Nikon Z8 USB-C Power Stopped Charging

[Pearlygates]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

 

[JA_Johnson]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

I think the nature of this problem is such that the camera requires diagnosis by Nikon Service. I don’t believe there’s anything you can do on your own to resolve the problem.

 

[shuncheung]

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Nikon released the Z8 firmware 3.0 on July 1. What is the firmware on your Z8 now?

I understand the timing is approximate, but if you bought the Z8 nine months ago and it stopped working a month ago, does that mean it was working fine for about eight months and then stopped working a month ago? FW 3.0 wasn't available a month ago. Was it on firmware 2.10 when it stopped working?

And exactly what stopped working? I assume only the in-camera battery charging stopped working a month ago. It is not the entire Z8 stopped working.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

And you have a total of five EN-EL15 family batteries, and only one of them can now power the Z8. The other four are not working with the Z8? Is that correct??

I think it may be helpful if you can take a picture of those five EN-EL15 batteries and post that here, similar to my image below. Need to see the side of the batteries with words. And please indicate which one of those five is working with your Z8.

For example, in case you have a Li-ion 01 type EN-EL15, it can work with the D7000 and many other Nikon bodies that use the EN-EL15, but that cannot work with the Z8.

 

[BBMT]

I had in-camera charging issues with a couple batteries. Turned out they were counterfeit batteries, although they looked identical to genuine Nikon batteries.

They still work when charged in the wall charger.

 

[f16falcona46]

I like to test batteries by charging them in the MH-34--the charger is uncommon, and counterfeit makers usually don't bother making their batteries work with it. I've sniffed out a few fakes this way.

 

[shuncheung]

I like to test batteries by charging them in the MH-34--the charger is uncommon, and counterfeit makers usually don't bother making their batteries work with it. I've sniffed out a few fakes this way.

The MH-34 is an optional charger that is, IMO, kind of on the expensive side. I also suspect that some of the OP's batteries could be counterfeit. That was why I asked for an image of them. Some counterfeits are extremely similar to genuine Nikon batteries, and frequently it is difficult to tell them apart.

This is an old thread from 2021, when the OP over there had a couple of EN-EL15B that stopped working on her Z7ii, once she upgraded the firmware. It turned out that those batteries were counterfeit: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4586244

One aspect a lot of counterfeit batteries cannot match is the weight. A genuine EN-EL15C should weigh about 83 grams. If a battery is off by more than a gram on either side, it is likely to be counterfeit, especially if it suddenly stops working after some firmware upgrade or on a new camera.

 

[monte12345]

This is a sort of combined low power consumption and no electronic emissions mode and it is very possible that Nikon's engineers decided to disable charging via the USB-C port by either intent or accident. Because these cameras have become so complex in software terms that unintended consequences (Bugs) with the firmware are actually likely.

I will also note that in the future you should list the Firmware you have installed in your camera. Because it's also quite possible the new 3.00 Firmware has this "bug".

Final suggestion is to store your current camera settings to a memory card and copy them to your base computer. Then drop the bomb on the camera and do a full settings reset. If that restores this function you'll know that the camera is working properly. It will also show that a setting you made a month ago had this effect.

 

[sirhawkeye64]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

Something probably happened on the mainboard that requires Nikon to look at it. This is kind of one reason I don't charge in-camera on any of my cameras....

 

[shuncheung]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

Something probably happened on the mainboard that requires Nikon to look at it. This is kind of one reason I don't charge in-camera on any of my cameras....

If something happened to the motherboard electronics and that has failed, the Z8 should not work with any battery. Perhaps I don't quite get what the OP said, by it sounds like that Z8 is still working with one particular battery. If that is indeed the case, it is likely that there is something wrong with the other batteries. They could be counterfeits, or some of them are EN-EL15 Li-ion 01 type from before 2013. Those old batteries can work will all Nikon bodies that use the EN-EL15 before the Z8, which was introduced in May 2023. From the Z8 and on, they can only work with Li-ion 20 type batteries, which includes the EN-EL15 from after 2013 and all A, B, and C variants.

The easiest way is to find another Z8, Z6iii or Z5ii to check those batteries with, and perhaps check that Z8 with other known good batteries. In case the OP's Z8 no longer switches on with any battery, I am afraid that sending to Nikon is the only solution.

I have been charging batteries inside the Z9, Z8, Z6ii and Z6iii for several years. On my MacBook and iPhone, iPad, charging the batteries inside the device is the only way to charge them. I have never run into any issues.

 

[Pierre Lagarde]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

Something probably happened on the mainboard that requires Nikon to look at it. This is kind of one reason I don't charge in-camera on any of my cameras....

If something happened to the motherboard electronics and that has failed, the Z8 should not work with any battery. Perhaps I don't quite get what the OP said, by it sounds like that Z8 is still working with one particular battery. If that is indeed the case, it is likely that there is something wrong with the other batteries. They could be counterfeits, or some of them are EN-EL15 Li-ion 01 type from before 2013. Those old batteries can work will all Nikon bodies that use the EN-EL15 before the Z8, which was introduced in May 2023. From the Z8 and on, they can only work with Li-ion 20 type batteries, which includes the EN-EL15 from after 2013 and all A, B, and C variants.

The easiest way is to find another Z8, Z6iii or Z5ii to check those batteries with, and perhaps check that Z8 with other known good batteries. In case the OP's Z8 no longer switches on with any battery, I am afraid that sending to Nikon is the only solution.

I have been charging batteries inside the Z9, Z8, Z6ii and Z6iii for several years. On my MacBook and iPhone, iPad, charging the batteries inside the device is the only way to charge them. I have never run into any issues.

+1

 

[sirhawkeye64]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

Something probably happened on the mainboard that requires Nikon to look at it. This is kind of one reason I don't charge in-camera on any of my cameras....

If something happened to the motherboard electronics and that has failed, the Z8 should not work with any battery. Perhaps I don't quite get what the OP said, by it sounds like that Z8 is still working with one particular battery. If that is indeed the case, it is likely that there is something wrong with the other batteries. They could be counterfeits, or some of them are EN-EL15 Li-ion 01 type from before 2013. Those old batteries can work will all Nikon bodies that use the EN-EL15 before the Z8, which was introduced in May 2023. From the Z8 and on, they can only work with Li-ion 20 type batteries, which includes the EN-EL15 from after 2013 and all A, B, and C variants.

The easiest way is to find another Z8, Z6iii or Z5ii to check those batteries with, and perhaps check that Z8 with other known good batteries. In case the OP's Z8 no longer switches on with any battery, I am afraid that sending to Nikon is the only solution.

I have been charging batteries inside the Z9, Z8, Z6ii and Z6iii for several years. On my MacBook and iPhone, iPad, charging the batteries inside the device is the only way to charge them. I have never run into any issues.

that depends I think. If the charge circuit failed, but didn't damage anything else then the camera would still work. When the OP says multiple batteries my guess is they tried to charge multiple batteries, not necessarily use them (the camera may work fine with charged batteries, it may just not be charging them). (It does sound like the camera can turn on though as he gets the error message.)

In any case, it needs to go to Nikon for whatever it is as this seems to be beyond just a battery, cable or charger issue (OP said that the battery that doesn't work in the Z8, works fine supposedly in the D7000). so it's likely something wrong with the camera itself. I believe there are fuses in the camera to help prevent things like surges from damaging the camera, so it's possible one of those popped or something similar and needs to be serviced by Nikon (possibly having the mainboard replaced).

After all, if the camera is only 9 months old and was presumably purchased new by the OP (meaning they are the original owner), then they should make a warranty claim as it would probably fall within the 1-year warrant period.

--
* PLEASE NOTE: I generally unsubscribe from forums/comments after a period of time has passed, so if I do not respond, that is likely the reason. *

 

[sirhawkeye64]

I like to test batteries by charging them in the MH-34--the charger is uncommon, and counterfeit makers usually don't bother making their batteries work with it. I've sniffed out a few fakes this way.

IDK the counterfiet 15B battery I got from B&H many years ago charged and worked fine. The battery life was a bit dimished (less than an OEM/genuine 15B but otherwise charged....)

 

[sirhawkeye64]

This is a sort of combined low power consumption and no electronic emissions mode and it is very possible that Nikon's engineers decided to disable charging via the USB-C port by either intent or accident. Because these cameras have become so complex in software terms that unintended consequences (Bugs) with the firmware are actually likely.

I will also note that in the future you should list the Firmware you have installed in your camera. Because it's also quite possible the new 3.00 Firmware has this "bug".

Final suggestion is to store your current camera settings to a memory card and copy them to your base computer. Then drop the bomb on the camera and do a full settings reset. If that restores this function you'll know that the camera is working properly. It will also show that a setting you made a month ago had this effect.

I believe the OP did a factory reset, as was mentioned in the list of things tried.

 

[shuncheung]

Hello Forum,

Has anyone had issues with the Nikon Z8 (firmware 3) USB-C power port not charging the battery (EN-EL15C)? I purchased this camera (new) nine months ago and it stopped working about a month ago.

Additionally when I charge a battery with an external charger and insert it into the camera, the display shows "shutter release disabled, Recharge battery". The battery is charged as it was installed in a D7000 and it showed full. Only one battery out of five doesn't exhibit this behavior.

Some things I've tried:

- tried short and long cables (3 different lengths and types)

- tried multiple -C batteries

- tried multiple power sources (external batteries, USB cable to AC brick)

- tried firmware reset (x2)

- USB power delivery menu is ON

- Camera is in airplane mode

Just reaching out to see if anyone has other suggestions before I contact Nikon support.

Thank you

Something probably happened on the mainboard that requires Nikon to look at it. This is kind of one reason I don't charge in-camera on any of my cameras....

If something happened to the motherboard electronics and that has failed, the Z8 should not work with any battery. Perhaps I don't quite get what the OP said, by it sounds like that Z8 is still working with one particular battery. If that is indeed the case, it is likely that there is something wrong with the other batteries. They could be counterfeits, or some of them are EN-EL15 Li-ion 01 type from before 2013. Those old batteries can work will all Nikon bodies that use the EN-EL15 before the Z8, which was introduced in May 2023. From the Z8 and on, they can only work with Li-ion 20 type batteries, which includes the EN-EL15 from after 2013 and all A, B, and C variants.

The easiest way is to find another Z8, Z6iii or Z5ii to check those batteries with, and perhaps check that Z8 with other known good batteries. In case the OP's Z8 no longer switches on with any battery, I am afraid that sending to Nikon is the only solution.

I have been charging batteries inside the Z9, Z8, Z6ii and Z6iii for several years. On my MacBook and iPhone, iPad, charging the batteries inside the device is the only way to charge them. I have never run into any issues.

that depends I think. If the charge circuit failed, but didn't damage anything else then the camera would still work. When the OP says multiple batteries my guess is they tried to charge multiple batteries, not necessarily use them (the camera may work fine with charged batteries, it may just not be charging them). (It does sound like the camera can turn on though as he gets the error message.)

In any case, it needs to go to Nikon for whatever it is as this seems to be beyond just a battery, cable or charger issue (OP said that the battery that doesn't work in the Z8, works fine supposedly in the D7000). so it's likely something wrong with the camera itself.

Not necessarily. The D7000 is a very old camera, introduced in 2010 and was in fact the very first Nikon body that uses the EN-EL15. I bought one as soon as it was available and still own it today. A lot of those older bodies are not as sensitive to counterfeit batteries. If the Z8 is working with one battery, it means the camera is still functional.

As I mentioned earlier, on this other thread from 2021, the OP had a Z7ii that worked with some EN-EL15b batteries from Adorama, but after a Z7ii firmware upgrade, those batteries stopped working on that Z7ii but continued to work on a Z7. That was a very long thread and took me quite a while to figure out that those batteries were counterfeit. Adorama took responsibility and gave the OP there store credit: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4586244

If the OP here would like some help, they need to provide some images of the said 5 batteries and weight them. They also need to clarify exactly what the problems are.

I believe there are fuses in the camera to help prevent things like surges from damaging the camera, so it's possible one of those popped or something similar and needs to be serviced by Nikon (possibly having the mainboard replaced).

After all, if the camera is only 9 months old and was presumably purchased new by the OP (meaning they are the original owner), then they should make a warranty claim as it would probably fall within the 1-year warrant period.

 

[AWG_Pics]

This is simple:

EN-EL15c will power your camera and can be charged in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL15b may power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL 15 will NOT power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

I discovered this when I bought my Zf camera and discovered some of my older camera batteries would not work at all or only if charged externally. This is the peril of having many older Nikon cameras that seem to take the same size battery. I have them sorted now.

 

[Ken Seals]

This is a sort of combined low power consumption and no electronic emissions mode and it is very possible that Nikon's engineers decided to disable charging via the USB-C port by either intent or accident. Because these cameras have become so complex in software terms that unintended consequences (Bugs) with the firmware are actually likely.

I will also note that in the future you should list the Firmware you have installed in your camera. Because it's also quite possible the new 3.00 Firmware has this "bug".

Do you have a Z 8 or are you just speculating?

In camera charging still works fine on my Z 8 after the FW V 3.0 update.

 

[Ken Seals]

This is simple:

EN-EL15c will power your camera and can be charged in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL15b may power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL 15 will NOT power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

I discovered this when I bought my Zf camera and discovered some of my older camera batteries would not work at all or only if charged externally. This is the peril of having many older Nikon cameras that seem to take the same size battery. I have them sorted now.

This thread is about the OP's experience with a Z 8, not a Zf.

I just checked both an EN-EL15 and EN-EL15a in my Z 8 which is on FW V 3.0. Both of them work fine! They were charged a few weeks ago and are now both showing 94%. After years of use in my D700, D800, D810, D500 and D850, they still show close to Zero age. I say "Thanks Nikon" for such an excellent product.

I have two EN-EL15Cs that I use in rotation in my Z 8. Mainly charging them in the camera. I charge the older ones up every so often to have spares, just in case.

 

[Pearlygates]

Thank you all for the replies to my post.

I talked with Nikon and the issue with the USB cable is both ends have to be Type-C and a cable with mixed types (Type A/Type C) cannot be used. This is also called out on page 80 of the Nikon Z8 Reference Guide under "Tip: Computer USB Power Delivery and Battery Charging".

Once I switched the USB to be Type-C on both ends and with a -C battery installed, the charging light (on port side of the camera) was on full.

Nikon relayed that the battery will only be charged when the camera is off. When the camera is on, it will pull power from the device connected to the USB-C port.

As far as the batteries, page 79 of the Reference Guide calls out -B and -C batteries will be compatible with the USB charging while installed in the camera. The -A batteries can only be charged with external charger; which is what I expected. What I didn't expect is that a full -A battery won't be recognized by the Z8. They seem to think this may be a bug with the firmware.

The net of this is that I'll only be using -C batteries and only USB cables with Type-C on both ends.

I appreciate the responses.

 

[madecov]

This is simple:

EN-EL15c will power your camera and can be charged in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL15b may power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL 15 will NOT power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

I discovered this when I bought my Zf camera and discovered some of my older camera batteries would not work at all or only if charged externally. This is the peril of having many older Nikon cameras that seem to take the same size battery. I have them sorted now.

My 15B batteries charge perfectly fine in both my Z8 and Zf

The 15A doesn't charge but will power the camera. Some of the older 15's i had would power the Z8, but not the Zf

 

[shuncheung]

This is simple:

EN-EL15c will power your camera and can be charged in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL15b may power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

EN-EL 15 will NOT power your camera and will NOT charge in-camera via USB-C

Sorry, this is not accurate information. And you need to specify which camera body you are referring to. I don't have a Zf, but I just tested it with my Z6iii, which is a later camera body than the Zf.

There are actually five different types of EN-EL15:

1. EN-EL15, Li-ion 01 type, introduced in 2010 with the D7000 and transitioned to Li-ion 20 in 2013
2. EN-EL15, Li-ion 20, Nikon quietly transitioned to this some time in 2013
3. EN-EL15a, introduced in 2017 along with the D850
4. EN-EL15b, introduced in 2018 with the Z6 and Z7.
5. EN-EL15c, introduced in 2020. It has higher capacity than the EN-EL15b.

Number 2 to 5 are all Li-ion 20 type.

I just verified that I can charge a EN-EL15b inside my Z6iii. And a Li-ion 20 type EN-EL15 can power my Z6iii, but it does not recharge inside a camera body.

I discovered this when I bought my Zf camera and discovered some of my older camera batteries would not work at all or only if charged externally. This is the peril of having many older Nikon cameras that seem to take the same size battery. I have them sorted now.

The tricky part is that there are two different types of EN-EL15, Li-ion 01 and Li-ion 20. You need a Li-ion 20 battery to work with the Z8 and the subsequent bodies that use the EN-EL15 family batteries; i.e. the Z8, Zf, Z6iii, and Z5ii.