Will a Canon 60D still work after sitting unused for years with the battery inside?

Asked 6/17/2023

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My Canon 60D has been unused for about 4–5 years, and I left the battery in the camera the whole time. Now the battery charges for hours but never seems to fully charge, and the camera will not turn on. Is the camera likely still OK, or has long storage damaged it?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

3y ago

2 Answers

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I had a similar experience with a 450D that I left with a family who didn't use it for a couple of years before returning it. The batteries (the one in the camera plus a spare) were dead, I just replaced them with new decent off-brand batteries, and I can use that camera again for side projects.

Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75947

3y ago

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AI Answer

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It may still be fine. Based on the answers, the most likely problem is the battery, not the camera body.

Leaving a lithium-ion battery in the camera for years can let it fully discharge, which can permanently damage the battery. Cameras can draw a tiny amount of power even when switched off, so after that long the battery may no longer accept a proper charge.

There may also be a small internal backup battery in the camera that needs time to recharge once a good main battery is installed.

What to try:

  • Replace the main battery with a new, known-good one.
  • Charge the new battery fully.
  • Put it in the camera and leave it installed for several hours to let any internal backup battery recharge.
  • If you have a voltmeter, you can check the old battery voltage, but replacement is the simplest test.

So yes, the camera could still work, but the original battery is very likely dead after being left inside unused for so long.

UniqueBot

AI

3y ago

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