topic Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED in Point & Shoot Digital Cameras

SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

4thFootPvt — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 13:26:01 GMT

I have solved the battery issue.

The trouble is that the battery contacts and the camera power contacts don't stay together. The battery is just a bit too small for the space, and the tab that holds it in place is on the wrong side of the battery.

My solution is to add a bit of the fuzzy part of velcro to the inside of the battery door. It holds the battery contacts securely together, and the problem goes away.

If you happen to use the ACK-DC40 AC adapter kit, you'll need to punch a small hole in the Velcro to allow the power plug to get through to the adapter, but if you don't use one, just stick the Velcro strip on the inside of the battery door, and your problem is solved.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:56:09 GMT

My SX280 has the battery problem but DOESN"T have that battery DOOR you show in your picture. I just bought mine last December 2013. They must have changed that part. I'm going to try the fuzzy velcro tho. Thanks for hint. I'm open to anymore because I don't think sending it to Canon would be worth it.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

bortsmada — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 03:38:02 GMT

Your idea worked great with one significant problem. We now cannot get the battery door open. The supposedly dead battery works but I'm guessing it won't last for the life of the camera. Any ideas on how to re-open the battery door?

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 10:49:06 GMT

I assume you are trying to open the battery door the correct way since you got the battery in originally. I'm stumped on a stuck battery door. Did you put just a tiny piece of the velcro in the top of the battery lid and didn't force anything.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 10:51:04 GMT

I didn't even put this much velcro in my lid. My piece is in the middle and about 1/4" x 1/4".

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

cale_kat — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 17:39:10 GMT

The solution does put additional strain on the battery lid, latch and hinges. It would be best to work with a material which is less dense than Velcro, though I do applaud his or her efforts and ingenuity. Even the "woolly" side of Velcro is fairly dense but a small strip of open-cell foam, such as is found in pillows and available at craft stores, could be inserted to the same purpose and be less stressful on the camera itself.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:06:16 GMT

No strain on my battery lid and this is working beautifully with the fuzzy side velcro. Just a tiny piece and in case this one comes off on a vacation I have some in a small battery container. You can judge the size of the velcro.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

cale_kat — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 18:37:36 GMT

Of course there is added strain on the lid. What else could be "pushing" in the battery?

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 22:20:35 GMT

If it was going to strain the hinge (I'm assuming that is what you mean) I would not have kept the velcro on the lid. The lid works just as before, no forcing. The only diff is the camera doesn't drain the battery now.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

JesseKnows — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 18:27:26 GMT

Great idea - certainly the current flow capability of the circuit requires good contacts.

Unfortunately, it did not work for me.

When I first put a small piece of foam sheet on the lid close to the hinge (as in the second photo, including where there is a structural bump in the lead designed to press the battery), one good battery did not work at all, and a second one immediately shows low charge (even before starting a video recording).

Guessing that the placement of the foam tilted the battery and caused a bad contact on one of the 3 points rather than improving all contacts, I removed that foam and put a different piece on the top of the battery itself, covering almost the entire width. With this configuration the battery did register as full when I turned the camnera on. However, after about 45 seconds of recording video and manipulating the zoom (which is the common stress situation usually resulting in low battery indocation) I did get the low battery.

In other words, no significant improvement.

FWIW, I have the latest firmware installed.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 19:49:09 GMT

So sorry. You saw my picture and the small piece of velcro. The camera has worked since I installed that.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

Balb0wa — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:45:33 GMT

This seems to have fixed it for me, well done sir 🙂 one small piece wasnt enough, i did 1 one side and another the other side. Battery shows full now.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:52:50 GMT

There must be something about when the manufacturing took place. Others like you needed a larger piece where as I only needed that tiny piece. Anyway, glad you have fixed the flaw in this otherwise great camera.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

wade1322 — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 23:14:18 GMT

i also needed to carefully bend the contacts down in the camera as well as adding a foam piece to the door.

also it should be mentioned that this camera has 2 battery issues, the door/contacts addressed here and a firmware issue that falsely shuts the camera down because it thinks the battey is dead when it is not. this issue requires a firmware upgrade. after upgrading the firmware my battery icon still flashes but the camera does not shut down.

to the one having trouble opening the door, push in while sliding out and it will open.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 11:14:13 GMT

Thanks for further exploration on the subject. I'll check for the firmware.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

haipo — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:34:02 GMT

If this works what exactly happens?

1. Does the battery light flash but the power does not turn off

2. Does the battery light not appear even when video mode is active and the zoom is engaged?

the reason I am asking is I basically gave up on this camera and have not used it in months. I am not sure if i really fixed anything. Seems like once i put the velcro on i still get the battery light but it does not shut off the camera.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

samintx — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 16:25:21 GMT

I had previously installed this firmware update. It was not till I put the tiny piece of velcro on that I got consistent good battery performance. I also found that a CANON BRAND battery worked better than off brands. So I am happy with my SX280 Canon with the small velcro piece and a Canon brand battery.

I have found the SX260 has a relative short battery life compared to my faithful Panasonic Lumix cameras. The battery life if fine on the Canon 50 and 510. Don't know what happens with the PowrShots.

I don't take that much video with my still cameras. I use my Sony Bloggie for video & on a small Handycam Video camera also from Sony.

I really think the battery problem with the SX280 has had posted solutions. Not all work for everyone. I also have come to the conclusion the Powershot uses up battery life like mad compared to other brands. I just hope that readers have been able to fiddle with the Canon till they find what works on their camera.

Glad for this forum. Oh, yes. On my camera before I corrected a message came on saying "charge your battery". Not sure if there was anything else on the screen. Then a blank screen or the camera would not turn on.

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

wade1322 — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 01:31:32 GMT

1. yes, that is correct, when recording video, I can now zoom in and out and continue to record all the while the battery icon is flashing. when I am done with the video if I turn the camera off and then back on it again shows full battery. the premature shut down was corrected with the firmware update.

2. the icon begins flashing with zoom but the camera does not shut off.

My other problem with the camera intermittently shutting down or not even turning on at all was fixed with the velcro/contact fix addressed in this thread, thank you Samintx. this problem led me to believe aftermarket batteries I had purchased were bad when in fact I now believe it was something with the contact openings in the batteries because they all work fine now that I have adjusted the contacts inside the camera

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

JesseKnows — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:17:38 GMT

i also needed to carefully bend the contacts down in the camera

Please elaborate, does "bend down" mean to bring them lower in the body (away from the battery) or higher in the body, towards the batter?

Thanks

Re: SX280 SX280HS battery problem SOLVED

wade1322 — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 04:53:36 GMT

I am sorry.

the contacts are positioned at an angle to have a spring effect, I pulled them so they were tighter on the battery contact pads. you need to be careful not to bend too far but mine needed to be closer to the battery to make proper contact especially with my aftermarket batteries, not sure why without taking the body apart.