553ELX warm (hot) batteries??

[Olof B]

Hi,

As I have got a nice 553ELX from the auction site, but have some questions regarding the batteries, (five AA).

Something have happen and I hope that somebody might help me.

When I got the camera body it was running nicely on fresh batteries. The batt-check worked.
It ran nice also with lens attached.

But then I attached a magazine, and this is when problems started.
It got very sluggish.
The battery lid got more than hand warm so I removed the lid. And by then I noticed that the batteries were very warm.

And now the body doesn't run at all. And the batt-check is not working.
Fuse is OK!

I can get the body to cycle by setting the LOT-lever to T and back to O. But the batteries gets hot.

The body is from 1998 (ER)

Any suggestions?
Is it something with the small PCB inside the battery holder?


regards
Olof

 

[Olof B]

Short circuit?

I might have found a solution.
Se attached pdf.

When testing with messuring device I get a short between contact 1 and the lid 2 when pressing the contact 1 down.

But not when not applying pressing force. Then I only have contact with the flat contact to the lower-left.

Can this be fixed?
Is this a DIY job?

Olof

Happy Midsummer!

Olof

 

[wbulte]

Known problem :-(

I fixed an 553ELX (I think, it has been a while) for polypal that had exactly the same problem.

The soft rubber-like insulating material in the battery cover degrades and then you end up with short-circuiting the AA cells.

Search this forum for the fix I used.

Wilko

 

[polypal]

Hello Olof,

There are two solutions:

Ask Hasselblad to supply a new battery cover.

Two disadvantages: 1. It costs a small fortune, 2. It is not a lasting solution.


The other solution is to replace the foam that is falling apart with proper insulation material.

Wilko replaced the poor quality foam of both my 553ELX bodies.

Sadly this problem is known with most Hasselblad service departments.
From all I know Hasselblad has not changed the insulation material in the covers.
Why improve a money making problem that keeps coming back



Paul

 

[Olof B]

OK.

I'll give Hasselblad a call on Monday, to hear what they say.


The part (the lid) is not a complex part so one should be able to fix it by your self? I shall see what insulating material (foam, paper, plastic sheets) we have at work.

If not I might return with a request for repair.

Or can the ELX bodies be run with an external power source?

Olof

 

[polypal]

OK.



The part (the lid) is not a complex part so one should be able to fix it by your self? I shall see what insulating material (foam, paper, plastic sheets) we have at work.

If not I might return with a request for repair.

Or can the ELX bodies be run with an external power source?

Olof

Hasselblad used to have an external power supply for the older motorised bodies.
That PS will probably work also with later cameras having 5 AA cells.
External power can be connected using the multi connector at the RH side of the body.

Wilko used a thin insulating film to fix my battery covers.

A new battery cover may cost about as much as a decent used 553ELX body.


Paul

 

[Olof B]

Well I couldn't keep my finger away from my lid.
I peeled the cover away to expose the foam and contact-bridges underneath.
And by a small piece exposed film I insulated the contact.

And now the camera is running nicely again!

Olof