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Mihai_costea
Tinkerer
Username: Mihai_costea

Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2009

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Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 07:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Has any one run into this problem before: I load my MD-4 with 8xAA new batteries, check the power, led turns on as it should, fire few shots everything works well. I turn both the camera and the motor drive off and leave them for a week. Try the power test again, the led won't turn on and the motor won't start. I wasted few sets of 8xAA already.
The motor drive looks like new, inside there are no signs of rust or oxidation from battery leakage. Any obvious thing I can check or fix myself before sending it out to a repair shop?
Thanks a lot
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Cooltouch
Tinkerer
Username: Cooltouch

Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2009

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Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009 - 08:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I can't think of anything obvious that won't involve at least partially dismantling the drive. Chances are it's something simple, like a short to ground somewhere. If you have a multimeter, you might can check across the electrical contacts when it's off and see if it is truly "off."
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Mihai_costea
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Username: Mihai_costea

Post Number: 2
Registered: 09-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 10:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Thank you, that is a simple check I can do.
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Glenn
Tinkerer
Username: Glenn

Post Number: 670
Registered: 07-2006

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Posted on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 - 02:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Some high use motor drives, can have the insulation on internal switch leaves contaminated with conducting wear products/general dirt. This will allow the slow discharge of the batteries, even when everything is switched off.

I have no idea if your MD-4 has an internal construction that would allow the above to happen; however, you should also carry out the following - if not already done. Remove the drive from the camera and observe whether the batteries still discharge over the same time period. Discharge can occur due to switch/wiring problems within the camera body, only becoming apparent when the individual units are stored in combination for any length of time.

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