H4N Shutting down

J

ja_swaer

Member
This has happened to me twice now. Fortunately this last time around I had a second audio source that I could use.





When running my H4N on batteries, 2000mah eneloops fully charged, the H4N shuts down after 20 or so minutes while recording. The recording is intact but it just stops recording and shuts down. The batteries are still showing full.


The first time was on new alkaline batteries and I just figured it was a bad battery but now it has done it again using eneloops.






If I run off power it runs just fine but I don’t always have power available.





Anyone else ever seen this? Is there a workaround?
 
The only thing I can think of is to clean the battery bay contacts, check the tension and inspect the battery bay wires.
However getting to the wires on the PC board connection would require disassembly.
 
The H4n runs on 2 AA batteries, right?

First, I would go and buy 2 new, fresh Ray-o-Vac or Eveready alkaline batteries. Put them into the H4n and start it recording -- anything. See if it dies after 20 minutes. Or 40. Or 60. If it doesn't, then I would expect you were right in your original assessment -- that one of your alkaline batteries was bad. (Forget the situation with the rechargeables for a moment.)

If, however, the H4n dies after 20 minutes or so, my first thought would then be that some kind of a short is draining the batteries. Rick R is right about cleaning the battery contacts, as corrosion can certainly cause that kind of short.

When you say, "The batteries are still showing full", do you mean according to the battery indicator on the H4n? If so, take the batteries out and check them with a voltage meter, just to be sure.

I'd also be curious to know if the switch in the battery compartment is set to 'Stamina Mode' or not.
 
Also, in these situations where it dies, is it just sitting still on a stand? Or is it in a situation where it's being boomed or in a 'run and gun' situation? That would make me wonder if a loose connection or loose battery might be the culprit.
 
Here's another question -- Are you using the H4n as a USB audio interface to your computer? I ask because I stumbled across this little tidbit:

"Previously, I was relying on the USB power of the system to run the device as an audio interface. In theory, this works rather well: connect the cable when the H4n is off, and it starts up, offering you USB connection options. When you disconnect the device, the H4n immediately shuts off. It seems as though the fundamental problem is that the USB power is a bit dirty; or, at the very least, is injecting some kind of noise into the system."

The issue this guy was trying to resolve involves some noise introduced into the system when the H4n is connected incorrectly. But what I find interesting is that apparently the H4n powers up automatically when connected via USB to the computer, and powers off automatically when the USB is disconnected. I'm wondering if this might somehow give a hint as to what might be happening in your situation?
 
I used a La Crosse battery charger to recondition several rechargeable batteries that were a couple of years old, some could only hold 900mAH (admittedly these were not eneloops although capacity of some older eneloops had also dropped, if I recall to 1600 or 1700 range). I got rid of suspect batteries, relegated to my kids toy remotes. If in any doubt maybe try new Eneloops also?
 
Thanks for all the replies. I think I did figure this out. Mostly bad luck is my best guess.

The first instance, I am convinced that was a bad battery.

Second time, eneloop batteries. I believe this was a charging glitch. I recharged the eneloop batteries and started a recording. I stopped it at 4 hours. Then tried another two eneloops and stopped the test again at 4 hours. Tried it one more time and again it ran and ran and I stopped it at 2 hours.

The reason I think it was a charging issue. The eneloops charge for as long as 7 hours. I put these on the charger. 20 minutes later the charger indicated they were charged. I figured maybe they were near full but I am guessing they were not since the other two out of the same pack charged for 5+ hours.
 
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