G1 Broken charger pins

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem: one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now. Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around $110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would take on the battery.

Joe, I think the only thing that you will louse if you go to the charger approach is the ability to upgrade your firmware, as you must do this tethered.

Have you tried to charge with the broken pin? The pins are +, -, and ground. Maybe you are lucky and the broken pin is ground which is not critical, it just provides a small amount of safety that is not a major issue as we are talking low voltage.

Morris

G1Joe said:

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem:
one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now.
Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was
on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have
nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another
question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was
wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and
charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around
$110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd
rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of
time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if
it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm
swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when
downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would
take on the battery.

Click to expand...

I don't know what Canon will charge you for this, but if you used a cc to buy the camera you might be able to get it repaired under extended warranty coverage that many credit cards provide. For $100 it might be worth giving them a call.
hope it helps,
vk

G1Joe said:

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem:
one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now.
Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was
on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have
nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another
question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was
wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and
charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around
$110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd
rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of
time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if
it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm
swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when
downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would
take on the battery.

Click to expand...

Why don't you pick up yourself a cf card reader to get those pictures downloaded. It will always come in handy again anyways. For me I prefer to download by placing the cf card into the reader over opening the flimsy, little, subject to fatigue, flap over the Camera to USB connection of my G2.
Mark

G1Joe said:

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem:
one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now.
Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was
on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have
nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another
question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was
wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and
charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around
$110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd
rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of
time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if
it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm
swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when
downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would
take on the battery.

Click to expand...

and forget about the broken pin. If you ever have to install new firmware, just be sure you start out with a fully charged battery.

G1Joe said:

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem:
one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now.
Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was
on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have
nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another
question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was
wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and
charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around
$110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd
rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of
time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if
it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm
swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when
downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would
take on the battery.

Click to expand...

Gus, have you successfully upgraded the firmware on battery power? There have been a few reports of dead cameras after trying this. I’m not saying you are wrong, just trying to learn if it is possible.

Morris

Gus Stangeland said:

G1Joe said:

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem:
one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now.
Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was
on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have
nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another
question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was
wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and
charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around
$110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd
rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of
time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if
it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm
swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when
downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would
take on the battery.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

No, I have not. But it's hard for me to imagine that a firmware update would totally drain a fully charged battery. I can take over 200 pictures, ALL with using the LCD as the viewfinder, and having the display-after-taking enabled. I suspect that people that ended up with dead cameras did NOT have their battery fully charged to begin with. (If they didn't read the instructions about being sure to connect the charger, they probably didn't think to have their battery fully charged.)

But, that's my opinion, you may be right. We, who do NOT have broken pins SHOULD connect that charger whenever we do a firmware update. Why take an unecessary risk, even if it could be very minor.

But for the guy with the broken pin that wants to do an update, it's a different situation. He can decide to send the camera back to Canon for the firmware update, or he can fully charge his battery and give it a try. Chances are it will work, then he goes back to enjoying his camera. If it doesn't work, he sends it in to get the firmware installed. So what does he have to lose?

morris said:

Morris

Gus Stangeland said:

G1Joe said:

I've had my G1 for 1 1/2 years now, and ran into my first problem:
one of the 3 pins for charging broke off so I can't recharge now.
Fortunately, it happened after a full charge and, even though I was
on vacation, I was able to shoot 100+ RAW images and still have
nearly full battery left (how I'm going to download them is another
question).

Before I take it to the local camera shop (Ritz) to fix, I was
wondering if it might be better to buy a spare battery and
charger-- a LIC511 and Mach1 sounds like it would run me around
$110 from batterybarn.

Has anyone had this problem and know the cost of repair? I'd
rather not go through the hassle of having someone spend a lot of
time to tell me it's going to cost $150 to fix these pins, but if
it's $50, it might be cheaper to fix.

Also, will I need the camera charger for anything else if I'm
swapping batteries? I always plug in the camera charger when
downloading files via USB so I don't know how much drain that would
take on the battery.

Click to expand...

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