Canon 40D woes?

[jaredmizanin]

I've had a Canon 40D as a backup for a while; about 6000 actutations. Anyhoo, I haven't used the camera in about a year. So I pulled it out today, inserted a fresh battery, and...nada. Won't even turn on. Is this thing dead?? What could be wrong?

 

[cybrid]

Could be the secondary battery is shot. I'd pull it for about 30 minutes and replace it with a fresh one and then try...

If not that, I'm out of ideas....

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[digital_photog]

Could be the secondary battery is shot. I'd pull it for about 30 minutes and replace it with a fresh one and then try...

If not that, I'm out of ideas....

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

That sound like a a great idea!!
My 20D did the same thing and the secondary battery was my problem

Fred

 

[jaredmizanin]

Thanks fellas,

but I'm not quite sure what you are saying. Are you suggesting the fresh battery I put in the Canon 40D is dead? Or that there is another internal battery lying inside the 40D?

 

[cybrid]

There is a secondary battery in the battery compartment. It's a silver button battery...

You should be able to see the catch/latch for it in the main battery compartment.

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[jaredmizanin]

Awesome. Found it and will go get a replacement. Thank God for these forums.

 

[MisterPootieCat]

The CR2016 battery being dead will not prevent the camera from powering on. My 40D is sitting on the desk as we speak with the battery removed and it powers on just fine. It does come up and ask me to set the date and time but functions normally. If I turn the camera off and back on it goes back to the date and time screen. This is the main function and maybe the only one that the CR2016 battery performs.

I always thought the CR2016 powered memory was used to keep track of the image numbering also but a couple test shots on a freshly formatted CF card proves that is not the case. It appears the camera has some type of non-volatile memory where that info AND custom settings are stored. All of the My Menu settings and custom functions I've set in the camera are still intact.

For the OP, FWIW: I would try turning the camera on/off numerous times, the power switch might have some corrosion on the contacts. I would also make sure the battery is really charged, maybe by trying it in another camera, if you have one.

Could be the secondary battery is shot. I'd pull it for about 30 minutes and replace it with a fresh one and then try...

If not that, I'm out of ideas....

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[cybrid]

The CR2016 battery being dead will not prevent the camera from powering on. My 40D is sitting on the desk as we speak with the battery removed and it powers on just fine. It does come up and ask me to set the date and time but functions normally. If I turn the camera off and back on it goes back to the date and time screen. This is the main function and maybe the only one that the CR2016 battery performs.

Actually, the same thing happens in computers when the button battery goes. It may not be dead, but it gets to such a low charge that the computer won't power on. (I've been repairing computers 20+ years and see this a lot). Since digital cameras are basically just a computer, the same thing can happen.

Removing the battery is not the same as having too low a charge which is why your camera will still power on.

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[MisterPootieCat]

I spent 32 years in the computer industry and know better. If the button battery on the motherboard dies the PC simply forgets the time and date. It powers on just fine but the user has to reset the time and date each time every time they turn it on. I've taken literally hundreds of service calls to replace this battery and the symptom is NEVER that the PC won't turn on.

The CR2016 battery being dead will not prevent the camera from powering on. My 40D is sitting on the desk as we speak with the battery removed and it powers on just fine. It does come up and ask me to set the date and time but functions normally. If I turn the camera off and back on it goes back to the date and time screen. This is the main function and maybe the only one that the CR2016 battery performs.

Actually, the same thing happens in computers when the button battery goes. It may not be dead, but it gets to such a low charge that the computer won't power on. (I've been repairing computers 20+ years and see this a lot). Since digital cameras are basically just a computer, the same thing can happen.

Removing the battery is not the same as having too low a charge which is why your camera will still power on.

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[jaredmizanin]

Guys,

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

 

[MisterPootieCat]

I'd like to see what the camera does when you put the old coin battery back in.

Guys,

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

 

[riknash]

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

Amazing! ... We all learned something today. This is something to remember for the next time either the old computer or old camera fails to turn on. It could be the button battery.

 

[cybrid]

I spent 32 years in the computer industry and know better. If the button battery on the motherboard dies the PC simply forgets the time and date. It powers on just fine but the user has to reset the time and date each time every time they turn it on. I've taken literally hundreds of service calls to replace this battery and the symptom is NEVER that the PC won't turn on.

And I've serviced hundreds where that is exactly what the symptom and cause is. Just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

I don't want to fight with you here...You've seen what you've seen, I've seen what I've seen. I'm sure you've seen things I haven't. ..shrug..

At least the camera works now, whatever the cause

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[digital_photog]

Guys,

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

Like I said in my earlier post my 20D secondary battery was the cause of the problem and thankfully it corrected jaredmizanin problem.

Fred

 

[MisterPootieCat]

We'll have to disagree on this one.

I spent 32 years in the computer industry and know better. If the button battery on the motherboard dies the PC simply forgets the time and date. It powers on just fine but the user has to reset the time and date each time every time they turn it on. I've taken literally hundreds of service calls to replace this battery and the symptom is NEVER that the PC won't turn on.

And I've serviced hundreds where that is exactly what the symptom and cause is. Just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

I don't want to fight with you here...You've seen what you've seen, I've seen what I've seen. I'm sure you've seen things I haven't. ..shrug..

At least the camera works now, whatever the cause

--
http://www.abstractionisms.com

 

[tyrickey69]

makes you wounder about all them $150.00 cameras on ebay that wont power up. $2.50 WOW good for you, glad you got your 40D back.

 

[CanonPhotog]

Guys,

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

Get over it. You were wrong in your advice, as many of us have experienced the same thing when the secondary battery went dead.

Glad for the OP that he cleared up his issue with a simple fix.

--
B

 

[MisterPootieCat]

If the battery was really causing the problem it would be a simple matter to put it back in the camera and reproduce the symptoms.

I already know first-hand that removing the battery does not cause the symptom mentioned by the OP. I'm going to see if I can find a coin battery that's almost dead and try to reproduce this symptom.

I don't spend as much time on these forums as some but this thing with the battery preventing power on is a new one for me. I will put the forum search engine to use and see just how "many of us have experienced" this.

Thanks!

Guys,

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

Get over it. You were wrong in your advice, as many of us have experienced the same thing when the secondary battery went dead.

Glad for the OP that he cleared up his issue with a simple fix.

--
B

 

[Torch]

Great that it worked.

I've never enjoyed that Canon is dependant on a button battery.
So now every Pro must carry a spare button battery for each body?

By now there must be several design solutions to eliminate a button battery.

Other than that I do my best to always plug in USB with the camera off first, on to download, then turn it off to unplug so I don't have to risk CF pin wear and tear with a card reader.

I try to keep the camera off before inserting or removing the battery.

I suspect that some users of different cameras never care what is powered when attaching or disconnecting so eventually zap a component on their board which leads to a failure.

I don't believe you have to be perfect just careful.

Guys,

Just bought a new coin cell battery at Drug Mart for $2.50, installed it, and presto! Works like new. I had to reset the time/date, but who the heck cares! It works! Thanks everyone!

--

Torch

 

[Jarubell]

Just my 2 cents

I replaced a CMOS battery in my not working PC and all is fine now.