Hi,

I apologize if this is too off topic. I can't find much info on this and I'm used to the AVS Forum. I have a Panasonic PV-GS59 digital camcorder about 2 years old. I haven't used it for several months, and I left the battery attached to the camcorder. I went to use it today, and the battery was dead, even though the camcorder's power switch was in the off position all that time. I put the battery on the charger, and the green charge light comes on for about a second or two and then goes off, and nothing else happens, the battery doesn't charge. The DC cord that goes from the charger to the camcorder powers the camcorder fine. Hopefully someone out there has a similar set-up. Does it sound like the battery is too far gone, or should I suspect the charger? The battery has only been used and charged a handful of times, and worked fine last time. The charger model number is PV-DAC14D, and the battery, best I can figure out is a CGR-DU06 (7.2 v, 640 mAh). Thanks in advance for any advice.

All cameras and camcorders made in recent years use a capacitor internally to store a charge that is used for housekeeping functions. That includes keeping the internal clock and calendar working and to keep the settings that you set from resetting to defaults. This capacitor continuously uses a little bit of the electricity from the battery to renew its charge. Over time, the battery will be drained if not recharged. That sounds like what happened to your battery.

As to whether that battery can be revived, I don't know. Perhaps others have some ideas. I'm not optimistic if the Panasonic charger won't do anything, I'm not sure there is another way to revive it. The solution may be to buy a new battery.

All cameras and camcorders made in recent years use a capacitor internally to store a charge that is used for housekeeping functions. That includes keeping the internal clock and calendar working and to keep the settings that you set from resetting to defaults. This capacitor continuously uses a little bit of the electricity from the battery to renew its charge. Over time, the battery will be drained if not recharged. That sounds like what happened to your battery.

As to whether that battery can be revived, I don't know. Perhaps others have some ideas. I'm not optimistic if the Panasonic charger won't do anything, I'm not sure there is another way to revive it. The solution may be to buy a new battery.

Thanks Rock Flint. I'll try a new battery first, I found them along with chargers online and at eBay for a fraction of the cost that Best Buy wants. If the new battery won't charge when I receive it, I'll order a new charger. I tried to get the present battery checked at Radio Shack, Best Buy, and a local camera store, and none said they have any way of checking it.

Thanks Rock Flint. I'll try a new battery first, I found them along with chargers online and at eBay for a fraction of the cost that Best Buy wants. If the new battery won't charge when I receive it, I'll order a new charger. I tried to get the present battery checked at Radio Shack, Best Buy, and a local camera store, and none said they have any way of checking it.


I just received an extended life battery, and it charges and works fine with my present charger and the camcorder.