Strange Battery Problem

[Scheelings]

I have two original Leica Batteries for the M8. When I load one of them, the power light goes on briefly and then nothing happens. The charger indicates that it is fully charged. If i fiddle around with it for ages, sometimes I can get the main menu screen, but the battery indicator won't turn on and the shutter will not actuate.

The other battery works fine. Has anyone seen this before and is there anything I can do about it short of simply replacing it?

 

[ramosa]

I'm not sure if this would work. But, when you get it working (per your explanation on fiddling around), I would turn off the function that powers down the M8 after so many minutes and simply let the camera sit until the battery's charge dissipates. Then, I'd try to recharge the battery. This simple process helps resolve some problems with the M8/9 batteries. Not sure if it'd work for this specific problem, but couldn't hurt.

 

[Reddot9]

I had a similar problem on a Nikon D700 battery. I attached the two wire leads off an old small Christmas tree light to the two battery terminals with some gaffing tape. The bulb lit and stayed lit for about 2 hours, thus draining the battery completely. Then I re-charged it in the normal manner and it worked fine after that. Maybe it would work here.

RD9

 

[LCT]

I would drain the battery completely as well but it cannot be done into the camera in my experience. Remains always some charge after the camera stops.

 

[Scheelings]

Well I've left the battery in the charger - I suspect this will slowly drain the battery as the LED light is a very faint green. Not sure how long that might take though.

 

[Jim Evidon]

When you drain the battery in camera, not only turn off the auto shut off, but turn the LCD monitor on full time. Believe me, you will get a full discharge. Then, you should be able to get a full charge on the problem battery. if not, then I suggest that perhaps the battery is shot and needs to be replaced.

 

[jaapv]

Well, only if you turn it on again after it has shut down, ignore the "battery low" warning and press "set" and repeat until you reach a point that the camera will not switch on again. Otherwise you will only drain it to about 20% empty. (Which is enough for a recalibration of the communication between battery and battery level readout btw.)

 

[Jim Evidon]

Agreed. I forget to mention that. BTW, remember to reset your menu to auto-shutoff and as for the LCD, to set to review or not depending on your preference. Personally, I leave mine off unless I specifically want to review a shot.

 

[George Blumel]

bygeoerge

bygeoerge

Just returned from a trip to China - using my M8.2 only - had the same battery problem - without any reason - totally dead!
Cleaned the battery terminals on the camera - same problem!
Moved the battery in and out of it's camera receptacle several times and the camera came back to live!
This happened about a dozen times over a three week period - always of course at the most inopportune time.
Contacted Leica who claim complete ignorance - "send it in for a check up and repair"
Ordered a new battery instead!

 

[Scheelings]

After fully discharging the battery as suggested on this forum, and recharging, the battery is now working again 🙂