Battery 'meter' just pulses when I put certain batteries in my K5II

I have a number of batteries for my K5II, three of which are playing up, but...

When I measure the charge they are 8.01, 8.04 and 8,24V.

When I put them in a charger the green light goes out almost immediately.

When I put them in my K5II the battery 'meter' on the top LCD pulses, the camera makes a clicking noise in time with the 'meter' pulse, and that's it. Nothing else lights up.

Other batteries with the same voltage work fine.

All three with the problem are generic ones off eBay, but so is one of the one's that works and was bought at the same time as the problem three..

Anyone any ideas what's going on please?

If some work and some don't, it sounds like those that don't are knackered.

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John K

If they weren't holding a charge I'd agree, but they are. They'll get binned anyway, but I hate mysteries!

From my non qualified brain it sounds like the batteries are chipped or possibly not. This action by manufacturers will ensure maximum efficiency from both charging and usage of their batteries but also ensure you use only the manufacturers own batteries. There is info on the net and it maybe your batteries are ok but there is also no guarantee that all three units were made in the same factories to identical standards. For us its a bit of a mine field as the price of oem batteries are so high. Of course my guess could be wrong and they may just be duff.

Tony

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“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.” – Ansel Adams

Did they ever work in the camera? If not then they sound to just be dodgy batteries. I have no problem with non Pentax batteries in my K5II, or inn charging them with the Pentax charger.

Thanks Gwyn and Fishbones.

The batteries used to work fine in the K5II, and as said, it's three out of four batteries from the same supplier, all bought at the same time and outwardly identical.

open circuit voltage only equates to charge if the battery has no other faults. A dodgy cell could be dropping out under load.

Don't bin them as they're classified as hazardous waste, send them for recycling.

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John K

Battery voltage should be verified with a load on the battery. Even a "dead" battery could indicate full voltage without a load applied.

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Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)

Thanks for the additional comments. Presumably the charger is simply using voltage as an indicator of charge state?

Are there any 're-conditioner' chargers for these batteries? I have one for AA's and AAA's which has revived a few in the past.