GH4 Battery stuck in camera

M

mmaller

Well-known member
A friend of mine purchased a new Panasonic battery from B&H for his GH4.
He charged it up and then placed it into his camera.
He said that it seemed tighter then usual when inserting it, but pushed it in anyway, regrettably.
Now the battery can not be removed.
Has anybody experienced this, and what recourse or suggestions for removing the battery.
The camera is under warranty.
 
mmaller said:
A friend of mine purchased a new Panasonic battery from B&H for his GH4.
He charged it up and then placed it into his camera.
He said that it seemed tighter then usual when inserting it, but pushed it in anyway, regrettably.
Now the battery can not be removed.
Has anybody experienced this, and what recourse or suggestions for removing the battery.
The camera is under warranty.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a bloated battery. At this point my suggestion is that if you don't know how to dismantle the outer shell (or at least loosen it), send the camera in.
 
yslee said:
Sounds like a bloated battery. At this point my suggestion is that if you don't know how to dismantle the outer shell (or at least loosen it), send the camera in.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a bummer. If your friend lives in the area, a trip to B&H with receipt might be in order. Someone there might be able to help out or he could take it round the corner to a repair shop once B&H has authorized a payment to fix it. Worth a shot before sending the whole kit off to a repair center.
 
Here's a picture. I don't think it shows anything unusual besides the battery release tab being in a somewhat released state.

StuckBatteryGH4r.jpg
 
I once had a 3rd party battery swell in an Olympus Pen E-P3. Took two hours but I managed to "pry it out" using a sharp leather punch. I took it slow and managed to get the battery out without damage to the camera. I would position a folded piece of cloth where the shaft of the leather punch would press against the lip of the battery compartment, dig the point in the battery and slowly "pry" it upwards.

Warning to all of us, NEVER force a tight battery in a camera.

Safest alternative, of course, is send the camera to an authorized service center and let them get the swollen battery out.
 
What about putting the camera in the freezer for a short period of time?
Might this cause the battery to contract enough to allow removal?

Anybody have any thoughts on this?
 
estarkey7 said:
How about glue something top the bottom of the battery with a strong epoxy so you can pull the battery out?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. That black metal-filled epoxy produces an incredibly strong bond. ( the battery will likely be toast, but then I guess it already is )
 
Thanks for the suggestions. The strong epoxy idea sounds like a good one. I'll pass them on and will update on the success or decision on sending back to Panasonic
Thanks again to all.
 
Just a quick word of caution regarding the epoxy. Doesn't sound like a great idea after having forced a battery in, to try and force it out. Who knows what get's pulled out with it possibly causing more damage. Just a thought.
 
Regarding epoxy, it might not stick well to the plastic used in the battery housings. My guess is that the plastic battery housing is either ABS or Polypropylene based. Epoxy doesn't stick very well to either. A better plan of action might be getting a very sticky tape (some of the fiberglass reinforced tapes are particularly sticky) and cut two strips about3 inches long. Attach one piece from the edge of the battery to the center and fold the remaining tape back in the direction of the edge. Do the same with the other piece of tape starting at the opposite edge. Stick the folded back loose ends together from where they meet in the middle toward the ends. You will now have an inverted T where the top of the T is adhered to the battery and the vertical part of the T creates a handle at the center of the battery. Pull gently with your thumb and forefinger, pinching the tape as close to the battery as you can. I hope that helps.

Cheers.
 
i would dig an exacto knife into the seam of the battery, once separated, get a flat head in there and just lever the sucker out
 
I would not put the camera in a freezer. The moisture is not going to be a good thing.
Click to expand...

thorn, what's the difference between putting the camera in the freezer (No lens attached, and placed in a plastic bag) and shooting outdoors in winter when it's 10 or 15 degrees out?
The camera is weather sealed and meant to be used in somewhat harsh conditions?
 
Last edited:
i would dig an exacto knife into the seam of the battery, once separated, get a flat head in there and just lever the sucker out
Click to expand...

Darren,
There is not much room for the battery to expand, and putting more pressure on the battery cavity may damage the walls of the battery compartment?
Also isn't there acid in the battery which could leak out if the battery is compromised and cause more damage to the compartment?
 
This is definitely unfortunate.

If it happened to me, I would send it in for repair. You don't want to damage a $1700 camera by trying to save a bit of money.

And, as Bruce wrote, NEVER force a tight battery in a camera. In fact, never force ANYTHING regarding the camera, be it batteries, lenses, SD cards, tripod plates, etc.

Hope this works out for your friend, mmaller!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top