Nikon MH-25 battery charger light indicator

[Shibang]

Hi All,

Does anybody know the indicator light details on the MH-25 charger?

Normally when I charge my battery the light flashes on and off at a steady pace. Now when I charge one battery the light flashes much faster, more like a flicker.

If I put the battery in the camera afterwards I can see it has charged to 100% and the battery age is 0 so should be as good as new.

Thanks and regards,

Gary

[Shibang]

Just checked again and it looks like my battery is discharging, any suggestions?

Thanks and regards,

Gary

[Manfred M]

Gary - my first guess is that you have a malfunctioning charger.

1. Try it in a different wall socket (make sure that this is a battery issue rather than an issue with the power supply in the house). Unlikely, but it can happen. Best would be to try in on a different circuit within the house.

2. Try it with a different battery, if both batteries display the same behavior, it is likely the charger and it will need replacement.

3. If the second battery charges properly, then there is a problem with the battery and it needs replacement. The lithium-ion batteries have on-board electronic circuitry to prevent thermal runaway, so if that is defective, then there could be an issue there.

[Dave Humphries]

Gary, My guess would be Manfred's No. 3

(but do the 'elimination rounds' anyway)

[Shibang]

Thanks for the reply.

It looks like the battery is on it's way out.

Two others charge fine.

The damaged one will only charge now to about 40% and drains after about 10 shots so time to replace.

[Lefaucheur]

Thanks for the reply.

It looks like the battery is on it's way out.

Two others charge fine.

The damaged one will only charge now to about 40% and drains after about 10 shots so time to replace.

Aloha. I was having a similar issue with three of my batteries. All had drained to about 10%. I hadn’t used these batteries for quite some time. When I plugged them into the Nikon battery charger MH25, the yellow charging light would flash very quickly and not charge the batteries. I was ready to assume that the batteries had gone bad or the charger was bad. Before trashing them all, I decided to spray all the electronic connections on the batteries, the camera, and the charger with CRC QD Electronic Cleaner which can be purchased at most hardware stores. Bingo!! all three batteries charge to 100%.

[William W]

I think regular inspection and cleaning of electronic contacts is worthwhile.

If you choose to clean the electronic contacts on any of the battery, charger or camera, ensure that the devices are OFF.

Secondly, and specific to the advice above, CRC is a global company which manufactures several (I think thousands) of chemical products, many of which will surely be available in available in Netherlands, however from country to country the packaging and naming may and does differ.

Be certain to employ a cleaner which specifies same or similar to:

> plastic-safe
> evaporating
> cleaner and de-greaser
> suitable for use on sensitive electronic and electrical equipment
> penetrates hard-to-reach areas
> flush away carbon deposits, dirt, light oils, dust, lint and other light contaminants
> evaporates quickly and leaves no residue

Note that these type of chemical cleaners do not usually convert already formed corrosion/oxidization, so, I recommend a detailed visual inspection to identify if these might be part of the cause.

Curious to know the outcome if you give them a clean.

WW

[Martin A]

I see that the OP has solved his problem but there is a point I wish to make concerning the use of cleaners containing solvents of any type on electronic components. I have over 40 years experience as a field electrical engineer in several industries. Before using any of the spray type "contact" cleaners we always attempted a mechanical cleaning. Often times there is a fine film of oxidation that a solvent or cleaning spray will not remove. First try using a common pencil eraser to clean the contact surfaces of both components. If that doesn't work try a piece of course cloth or something similar (the orangewood sticks used by nail techs for cuticles work great!). If neither method works then try the chemical sprays, but understand that many electrical/electronic components have been destroyed by indiscriminate use of these products.

[xpatUSA]

My favorite contact cleaner is 100 grit wet'n'dry ... just kidding folks!

Actually, cotton buds work well enough for me or kitchen paper towels.

I have used chemical sprays with success on inaccessible contacts of Sigma cameras.

One oddity worthy of mention is the charger that comes with the Panasonic Lumix DC-G9. If a battery is allowed to discharge completely in the camera - my charger will not start a re-charge. I had to buy a cheap charger to start the battery off before transferring it to Lumix charger. No fun at all.

HTH.

[William W]

I see that the OP has solved his problem . . . Often times there is a fine film of oxidation that a solvent or cleaning spray will not remove. . .

Not sure the OP has solved the problem, Post #5 reads to me as an assumption rather than a conclusion.

In any case, I concur about the point of a film of oxidization - I think you made that point more bluntly, i.e. to venture there first: a point which, in retrospect, I should have made more emphatically.

Good job.

WW