Battery-Pack MB-16 problems...

[okidoki]

Hey guys hope that some of you might have a clue on this...

My camera has started to act up on me, I have the Nikon MB-16 Pack and its been working fine until I started using these rechargable batteries.

What first happened was that the camera stated beeping while shooting and then turned it self off.

I took of the battery pack checked the camera body and put everything back together, somehow the camera seems to shut down when I press the two metal pieces that are in the opening of the 123 shamber... and now it refuses to power up with the MB-16 attached to it...

It works fine with just the AA in the normal chamber.

Any ideas?

T

[Glasseye]

Hi

I had the same problem last night after shooting with an 80-400VR and I was walking around the garden holding the grip and not the lens ( no strap on on S2 had been working on a tripod in the studio) when I got inside. the battery low warning was flashing, so I changed the mb 16 batteries for NMh 2000's took 1 pic all locked up but a line the black line was across the top data srceen. and the camera would not switch back on.
After waiting for the micro drive to stop (the orange light to go out) I released the S2 battery compartment pushed it back in, switched on tried to take a pic which I thought it took the camera bleeped no pic was taken. switche d off and on again no good s2 dead.
Took all 8 batteries out of camera & mb16 All NMH 2000's tested them all very well charged???

put them all back switched on, all looked well, took pic **%~""£$$ ** LL all locked up camera beeped.

All batteries out again back in, worked.

twisted mb 16 a tad all went off!!!

Mb16 would not tighten up any more, but I could seea little glimmer of light between the S2 & MB16 although not enough gap to get a thin tissue paper through.


re-filed of the plastic lips a bit more, checked the sleve for thickness for thr 123cr contacts - no probs- re assembled all ,
WORKS PERFECTLY NOW

My conclusion was that the plastic mb16 after a bit of useage was moving a little and the contacts were either sparking or disconecting for a millisecond while shooting. which would be like taking the 123ca's out while taking the pic, something I'm sure one would never recommend.. and the s2 system didn't like it.

Fileing down the mb16 plastic so that the S2 sits perfectly flat is also a must.

I did read somewhere that someone had to add a blob of solder to the MB16's contacts to make a good contact. you could possibly tape a small ball of silver foil before a blob of solder.

I have 2 MB16s and they are not identical. one does not need the plastic sleeve the other most definatly does.

If you have switched the camera off & the orange light is on wait till it goes out before removing the batteries.

Hope this info may be of help, best of luck

Andy

[Glasseye]

forgot to say the camera will shut off if you press the contacts, cause it thinks the 123ca's are in place and the camera will not function if they are flat or not installed but the contacts are stuck in or pushed.,

It's not a good idea to press those contacts with the camera switched on!!

if you want the force the 4aa's to power the camera you must first take out the 123ca's ( but the internal flash will not work)

Andy

[okidoki]

I added some aluminium foil to the connectors and its back in duty...

Thanks

T

[dorigatti]

I had similar experiences as above with my MB-16. When I mounted my S2 on my tripod ballhead (MB-16 attached) and aimed it down to shoot jewelery, the weight of the lens caused a little play between the MB-16 and the S2 bottom plate and the camera would shut down... So, I filed down the back flanges of the MB-16 some more until completely flush, added some aluminum foil to the contacts, and it is now perfect.

[okidoki]

Yeah that foil did the trick for me too...
I like these McGyver tricks of ours...

:)

T

[deMille]

Two words .... Super Glue!

just kidding, PLEASE don't try it and say I'm to blame!

Same problem for years with motor drives. Tin foil, filing off some plastic, a good soldering gun (just kidding there, too).

Great ideas everyone comes up with. I've been considering a battery pack but have not "needed" one yet. Thanks for the info.

[okidoki]

hmmmm...

There are more problems, it looks like the rechargable batteries are just at 1.2V and wants to turn of my camera because of "battery failure" it beeps and the camera shuts down??? The total voltage not adding up to the 6V the 123's would give???

Have I missed something?

Or can't I use rechargable batteries with the MB-16?

Please advice.

T

[jknights]

I've been using the MB16 on my S2 for more than a year.
No problems at all.

Sounds like a poor contact in the top of the battery compartment in the S2.

Have you made sure the MB16 is seated flat on the bottom of the S2 ?

Take a look at my website.
http://www.jknights.plus.com/JMK%20...raphy/index.htm

Go to Downloads page and last document is about the MB16.

[Glasseye]

Hi Jonathan

have tried your web page link, is there an error, I keep getting 'Page not Found' error


We have occasional problems with only one of the three MB16's we use on our S2's. Usually it's mine and when I use the MB16 attached to a tripod with a macro lense, or a 80-400VR or 300 F2.8, both heavey lenses hand held (no problem when the lens mount is attached to the Tripod). I think that the plastic MB16 must flex and break contact.
I don't want to solder the top contacts to make them press on the s2's contacts harder, any other ideas any one?

the main reason for buying the MB16 was to save having to worry about keeping a stock 123ca's. when working away from home out in the sticks, they are not easy to get hold of and at upto £12 per 2. I can buy 12x 2200nmhi's for the same price and work with flash all day without them going flat.

okidoki
when using nicads or Nmh rechargables I check each are all about the same capacity on a tester, often one will not be. then you will get problems. although I get the occasional hick-up with my mb16, -see above-
If your camera batteries are suspect & your MB16 does flex it and disconnects it tries to force the camera batteries this will cause the bat failure error you get.



Andy

[Ben]

Hi all,

Some info of value, or maybe not.

The batteries are not the culprit nor the camera ! HUH !!!!
You might ask,

Nicad baterries, and most Ni-mh batteries have a nominal volatage of 1.2volts per cell.
4x1.2 = 4.8v ! BUT when you charge the batteries they sometimes reach 1.3 to 1.5 volts. As soon as you plug the MB-16 into the S2 all works well, at least for the first couple of minutes,
then as the batteries drain to reach their nominal voltage of 1.2v each, the camera does what it is suppose to and "sees" BATTERY FLAT, and switches off.

The VR lenses draws MUCH more juice from the batteries, and the nominal voltage for the MB-16 falls to 4.8 or less, this kills the S2 immediately. NO WARNINGS in some cases.

Try using 4 alkalines and you`ll find that the camera operates a wee while longer, but still not as long as the CR123s, since the AA cells are of less amphours as a CR123. also depends on make.

I don`t know of a "high current" AA rechargable battery with a 1.5v nominal voltage. The only 1.5v rechargables are very low in peak currant and wont last long.

Any comments on my statements ....

[GaryB]

Andy,

Just in case its of use to you www.7dayshop.com have 10 cr123's for about £12.50

Gary

[okidoki]

Ben, I think you might be right.

- when I use mu 17-35 the battery goes flat and the camera shuts down.
- when I use my 50mm its just fine fine fine...

Must figure this one out.

Thanks for all your help.

T

[Ben]

Okidoki,

A few Qs, do you use Auto focus with both or just one of them ?
Does the 17-35 USM or have a cam driven focus ?

It might be that the 17-35 needs more ooomff to focus, more lens groups more, more power to fucus etc. Again I think the battery voltage is to low for the to operate S2. Do the 4x Alkaline AA test and see if it still happens, like to know...

[jknights]

Sorry dont know what happened with the link I posted but try this.

http://www.jknights.plus.com/JMK%20Photography/

[Ojodepez]

I just got finished attaching an MB-16 to my S2. I thought I would add the following comments> Placing two small pieces of aluminum foil on top of the contacts seems to do the trick of creating a constant contact.

[okidoki]

It does.
I have run into problems again though.
I think one of the connectors are loose -- its driving me completly crazy.

T

[jknights]

Okidoki,
If you have a soldering iron it may help if you 'tin' the top of the MB16 connectors.
This will add a layer of solder to the connector that you can always top up at a later date if you are getting poor connections.

[footskier]

The vast majority of problems are associated with the dummy battery post not properly locating the MB-16, and poor electrical contact.

This works guys ;)

An engineered solution

No need for - Tape - Glue - or solder

http://www.cameratechusa.com

a Great resource page also!!

Thanks

Ray

[okidoki]

Hey guys.

Do you use the re-chargable batteries with your MB16?

I still have problems doing that too... It goes to "half" after two three shots... I am still thinking that the lower voltage of the rechargable batteries has something to do with it...

A question to a electroniclly savvy person....

Would it help if I added a small capacitator to the poles of the MB16 -- I am thinking that it wouldn't power down that fast between the shots...

Thanks

T

[jknights]

Yes. I use Hahnel or Uniross 2350mAh AA rechargeables.

I have 24 of them - two full sets for my S2 (4 in MB16, 4 in S2) and a set + spare to power my little fill-in flash if necessary. No wonder my camera bag weighs a ton !!