The Problem With Batteries.

I own a Nikon D5000 with about 6 Lithium Ion batteries. Two are the official Nikon ones and 5 are 3rd party. Most of them including one of the Nikon ones are corroding. By corrosion, I mean there being a visible brown strip on the metal contacts where it physically connects to the camera. I have had problems when charging them specifically. They stop charging abruptly until I clean them throughly. (Sometimes, this happens again despite my best efforts to wipe them off.)

I place them all in my camera bag with no liquids whatsoever. Is it still safe to use them or will there be liquid spewing out of them soon enough? What's the best possible way to avoid corrosion in the future?

Thanks.

I have Olympus equipment with 6 batteries---2 OEM, 3 third-party, and the 6th is actually a battery holder that allows me to use CR123As. None of them are corroding in the slightest.

If it were only the third-party batts corroding, I'd guess you got some cheap ones that used some metal that was inadvisable for batteries.

Maybe you live in an area with really high humidity? You can get desiccant to help absorb moisture from the air.

http://www.google.com/products?q=desiccant&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

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Gear listed in profile under "plan."

Someone stop me before I buy again, please!
Dave

I use a very small amount of WD40 applied with a small artists paintbrush.it prevents oxidation of contacts.

One of the official Nikon ones are corroding as well. I have my camera bag in my room and it's not humid there at all.

I'll try the desiccant and the WD40.

Though The WD40 even when applied in small amounts, won't do harm would it? I'm afraid that I would forget having it on and it would get into the camera's innards.

520man said:

I have Olympus equipment with 6 batteries---2 OEM, 3 third-party, and the 6th is actually a battery holder that allows me to use CR123As. None of them are corroding in the slightest.

If it were only the third-party batts corroding, I'd guess you got some cheap ones that used some metal that was inadvisable for batteries.

Maybe you live in an area with really high humidity? You can get desiccant to help absorb moisture from the air.

http://www.google.com/products?q=desiccant&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf

--
Gear listed in profile under "plan."

Someone stop me before I buy again, please!
Dave

Click to expand...

Oh yes, forgot to mention that my batteries go unused for months at a time. Could that be the problem?

I have read in several places not to mix brands of batteries. In addition, if your camera uses 5 batteries, always keep the same batteries together. For example, perhaps you have 5 other batteries of the same brand as back-up. Do not mix these two groups.

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WSSA Member #281 on 04-23-09

Bits And Bones said:

Oh yes, forgot to mention that my batteries go unused for months at a time. Could that be the problem?

Click to expand...

An old rule is to never keep batteries in items that are stored for long periods of time.

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WSSA Member #281 on 04-23-09

Bits And Bones said:

One of the official Nikon ones are corroding as well. I have my camera bag in my room and it's not humid there at all.

I'll try the desiccant and the WD40.

Though The WD40 even when applied in small amounts, won't do harm would it? I'm afraid that I would forget having it on and it would get into the camera's innards.

Click to expand...

Never heard of using WD40 for that. Are we talking about painting some on just for when it's in storage and removing before inserting it for use, or are we talking about leaving it on? You wouldn't want it building up inside of course so the former sounds better than the latter.

Maybe some battery guru will be along but I wonder if they may be overcharged, i.e. so chock full of electrons that they're more reactive with the air. You might keep this site for future reference...

http://www.bluenook.com/faqs.asp

It says that some batteries have cells made in Japan and others are made in China, and that's what makes the diff in longevity. You can't tell from looking though bc all the battery cases are stamped "Made in China." I've heard of no-name ebay and others' batteries actually exploding in the charger, so third-party issues don't totally surprise me.

As for the desiccant, I'd find some ziplock type bags, the smallest that the battery will fit in. Easier for dessicant to dry out the lesser volume inside of such a bag of course. Maybe the bag itself would simply prevent a lot of the problem. I'd keep one in the battery compartment too, if you don't have a battery in the camera.

Ordinarily I'd also say that you need to keep a cool head, i.e. don't get so wrapped up in trying things with fixing the batteries that you trash the camera; batteries are a lot cheaper to replace than a body. But if the OEM batteries are doing it too, hmm. Of course you could also have gotten a bad OEM battery or a counterfeit.

--
Gear listed in profile under "plan."

Someone stop me before I buy again, please!
Dave

Bill Randall said:

I have read in several places not to mix brands of batteries. In addition, if your camera uses 5 batteries, always keep the same batteries together. For example, perhaps you have 5 other batteries of the same brand as back-up. Do not mix these two groups.

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WSSA Member #281 on 04-23-09

Click to expand...

I think that applies to things like a flash that uses 4AA batteries. Don't use 2 alkalines and 2 NiMH, that sort of thing. I have 2 Olympus and the battery holder, as I said...Olympus at least condones using different types but I bet if I used the battery holder and the rechargeable in a battery grip, that would be a no-no.

To be clear, this is the holder:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Olympus+battery+holder&hl=en&cid=13914235308199424995&ei=VkGeTJHEA5H4ygX525XaDA&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p

and this is the grip:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Olympus+battery+grip&hl=en&cid=2919154200567676483&ei=cUGeTMH0BpqKywXYq8nkDA&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p
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Gear listed in profile under "plan."

Someone stop me before I buy again, please!
Dave

Don't use WD40 at all , Christ you guys seem to put that stuff on everything !

Get some contact cleaner/lubricant :

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=1014937

Spray some into a small container , dip a cotton bud into it , then give the contacts a good clean .

You may have to get a little more heavy handed to clear the worst corrosion (post back if you have problems).

The main point being , if you notice this sort of problem , useing something like the product above will help to slow or stop the process before it gets too bad .

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be sure to try them.

If the corrosion doesn't clear out though, would it still be safe to keep using the batteries? Or will I have to buy another set?

If WD40 is good enough for theI.S.S. it is good enough for batteries.

Bits And Bones said:

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be sure to try them.

If the corrosion doesn't clear out though, would it still be safe to keep using the batteries? Or will I have to buy another set?

Click to expand...

The problem is clearing the corrosion without too much damage to the plating (Nickel ?) , as the copper underneath will only corrode at a faster rate .

There should be a good chance of cleaning the contacts and keeping them protected .

Like I said , if you can't get it clean with the stuff above , post back and we can look at more "aggressive" products .

Don't use WD40 IMHO tends to cause other problems .

Since it's happening to all your batteries, OEM and third party ones, I suspect your charger. The charger is the common element in the process.

All batteries out-gas when charging and if the charging is not proper, too high a current or charging past the point of full charge, this out-gassing can be excessive and not adequately dissipated. This can cause corrosion in contact with metal.

Just a hunch because I'm not aware of this normally being a problem with Li-Ion batteries.

--mamallama

Bits And Bones said:

Oh yes, forgot to mention that my batteries go unused for months at a time. Could that be the problem?

Click to expand...

This is likely the problem. Batteries are menat to be discharged rather quickly in a device, not by sitting unused and discharging slowly. You obviously have too many batteries for your needs. Put some in the closet and forget them and your problem should be solved.

wmsson said:

Bits And Bones said:

Oh yes, forgot to mention that my batteries go unused for months at a time. Could that be the problem?

Click to expand...

This is likely the problem. Batteries are menat to be discharged rather quickly in a device, not by sitting unused and discharging slowly. You obviously have too many batteries for your needs. Put some in the closet and forget them and your problem should be solved.

Click to expand...

Does it matter if the battery is stored in the camera or not? I've stored one in my camera for months at a time (before they started corroding). Now, I don't anymore as I fear they'll spew out liquid or something.

.

And the charger being the culprit is an interesting theory.

which include many BP-511, 512 types used in a Rebel 300D, 40D, a seven yeaqr-old Canon camcorder. I also checked the larger type used in a bigger Canon GL-1 (1998) camcorder.

There is no corrosion in any of them. The large ones are 12 years old and hold a full charge. The others are seven years old or more recent. Some of the older 511/512 types no longer are usable (for more than 15 minutes) in the smaller camcorder (which draws much current) but work fine in the 40D and 300D. I've used all of this gear in many countries and climates around the world, as well as in all seasons in our climate which can be very cold in winter and pretty warm and humid in the summer.

I have three Canon chargers that all work well.

I'd be very worried about using some of your batteries, or, especially, leaving them in your camera for long. I do not buy third-party batteries even though I know that most of them are pretty good.

I also check the contacts each time I remove or insert a battery. Make sure you have washed and dried your hands if you plan to touch or wipe the contacts with your fingers. I don't use WD-40 on my camera gear but if I did I'd keep it to a minimum.
--
John1940

wmsson said:

Bits And Bones said:

Oh yes, forgot to mention that my batteries go unused for months at a time. Could that be the problem?

Click to expand...

This is likely the problem. Batteries are menat to be discharged rather quickly in a device, not by sitting unused and discharging slowly. You obviously have too many batteries for your needs. Put some in the closet and forget them and your problem should be solved.

Click to expand...

Not the problem. Batteries are stored on the shelf, charged and discharged, for a long time without corrosion.

--mamallama

I also store my batteries (which are comprised of 3 types of brands) all packed in together in a pocket in my camera bag. Though I suspect that's not the problem is it?

So it's either my charger or there's liquid there that I have no idea about.

Bits And Bones said:

I also store my batteries (which are comprised of 3 types of brands) all packed in together in a pocket in my camera bag. Though I suspect that's not the problem is it?

So it's either my charger or there's liquid there that I have no idea about.

Click to expand...

What charger are you using? How new is it. Have you ever dropped it?

Another reason why I suspect your charger is that you say it sometimes stop abruptly before the charge is complete, all by itself without you touching it. I've never experienced anything like that and I have about 4 Li-Ion chargers here for several types of Li-Ion batteries.

A cheap solution to confirm whether it's the charger is to buy a cheap one from Sterlingtek (or similar) and use it with a pristine battery (not one that's been through the suspected charger). I have two Sterlingtek Li-Ion chargers, used for years around the world (China, Eastern Europe) without issue. About $20 each.

If you suspect there's moisture in your bag, don't use it like that. Also you can put a bag of desiccant for insurance if you want to keep using the bag for your batteries. . It could be the atmospheric conditions where you live, like there's a coal burning plant in the region and the air is loaded with sulfur.

Anyway, I have about 15 Li-Ion batteries and several ifferent chargers without any corrosion issues.

--mamallama