help help help

[tenftlifestyle]

I had finished uploading my pics from my camera to lightroom and the battery was almost dead but not all the way yet.
somehow, my camera got pulled out from my computer when it was still on and now my camera wont turn on nor with the battery charge.
What Happened???
I need to figure this out asap.
Is the battery fried?
do i need a new one?
What do i do???
:(

[erichlund]

First of all, slow down. How long did you try to charge the battery? Put it on the charger and leave it there overnight. Get another battery and charge it. You should keep a second battery charged all the time.

Now, after you have at least one battery with a charge, then try to turn the camera on. If it won't come on at all, then contact Nikon. If you are in the US, go to this Nikon Service Page (http://nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-And-Repair.page).

I know there are some people who always load photos from the camera. I don't. I use a card reader. I ALWAYS format the card in the camera, but I use the card reader to load photos to my computer. The card reader won't go dead in the middle of a download. If it comes disconnected (a good feat, since it's installed in my desktop), it won't be particularly hurt by sensitive electronic contacts. And, even if it's destroyed, a replacement card reader costs a few bucks. A fried camera might cost more than it's worth to repair, and even a cheap dSLR is way too much money for that, when there's a cheaper, safer solution.

Good luck with your problem.

[shshsh]

I know there are some people who always load photos from the camera. I don't. I use a card reader. I ALWAYS format the card in the camera, but I use the card reader to load photos to my computer.

Me, too. Simpler, less hassle, and in almost (?) all cases much, much better transfer speed than from the camera. Don't need any additional drivers, no matter what camera model. Don't need to worry for the camera falling down when doing a stupid jerk on the USB cable.

[shshsh]

I had finished uploading my pics from my camera to lightroom and the battery was almost dead but not all the way yet.
somehow, my camera got pulled out from my computer when it was still on and now my camera wont turn on nor with the battery charge.
What Happened???


USB data transfer needs some power, too. Some USB devices are powered via the USB bus itself (card readers, USB sticks, mice, keyboards), some devices have their own power supply. The latter would apply to your camera.

My guess is you simply used the last bit of battery power with that USB data transfer, and at some point, it was completely exhausted.


Is the battery fried? do i need a new one?

Very unlikely. I'd say it's simply completely empty.


What do i do???

Just recharge the battery. Since it's completely empty, it might take a couple of hours.

I'd say everything will be just fine. Don't worry.

And for the future, I'd recommend a card reader. Any card reader from the bargain bin of your local electronics megastore will do. I wouldn't spend much more than $10 or $15 on it.

[tenftlifestyle]

My battery charger wont even recognize my battery, the light doesn't flash or even light up, like usual. I did leave it in over night just to check. At this time I am financially unable to get a back up battery. I have thought about a card reader and I will work on that. I have an external hard drive right now. Thanks to everyone. Any ideas on the battery charger issue?

[XaiLo]

There's an outside chance that the charger could be the culprit. A circut should be completed once the battery is seated. Is the power cord inserted fully?

[erichlund]

Battery chargers have electronics too. Try moving it to a different plug, somewhere else in the house. Check the breaker that it's on, or if other things on that circuit are working. If it's on a good circuit and you cannot charge the battery, take the battery and charger to your dealer, and see if they can check the battery and charger.

Added: You may just try unplugging and replugging the charger. That may reset the electronics in the charger, and eliminate the embarrassing "Oh, the charger was unplugged" bit. You might also check to see if it's plugged into a socket that's on a light switch. I hate it when that happens. Scenario, you plug in the battery to the charger, it seems to start charging, then you turn the lights out. The next morning, the battery has still not charged. DAMHIKT

If all else fails, follow the previous link to contact Nikon. But if the battery is damaged, you will probably have to buy a new one. A Nikon battery will be about $50, maybe a little less. You can get a third party battery for about half that, though it may not perform quite as well as a Nikon battery. Of course, in this case...working is better than not.

If your charger is fried, then you may have another issue...bad power. In that case, you have yet another expense to consider, a quality surge protector for the battery charger and your computer.

[tenftlifestyle]

I have tried many outlets in my house and they all do the same thing...nothing. The plug is in all the way. I will probably end up trying a new battery and charger. If anyone thinks of anything else, let me know!

Thank you all so much!! I am very grateful!! :)

[K1W1]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the one issue not mentioned previously by anybody other than you is the possibility that you camera got a belt through the USB lead as it was disconnected and had fried either the camera or the battery or both.

It's remote but it is possible and it has happened to other people.

If there is a shop that sells Nikons nearby or if you have a friend with a compatible Nikon camera I would be seeing if I could try another battery first. If you put another known working battery in the camera and it does not start up then the camera is faulty. If you put a known working battery into the camera and it starts then the issue is your battery. If you put a known working battery into your charger and the light comes on then the issue is your battery.

You must start your diagnosis with one known working component. Without this the whole exercise is pointless because you do not have a point or reference.

[tenftlifestyle]

Get This!!
I went to a friends house with a nikon camera and charger and plugged everything in there and everything worked...weird.
the battery worked in her camera, my battery worked in her charger, my charger worked with her battery, then my camera and charger started working!

How would that come to be?
Anyone know?
I will be a lot more careful when other people are around my computer..thats for sure!
Thanks again!

[K1W1]

The great god of electrical things smiled upon you. :D:D

In all the changing things around you have probably just reset things enough to start up again. I'm glad it looks like there is no permanent damage.

Now you need to go and get yourself a card reader.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

A completely discharged battery could pull a very high current when first put on your charger and trip a thermal overload. After several times on and off (eg a seconds charging) the battery now has enough charge that when it goes onto the charger it no longer trips the thermal overload.

Just a wild guess at one possibility that I used to experience with nicad batteries.

[erichlund]

Lithium, but other than that, good point.