Possible EN-EL3e problem...?

D_Fivehundred

D_Fivehundred

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Darren
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Had my D90 since about April last year, bought new from LCE. It now has around 6200 actuations.

I've noticed recently that the battery charger LED flashes when charging, but instead of being on constantly when fully charged, it just goes off. I usually switch the charger off and on again and the LED starts to flash, but then 5 minutes later it goes off again.

Last time I did this I put the battery in the camera and it should around 85% charge... although initially, for the first second or two the lcd showed just one bar in the battery meter...?

Anyone else have any experiences like this, or is my battery on the way out, or could it be the charger?

I'd also be interested to know more on battery conditioning.. is there a way of fully draining the battery without just firing off hundreds of shots..? If I just left in on the charger with the power switched off, would this discharge it..?

Thanks all :)
 
There should be a 'refresh' setting on the charger - The ones for the EN-EL4 and 4a have this as did the batteries for the D1, D1x D2x etc...

The 'one-bar' thing on putting a new battery in is common to all my cameras as well, so don't worry about that.

6000 actuations is nothing - a typical day's shooting for some Pros in fact - it sounds like there's a problem with the charger rather than the battery.
Try finding someone else with the same charger - or pop back to LCE and explain the problem - this is exactly the reason that physical high-street shops still exist and they should let you try to charge that battery on another charger - if it charges fully then take the charger back for a replacement from them.
 
You should be able to access the battery condition within the camera menu, this will indicate whether the battery is on it's last legs.

"Battery Info" in the "Set Up Menu" (Spanner icon) :thumbs:
 
My charger (MH-18a) for the EN-EL3e has a LED that flashes when charging, but stedies towards the end of the charge.
Note that when the LED stops flashing the batt. is not yet at full charge. You need to leave it on until the batt. cools down.
I don't know the reason for that, but it is what the Nikon insts. say.
 
i mostly drain the battery, you should allways have at least 2

i leave it on the charger another 30 mins at least after the light goes out
 
As far as I recall if the light goes off, it means there is a battery malfunction.
 
arclight said:
My charger (MH-18a) for the EN-EL3e has a LED that flashes when charging, but stedies towards the end of the charge.
Note that when the LED stops flashing the batt. is not yet at full charge. You need to leave it on until the batt. cools down.
I don't know the reason for that, but it is what the Nikon insts. say.
Click to expand...

As far as I can see it says allow to cool after using before charging.
 
Intersting responses, thanks :)

My Father also has a D90 so I'll try his charger first.

I use the menu battery meter to ascertain the 85% charge level... it shows the battery condition as new, or not showing any reduction in its life.

I am awaiting delivery of another battery, so i'll be able to use them both in my grip... hopefully it will run them down one by one!!??

I don't take pictures quick enough for the battery to get hot during use, although I can see the logic in this.

Will have another play around tonight...

Thanks again
 
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