helps :)
 
Thanks all - just happenee twice again ladt half hour.

I'll try your suggestion Bristolian :)

Let you know how it goes, cheers....

As an aside, how odd does it feel to use a camera without a grip now? :)
 
See what you mean, the older battery (used pre grip) the middle contact marks have been seen left slightly toward the edge.

Made adjustment, lets see how it goes....really irritating little problem. Cost me a dew good photos today :(
 
Hi Bristolian,

I dont think i've sorted it, but i do think that's the issue.

Getting the pin in the position (and sort if staying) there proves tricky

Had a weekend of not using the grip plus using my 3rd party (so newer, and unknown quality) and no issues.

Definately what you say it is, also hearing people usining tin foil around the pin to increase connectivity. My pin seems very stubborn :). One way is easy to bend, the other (the way i need it) is tricky

Cheers
 
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