Battery Pack Repair Canon LP-E4

Canon LP-E4 Battery Pack

Symptoms

Outside it looks completely normal, no sign of trouble.  Without any warning the battery pack had no life.  Nothing in the camera and no lights when placed on the charger.  First time ever, the LP-E4 was lifeless.   I confirmed that charger was fine with other LP-E4 battery packs.

Disassemble

it was then I decided that there was little to lose.  I was time to open up the pack to see what was inside.

Step 1. remove the latch

four screws removes the latch.  This latch has the weather-proofing rubber inserted.

Step 2. remove the plate

another four screws removes the plate. I saved these tiny screws in a box so that they did not go missing during the project.

Step 3. split the case

for this step I used a wood chisel to twist the two halves of the case apart. be brave! it will separate.

Step 4. remove the cells and circuit

there was a sticky tape holding the cell in the case.

Diagnose

The volt meter told the story quickly. Just measuring the voltage across each of the three cells.  In my case one of the three cells was very near zero volts.  The other two were close to 4 Volts and I considered them to be in good order.  I assumed the circuit board was fine.

Replacement Cell

In an online forum I learned that the three cells are type: 18650.  http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1345833

In my city(Toronto, Ontario, Canada) there is a BatteriesExpert store that had an 18650 3.7Volt 3,000mA $12.  the mA rating is important to be at least 2,300mA (the capacity rating) same as the battery packs is rated.  This one is 3,000mA  Larger will be fine(I assume).

18650 3,000mA

Remove the Defective Cell

each of the cells are spot welded into the original set of three.  I used pliers, twisted and ripped the metal strips from the battery trying to maintain the metal.  These strips are important for the next install step.

Install New Cell

I ripped all of the red wrapper off the new cell.  This model also had extra parts on each of the new cell and I stripped these off of both ends.  Leaving a cell(blue) with metal leads on each end.

  

Test

Before even soldering and before gluing the case back together I used jumpers to connect the new cell.  Now the Final moment, big TEST.  I placed it on the charger.  Tada!  Lights and it behaved normally and completed the charge cycle.

Reassemble

Press the cells into the case.  Close the case back together and glue the sides together.

 

Caution: the battery pack fits into the camera snuggly, smooth off rough edges and extra glue so that the size of the pack does not increase.

Complete

Reattach the plate with four screws.  Reattach the latch with four screws.

Roy