#Arkive PD: Replace internal clock battery GM5

[Daneland]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

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[cba_melbourne]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

They are rechargeable Lithium Manganese Dioxide (LiMnO2) cells, 3V 3.2mAh. This type of batteries have an extremely low self discharge rate. With proper storage conditions, you can expect 90% of the capacity to remain after ten years.

You can always charge them if voltage in storage drops too low. They charge with constant voltage to 3.1V, standard charge current is 0.005mA.

 

[Isola Verde]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

Back in early 2023, the GM5 I'd just bought turned out to have this date/time problem - which, unlike sometimes can happen, refused to be cured by the repeated insertion of freshly-charged batteries.

But as I'd paid only a fairly modest price for the camera (and REALLY didn't want to try the DIY route) I was pretty OK at paying some £80 to this Lancashire-based business for a fix that's still working today:

Home

Specialists in the repair and service of Panasonic Lumix digital compact cameras, bridge cameras and all Lumix G series cameras including the GH5.

www.acecamerarepair.co.uk

Previously they'd also been able to replace the damaged rear screen on my little Lumix LF1.

Peter

 

[Daneland]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

They are rechargeable Lithium Manganese Dioxide (LiMnO2) cells, 3V 3.2mAh. This type of batteries have an extremely low self discharge rate. With proper storage conditions, you can expect 90% of the capacity to remain after ten years.

You can always charge them if voltage in storage drops too low. They charge with constant voltage to 3.1V, standard charge current is 0.005mA.

Thank you so much for the information. I will get a couple of them and hopefully I will never use them

Funny enough, I have tested the camera just now and it works just fine! I think the original battery was not fully discharged; after keeping it with a fresh battery for long enough, it must have recovered.



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[Daneland]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

Back in early 2023, the GM5 I'd just bought turned out to have this date/time problem - which, unlike sometimes can happen, refused to be cured by the repeated insertion of freshly-charged batteries.

But as I'd paid only a fairly modest price for the camera (and REALLY didn't want to try the DIY route) I was pretty OK at paying some £80 to this Lancashire-based business for a fix that's still working today:

https://www.acecamerarepair.co.uk/

Previously they'd also been able to replace the damaged rear screen on my little Lumix LF1.

Peter

Thanks for the help! I just messaged them, but after reading your message, I decided to give it a try. Before even attempting to replace the battery with a fully charged one, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it works fine. I removed the old battery and replaced it with a new one, but the clock hasn’t been reset. I hadn’t used it for a long time and I thought I had to set the camera each time. Perhaps leaving a freshly charged battery did the trick.

--

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[Isola Verde]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

Back in early 2023, the GM5 I'd just bought turned out to have this date/time problem - which, unlike sometimes can happen, refused to be cured by the repeated insertion of freshly-charged batteries.

But as I'd paid only a fairly modest price for the camera (and REALLY didn't want to try the DIY route) I was pretty OK at paying some £80 to this Lancashire-based business for a fix that's still working today:

https://www.acecamerarepair.co.uk/

Previously they'd also been able to replace the damaged rear screen on my little Lumix LF1.

Peter

Thanks for the help! I just messaged them, but after reading your message, I decided to give it a try. Before even attempting to replace the battery with a fully charged one, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it works fine. I removed the old battery and replaced it with a new one, but the clock hasn’t been reset. I hadn’t used it for a long time and I thought I had to set the camera each time. Perhaps leaving a freshly charged battery did the trick.

Doesn't seem any obvious pattern to which can and which can't be revived, but well done - perseverance repaid!

My old Canon Powershot G2, bought in 2002 or so had a body that was rather more capacious than that of the GM5 etc - which allowed a much simpler way of coping with the chemistry of the date/time batteries available to them back then?



Peter

 

[cba_melbourne]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

They are rechargeable Lithium Manganese Dioxide (LiMnO2) cells, 3V 3.2mAh. This type of batteries have an extremely low self discharge rate. With proper storage conditions, you can expect 90% of the capacity to remain after ten years.

You can always charge them if voltage in storage drops too low. They charge with constant voltage to 3.1V, standard charge current is 0.005mA.

Thank you so much for the information. I will get a couple of them and hopefully I will never use them

It's not that this battery is suddenly unavailable. It's that it will be unavailable with suitable solder tags for Panasonic cameras already attached. You can always ask someone with a battery spot welder to attach solder tabs or strips for you. This ML421 battery without soldering tabs is not uncommon, and 10-20 times cheaper to buy than the Panasonic part with tabs.

Funny enough, I have tested the camera just now and it works just fine! I think the original battery was not fully discharged; after keeping it with a fresh battery for long enough, it must have recovered.

That is the ideal solution. It does take more than a couple weeks to charge this empty battery in camera, because the charge current is so infinitesimally low, 0.005mA in the data sheet above.

If they use this recommended charge current, you calculate 2.3mAh battery capacity divided by 0.005mA charge current = 460 hours = 19 days = nearly 3 weeks to fully charge from flat. You need patience.

 

[ChapelHillCody]

Hi, sorry for the delayed answer; but I really don't know. Since they are lithium, and the batch I bought were produced in 2023 (so it said), and because they're showing 2.58v now (typical through the group I bought), I'm expecting a typical 5-10 years.

 

[Isola Verde]

I have both a GM1 and a GM5. My GM5 hasn't had trouble keeping time when I change out batteries, but my GM1 needed the clock set every time the battery was removed.

So, I bought a bunch of those Panasonic ML-421S/DN Coin Cell Lithium Rechargeable batteries from Mouser, as they are slated to be discontinued. I just replaced the one in my GM1.

What’s the shelf life of the battery? I hope I don’t need it now, but if they’re discontinued, I might need it eventually.

I said hopefully because I have two of them – one is working, but the other needs a replacement battery but I’m selling it now.

Back in early 2023, the GM5 I'd just bought turned out to have this date/time problem - which, unlike sometimes can happen, refused to be cured by the repeated insertion of freshly-charged batteries.

But as I'd paid only a fairly modest price for the camera (and REALLY didn't want to try the DIY route) I was pretty OK at paying some £80 to this Lancashire-based business for a fix that's still working today:

https://www.acecamerarepair.co.uk/

Previously they'd also been able to replace the damaged rear screen on my little Lumix LF1.

Peter

Thanks for the help! I just messaged them, but after reading your message, I decided to give it a try. Before even attempting to replace the battery with a fully charged one, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it works fine. I removed the old battery and replaced it with a new one, but the clock hasn’t been reset. I hadn’t used it for a long time and I thought I had to set the camera each time. Perhaps leaving a freshly charged battery did the trick.

Pleased to agree - having, this very week, found that my Samsung NX3000 (bought in 2015) has responded to similar treatment... and will once again keep its date/time settings correctly during a battery swap!

For some years now I've only used it very rarely, and I'm pretty sure I've had to do this at least once before - but fortunately it must have a type of internal battery that doesn't mind being nudged back to work?

Fingers crossed that both yours and mine will keep good time from now on!

Peter

 

[Eric Nepean]

Hi, sorry for the delayed answer; but I really don't know. Since they are lithium, and the batch I bought were produced in 2023 (so it said), and because they're showing 2.58v now (typical through the group I bought), I'm expecting a typical 5-10 years.

As I have a GM5 and GM1 I would really like to buy one but I see you don’t ship to Canada. Is it just Canada you don’t ship to or you don’t ship outside the USA?

 

[cba_melbourne]

Hi, sorry for the delayed answer; but I really don't know. Since they are lithium, and the batch I bought were produced in 2023 (so it said), and because they're showing 2.58v now (typical through the group I bought), I'm expecting a typical 5-10 years.

As I have a GM5 and GM1 I would really like to buy one but I see you don’t ship to Canada. Is it just Canada you don’t ship to or you don’t ship outside the USA?

You can get 10 tagged ML421 for 11.40 Euro from Aliexpress:




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