D90 draining batteries overnight

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

06/26/2013 11:27:34 AM · #1

...when turned off, I should add. Currently have it in a bag of rice, hope it works...*sigh*

Apple iPhone 5

06/26/2013 12:07:30 PM · #2

Maybe the batteries are worn out and aren't holding charge anymore?

ETA: Charge up the batteries, leave them sitting overnight, and then put them in the camera to see if they're holding their charge.

Message edited by author 2013-06-26 12:08:22.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

06/26/2013 01:57:15 PM · #3

I did think of that, but there was/is another problem which is probably a symptom. The little green light by the memory card access slot is supposed to go on when the camera is turned on, to check for a card. It isn't meant to stay on. And I'm pretty sure it's not meant to flash on sporadically when it's turned OFF!!!! Which is what it was doing. So I took out the card, thinking the problem of inexplicable battery drain was due to that. Doesn't seem to be the case though.

As for the battery ages, yes, I have had them both awhile now. But usually batteries wear down pretty gradually in my experience; I've never had them just quit so abruptly. When I read the power/age level using the in-camera feature, it still measured both as perfectly good - New on the scale - and fully charged. Then this morning, nothin'. *sigh*

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

06/26/2013 03:07:58 PM · #4

It sure sounds like there is a circuit that is remaining active when the camera is turned off. Bear in mind that the on/off switch on most modern electronic equipment does not physically make or break the power circuit, but merely tells the power circuit what to do. Some small portion of the electronics are always active.
Your symptoms indicate that there is likely a hardware issue with the camera. It's possible, though IMO very unlikely, that a reset of all the firmware options to factory defaults might clear the fault.

markwiley

Fujifilm X-Pro2

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R IOS

06/26/2013 03:38:23 PM · #5

I was going to comment that you might have gotten some syrup in it. However, I should not joke about your camera acting up. A busted camera is no fun at all. Hopefully you can get it back in order, Susan.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

06/26/2013 04:52:33 PM · #6

Well it seems that so long as I don't keep batteries or memory card in it, all will be ok...will find out Friday when I go shoot for a challenge. It has been really humid lately so maybe I should keep the bag o rice as the camera's bed til the problem clears up...or doesn't...*sigh*

And if I do use a backup yes it probably will be a Canon...I'll never live it down!!!!

bvy

Sigma DP1x

06/26/2013 04:55:59 PM · #7

I'm actually having the exact same problem with my Sigma SD15. I thought I had a bad battery, so I bought a brand new one. It went into the camera fully charged. Two weeks have passed, and it's been turned off. Today -- dead.

So please post back if you get some answers.

bohemka

Nikon D700

06/26/2013 05:06:17 PM · #8

For what it's worth, my original Nikon battery works like a champ, but my two off-brand batteries drain while left in camera. I simply take them out when not shooting, or keep them as backup only. But I don't think this is the problem, as you'd likely mention that.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

06/26/2013 05:49:39 PM · #9

Originally posted by bvy:

Funny enough, I have the same problem with my Canon S10. Although, in my case I suspect it's a combination of the camera actually drawing enough power to get physically hot in about two minutes, the fact that it's ancient hardware, and the simple matter of the battery being the original 11 year old battery.

I suspect you're having a very different problem. :D

Enlightened

06/26/2013 07:50:51 PM · #10

I have two Nikon batteries for my D90 and I get a long life from both of them. Would you like to borrow one for Friday?

06/26/2013 08:18:20 PM · #11

Originally posted by Enlightened:

I have two Nikon batteries for my D90 and I get a long life from both of them. Would you like to borrow one for Friday?

I should be good. Ill keep them out of the camera till shooting.

06/28/2013 10:37:56 AM · #12

Originally posted by bohemka:

I have two Nikon batteries, both came with the original D90. The third is an off-brand. They all get sucked dry overnight so leaving batteries out. Bag o rice seems to have worked a little as now the green light flashes a little less when it's off, but it shouldn't be flashing continuously at all when it's off!!! Argh. Going to try googling prob.

@

Enlightened...Thanks for the kind offer, Tracey! Ryan wrote *my* last response for me on his phone as Interwebz at home currently down.

Erastus

06/28/2013 11:01:05 AM · #13

Originally posted by snaffles:

Going to try googling prob.

Probably your best bet. A few questions:

How old are the batteries?

Do you charge them with the D90 charger that came with the camera?

Have you ever had any problems with the battery falling out of the camera?

Are you using any kind of external battery pack?

Suggestions:

I'd do a master reset of the camera. You might want to try and save any personal settings you might have.
The flash memory in these cameras are sometimes subject to "upset" errors. Cosmic Rays, exposure to high RF or magnetic fields. Resetting the camera may solve this problem as the camera may automatically re allocate any bad bits/bytes when the software reloads. If this doesn't work you may even want to download and re-flash the firmware. (If you've never done this be careful)

I leave my D200 and D7100 turned on for weeks some times and it doesn't affect battery life drastically.
If you're seeing the green light constantly flashing the processors are running and outside the sensor they are the biggest powerhoggs in the camera. If you usually see the green light when the camera is in your hand there may be contact problems with the camera/batteries. I'd say camera since you seem to have problems with any of the three batts.

I'll remind you that if you always store the batteries outside of the camera, IE Camera doesn't have a battery in it when stored, The capacitor in the camera that keeps up with time will discharge over time. The next battery installed will lose a fair amount of it's charge topping up this cap.