Why does my Canon EOS 50D lose the date whenever I remove the main battery?
Asked 6/8/2020
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2 answers
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My Canon EOS 50D resets the date and time every time I remove the main battery, even briefly. The backup coin cell is installed correctly and measures 3.2V with a multimeter. What might cause this, and is there anything I can try before considering repair?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
15
I'd change the CR2016 anyway* - they're only about a buck even at full retail price - & see if it improves. Also give the contacts a quick spray with contact cleaner or 90% isopropyl & allow to dry fully.
If it doesn't improve, then you're probably in for more costly repairs.
*It's almost impossible at consumer-level to measure a voltage under load. I know there isn't much in the way of load on a tiny backup battery like this, but you can still only measure it unloaded with a multi-meter.
Originally by user57929. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user57929
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The most likely cause is still the backup coin cell, even if it measures 3.2V. A multimeter usually checks voltage with almost no load, so a weak CR2016 can appear fine but still fail to hold the camera’s date/time memory when the main battery is removed.
Try this first:
- replace the CR2016 with a new one
- clean the battery contacts carefully with contact cleaner or 90% isopropyl alcohol
- let everything dry fully before reinstalling
If a fresh battery and clean contacts don’t fix it, the problem is likely internal to the camera’s backup power circuit, which would mean a repair is needed.
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