How to Clean Battery Contacts in Camera

As an amateur photographer, my DSLR is my prized possession and trusted companion on all my weekend nature photography trips. But a few months back, I suddenly started having annoying issues with my camera shutting down without warning even when the battery was over 50% charged! Here’s the story of how a dirty little problem taught me to clean camera battery terminals and keep corrosion away for smooth performance.

Why Battery Corrosion Happens in the Camera’s Battery Compartment?

Some online research indicated faulty battery contacts prone to corrosion over long use could lead to such sudden shutdowns. I inspected the inside of my 5-year-old DSLR’s battery compartment and surely enough saw white and green gunk built up on the metal contact plates.

Now that I had identified the root cause – oxidation corrosion breaking electrical connectivity – I needed to urgently clean the battery terminals and restore smooth power flow before permanent damage happened. But how does one safely remove years of grimy mineral deposition on delicate electronics without risking scratches or static shock?

As the battery compartment corrosion progresses, power transfer gets more and more erratic. Components receiving inadequate and fluctuating voltage start to misbehave. It started with occasional abrupt black screens while I was still in the middle of shooting beautiful forest panoramas. All power would simply cut off without the low battery warning most of the time. I’d have to take out and reinsert the batteries to restart the system. This became more and more frequent making the problem impossible to ignore.

While initially, I thought it was just flaky third-party replacement batteries, even my original manufacturer batteries started exhibiting the same erratic discharge behavior within an hour or two of inserting fully charged ones! I depend on the camera to capture those magical lighting conditions that last only moments. Having to suddenly stop and troubleshoot technical issues was endlessly frustrating and so many great photos got missed.

Procedure I Followed for Cleaning Battery Contact in Camera 

Luckily my friend had repaired this issue with his camera on his own. His recommended approach worked beautifully without having to pry open anything or dismantle anything intricate within the camera body.

For cleaning purposes, I used a microfiber cloth, a couple of Q-tips, and distilled white vinegar. Here is how I went about cleaning away battery terminal corrosion in a few very easy and safe DIY steps. 

Turn the Camera Off and Remove the Batteries

The first thing is to switch the camera off properly and take out both battery packs before starting any repair work. This has to be done to prevent accidental electrical shorts which can permanently damage sensitive digital camera circuitry.

Visual Inspection

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Before blindly scrubbing away, I did a careful visual examination of the battery compartment. Removing the small bottom plate cover that conceals the terminals offered better lighting and magnification. Multicolored crystalline deposit patterns are the tell-take sign of gradual corrosion buildup.

Vinegar Soak & Dissolve

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Next, I tipped a bit of distilled white vinegar onto a Q-tip and gently rubbed it specifically over the corroded regions and stains within the battery slot. Letting the mild acidity soak for 2-3 minutes allows it time to react and loosen up the mineral scale deposition beneath.

Rinse Clean

I repeated the vinegar treatment 2-3 more times for stubborn areas and deposits. Then use a clean dry corner of cloth to carefully wipe off and scrub the wet contacts removing all traces of corrosion. 

Dry out Thoroughly

Before turning on the camera again, I made sure no moisture lingered on cleaned out metal contacts using a blow dryer for 10 mins. Corrosion resumes if any wetness remains!

Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Camera’s Battery Compartment

Here are some handy best practices to employ for keeping camera battery terminals and compartments gunk-free over years of daily use:

Regular Preventative Cleaning

Don’t wait for corrosion buildup to become visible before acting. Set calendar reminders to deep clean the battery compartment once every 3 to 6 months as routine camera maintenance. Just like washing a car, prevention beats expensive repairs later.

Inspect Before Shoots

Check battery contacts each time you load up fresh cells or spares before an important photo session or while traveling. Visually verify pins are not corroded and rub down if required so performance is flawless when shooting.

Use Contact Protectants

Applying contact lubricant sprays or greases forms an invisible layer protecting the metal surfaces from moisture, salts, and oxidation over the long term. Reapply as part of the annual camera service.

Dry Storage With Silica Packs

Keep unused cameras stored without batteries using desiccant moisture-absorbing packs. The dry environment drastically slows down corrosion reactions – extending device life by years!

Buy Quality Batteries

Stick to premium branded alkaline cells from leading manufacturers. Avoid cheaper no-name generics prone to leaks causing internal corrosion gradually. Rechargeable Lithium cells offer high stability with minimal discharge even during storage.

Remove Batteries When Not Using

Make it a habit to take out batteries from the camera after each day’s use or extended periods of non-use. Preventing continuous slow discharge via electronic components reduces damage risk.

Proper Battery Disposal

Don’t just trash dead single use cells with household garbage. The slow chemical leakage over years in landfills poisons the earth. Drop expired batteries off at store recycling bins or hazardous waste collection centers. Go green!

Service Yearly

While DIY cleaning tackles minor battery terminal corrosion, extensive repairs of internal faults are best left to qualified technicians. Get the camera body serviced professionally each year – cleaning, oiling moving components plus waterproofing increases lifespan multifold!

Conclusion

Hope this detailed guide gives you clarity and confidence to clean corroded battery contacts in the camera whenever required. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure – take good care of cameras with periodic cleaning and maintenance. Feel free to share any special tips on keeping cameras working flawlessly for years in the comments below.