-
Welcome to the new forums! Please read this first. For known issues we are working to resolve, click here.
Z50ii won't charge. Any ideas?
- Thread starter Hal Wilson
- Start date
chambeshi
Senior Member
As of midnight tonight, the EU legislation becomes active
Standardizing on USB C PD is an excellent strategy. Nikon is to be congratulated for adopting the standard with its chargers for the ENEL15c and ENEL18d batteries, which are charged only with PD cables (USB C plugs)
Unfortunately, they failed to update the charger for the ENEL25a, although 3rd chargers for this battery already are PD compatible
Vince P
Senior Member
It's the EU directive. Not illegal to sell a charger separately, or even 2 options one with and one without (Which is kind of the same thing) just has to be unbundled from the device they are selling. It's had a transitional period, where existing products could still be supplied, but actually comes into force as of tomorrow and applies to phones, tablets cameras etc. laptops get the same restrictions in 2026.
https://single-market-economy.ec.eu...ctive-red/one-common-charging-solution-all_en
Last edited:
Stan Disbrow
Veteran Member
Hi,
Ok. What I do for a living is root cause failure analysis of electronics. I've been doing this since 1981. And that's important for what I'm about to say next.
Based on many thousands of electronics devices which have gone Casters Up, a large number of those root causes are due to issues with power input.
I think you have a power supply that causes these cameras to fail.
And that's how it was working and now it is not.
My imagination is thinking power spikes on the output of the supply. These are all switch mode power sources, and they require filtering on their outputs to suppress high voltage spikes. And, quite often, those filters are 'cheapened out on' so the makers can sell for a lower price while maintaining profit.
I'd be looking for that, but you probably can't. You would need at least an oscilloscope on the power line between the power supply and the camera to find such spikes. I'd use two, isolated, one on the positive line and one on the negative. You can bounce either side equally well.
But that's outside the realm of most folks.
It is pretty telling that this has occurred twice.
And, yes, I have been reading the posts and just letting everyone get on with it. I would not have said anything now - but you did ask why this could happen.
And I see you posted that you are sending the camera back. That's a good idea.
And you might be correct in that there is something also not quite as good as it could be inside the cameras. They ought to have incorporated transient absorption circuitry and that might not be as robust as it could be.
Stan
Ok. What I do for a living is root cause failure analysis of electronics. I've been doing this since 1981. And that's important for what I'm about to say next.
Based on many thousands of electronics devices which have gone Casters Up, a large number of those root causes are due to issues with power input.
I think you have a power supply that causes these cameras to fail.
And that's how it was working and now it is not.
My imagination is thinking power spikes on the output of the supply. These are all switch mode power sources, and they require filtering on their outputs to suppress high voltage spikes. And, quite often, those filters are 'cheapened out on' so the makers can sell for a lower price while maintaining profit.
I'd be looking for that, but you probably can't. You would need at least an oscilloscope on the power line between the power supply and the camera to find such spikes. I'd use two, isolated, one on the positive line and one on the negative. You can bounce either side equally well.
But that's outside the realm of most folks.
It is pretty telling that this has occurred twice.
And, yes, I have been reading the posts and just letting everyone get on with it. I would not have said anything now - but you did ask why this could happen.
And I see you posted that you are sending the camera back. That's a good idea.
And you might be correct in that there is something also not quite as good as it could be inside the cameras. They ought to have incorporated transient absorption circuitry and that might not be as robust as it could be.
Stan
See this post just a few minutes after you posted. I think he may be on the money. I don't really trust internal charging. I am not blaming the OP for doing what is suggested by Nikon. There is clearly something wrong here. He said he is moving on and I agree with his choice.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68070457
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68070457
We’re all speculating but my money’s not on damage caused to the charging circuitry by spikes from a USB charger. I’ll eat my words if mine stops working but so far it’s fine on a PD charger with a PD cable, as is my Z8, but both refuse to charge on any other combination.
Ryan Schwartz
Senior Member
I'd return the camera or try a different battery. It should be charging when plugged into a USB port. I've had zero issues, other than making sure my computer was not sleep mode.
With that said, I bought an external charger because I use a rotational method for charging. My spare in the bag gets charged for a session, and once charged, gets swapped with the battery in the body. Rinse and repeat for each session.
--
Ryan
Last edited:
My M1Pro has USB-C or Magsafe 3 charging as do all Apple Silicon laptops as far as I know.
Colonel Angus
Well-known member
Same here. External charger and battery rotation.
This is what a number of us have been saying all along in this thread .
ghostfox_1
Senior Member
- Messages
- 3,134
- Solutions
- 5
- Reaction score
- 6,168
And it turns out there's reasons why this is just generally good advice. I hope that's one takeaway for everyone else reading this. Make sure to use PD compatible stuff to make sure nothing bad happens. PD rated gear is generally better capable and less likely to have surges/etc from bad components. Not immune, but less likely and should stay in tolerance levels better.
Hal Wilson
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,173
- Reaction score
- 1,297
Went back to the camera shop today. The shop assistant plugs in a generic charger (well under 27w), and bingo! Charging light comes on and camera appears to be charging.
So what was different??
I’d reset the camera to factory settings. And lo and behold; it works! Furthermore, and this is really going to annoy all those insisting I was using the wrong charger or lead; it works with chargers less than 27w!! Who knew?? Well, I did, but some were insistent I was wrong.
Turns out it’s a setting, or rather a combination of settings, that causes this issue. The shop assistant tracked it down to something, but then we lost track of what that was. It is not something that is made clear anywhere in the Nikon literature. It is not obvious what causes the issue either. But what I find most amusing, is that it’s absolutely nothing to do with charger or lead. Oh look I can charge it with an out of spec charger and any old random lead!
How funny.
I feel somewhat vindicated, that I was right all along. It is in essence a form of ‘user error’, but there’s no indication as to how it actually happens. I’m going to do some more digging and try to find out what causes this issue. I’ll update as and when I know more. Stay tuned!
So what was different??
I’d reset the camera to factory settings. And lo and behold; it works! Furthermore, and this is really going to annoy all those insisting I was using the wrong charger or lead; it works with chargers less than 27w!! Who knew?? Well, I did, but some were insistent I was wrong.
Turns out it’s a setting, or rather a combination of settings, that causes this issue. The shop assistant tracked it down to something, but then we lost track of what that was. It is not something that is made clear anywhere in the Nikon literature. It is not obvious what causes the issue either. But what I find most amusing, is that it’s absolutely nothing to do with charger or lead. Oh look I can charge it with an out of spec charger and any old random lead!
How funny.
I feel somewhat vindicated, that I was right all along. It is in essence a form of ‘user error’, but there’s no indication as to how it actually happens. I’m going to do some more digging and try to find out what causes this issue. I’ll update as and when I know more. Stay tuned!
Last edited:
Colonel Angus
Well-known member
A setting? This is getting interesting.
madecov
Veteran Member
rangel28
Senior Member
- Messages
- 1,216
- Reaction score
- 2,230
Well this is getting interesting. Glad you figured out part of the puzzle and that it might be the settings, or a combination of settings, causing the issue. It looks like at some point Nikon needs to do a little more digging as to might be causing the problem and if a firmware update is necessary.
RachelCostello
Member
Brand new Z50ii here and it refuses to charge from any of my chargers
this includes my ugreen 100w pd brick with a verified pd cable no orange light ever and battery isn’t getting any charge.
i have an external charger arriving later today, but it’s really bothering me that it’s not working as it should
transfer of photos to my iPhone works fine
this includes my ugreen 100w pd brick with a verified pd cable no orange light ever and battery isn’t getting any charge.
i have an external charger arriving later today, but it’s really bothering me that it’s not working as it should
transfer of photos to my iPhone works fine
JA_Johnson
Well-known member
- Messages
- 140
- Solutions
- 1
- Reaction score
- 184
I’m curious if you’ve been able to document the combination of settings which caused this problem?
I’d look at OP’s final post in this thread. His problem was “solved” by a full camera reset (which should not be necessary in any normal situation).
So, you have the first (and possibly the only) thing to try…
Similar threads
Keyboard shortcuts
- f
- Forum