K 30 Battery retaining lug.

Not a Number · 12-23-2014, 03:36 AM

I would suspect just a bad batch of catches material or manufacturing-wise. The K-R, K-30, K-50 and K-500 all use the same battery and AA battery holder. Engineers love reusing previous components. If it were design and the same component you'd hear of the same problem with the other models. There is no ramp on the battery for my K10D which is 7-8 years old. I couldn't count the number of times the battery has been in and out.

**patrick9** · 12-24-2014, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by Not a Number

I would suspect just a bad batch of catches material or manufacturing-wise

That is what I suspect. I think mine was the third one in as many weeks that I had heard of failing

BuckeyeStu · 03-20-2016, 01:50 PM

I just posted the same thing on my K30, then found your thread. Pretty cheap material it seems. Any ill effect since you originally posted?

MSBC1 · 03-21-2016, 06:05 AM

Originally posted by BuckeyeStu

I just posted the same thing on my K30, then found your thread. Pretty cheap material it seems. Any ill effect since you originally posted?

Only that the battery drops out when you open the door if you're not careful, otherwise the K30 still runs like a trooper. Still weather sealed, still brilliant.

BuckeyeStu · 03-21-2016, 08:08 AM

Thanks, great to know. Worse things have happened. Regards

Auzzie-Phoenix · 03-21-2016, 10:24 PM

I imagine with the right gauge of tools, you could make some small holes in the clip, place some shortened sewing needles in the holes and then glue it to keep it together... the pins would give it support against shear force and help prevent re-breakage.

lectrolink · 03-22-2016, 10:11 AM

Get some of that adhesive that they advertise on TV that uses a blue light to instantly cure the glue. Works really well on plastic. I was surprised at how strong the bond is when my glasses snapped at the bridge. Can bend them and will not break the bond.

Auzzie-Phoenix · 03-23-2016, 11:09 PM

Ahh... UV glue. It's used for a variety of things such as adhering replacement glass on smartphones. That might work pretty well. I keep forgetting about that stuff....

arkav · 01-18-2017, 08:30 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by MSBC1

Only that the battery drops out when you open the door if you're not careful, otherwise the K30 still runs like a trooper. Still weather sealed, still brilliant.

I know this is an old thread, but this came up in the K70 forum and I posted my solution there. I'll repeat it here:

I had the battery retainer lug on my K30 snap over a year ago I think. For a while, I just lived with it. Then I lost the battery in the field when the door popped open somehow. Miraculously, the battery was eventually found by someone with sharper eyes than mine.

My fix: I found a piece of thin, semi-rigid plastic, and cut out a "plate" approximately the size of the bottom of my camera, drilled a hole aligned with the tripod mount, and I hold it in place using my tripod quick release plate. It covers the bottom of the camera, and ensures the battery door will not inadvertently pop open. I can easily rotate the plate out of the way if needed to replace the battery. ( ie. no need to remove the quick release plate to get at the battery )

If you don't like the look of plastic, you can use a piece of thin aluminium.

If you don't have a quick release plate, or don't want it on your camera long term, you can sub a plastic or metal machine screw that will fit the tripod mount hole.

Imp · 02-22-2017, 04:36 PM

aaand... mine just broke. Oh well.

Looking at the battery door, the thickness of the door goes into the compartment just as far as the little retaining clip would hold the battery in, so don't really see the need for some foam or anything. Now I'm just concerned for the life expectancy of the door, as when that goes, it wouldn't be worth repairing... which is a shame because the rest of the camera will probably be fine

Except my e-dials are acting up more now...

**patrick9** · 02-23-2017, 05:24 AM

I doubt the door will fail before the rest of the camera . I haven't heard of anyone's doors failing even those that have added items to help hold that battery off the door. I have retired my K30. as much as I loved it. The meter is off depending on lens and aperture setting. anywhere from +1 to +4. It over exposeses awful. Every since it's Kamikazy dive off the tripod. It is taking some getting use to the grip and placement of the AF button on the back.of the K-S2

Imp · 02-23-2017, 07:01 AM

Originally posted by patrick9

I doubt the door will fail before the rest of the camera

That's good to hear! thanks

03-20-2016, 01:50 PM	#33
BuckeyeStu New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 21	Just happened to me too I just posted the same thing on my K30, then found your thread. Pretty cheap material it seems. Any ill effect since you originally posted?

03-21-2016, 08:08 AM	#35
BuckeyeStu New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 21	re Battery Retaining Clip Thanks, great to know. Worse things have happened. Regards

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-30 Backup Battery?	haviet	Pentax K-30 & K-50	14	05-31-2014 03:22 PM
K-5 vs K-30 battery life	OldNoob	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	6	01-06-2014 08:16 AM
K-30 battery problem	KnightGirl	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	7	09-07-2013 07:56 PM
3rd party battery charger for K-01 and K-30?	Elliot	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	2	03-02-2013 07:32 PM
K-30 Battery Life	theoicarry	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	6	12-24-2012 02:44 PM

12-23-2014, 03:36 AM	#31
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	I would suspect just a bad batch of catches material or manufacturing-wise. The K-R, K-30, K-50 and K-500 all use the same battery and AA battery holder. Engineers love reusing previous components. If it were design and the same component you'd hear of the same problem with the other models. There is no ramp on the battery for my K10D which is 7-8 years old. I couldn't count the number of times the battery has been in and out.

12-24-2014, 05:09 AM	#32
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Originally posted by Not a Number I would suspect just a bad batch of catches material or manufacturing-wise That is what I suspect. I think mine was the third one in as many weeks that I had heard of failing

03-21-2016, 06:05 AM	#34
MSBC1 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 22 Original Poster	Originally posted by BuckeyeStu I just posted the same thing on my K30, then found your thread. Pretty cheap material it seems. Any ill effect since you originally posted? Only that the battery drops out when you open the door if you're not careful, otherwise the K30 still runs like a trooper. Still weather sealed, still brilliant.

03-21-2016, 10:24 PM	#36
Auzzie-Phoenix Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,020	I imagine with the right gauge of tools, you could make some small holes in the clip, place some shortened sewing needles in the holes and then glue it to keep it together... the pins would give it support against shear force and help prevent re-breakage.

03-22-2016, 10:11 AM	#37
lectrolink Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery Posts: 189	Get some of that adhesive that they advertise on TV that uses a blue light to instantly cure the glue. Works really well on plastic. I was surprised at how strong the bond is when my glasses snapped at the bridge. Can bend them and will not break the bond.

03-23-2016, 11:09 PM	#38
Auzzie-Phoenix Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,020	Ahh... UV glue. It's used for a variety of things such as adhering replacement glass on smartphones. That might work pretty well. I keep forgetting about that stuff....

01-18-2017, 08:30 AM - 1 Like	#39
arkav Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 366	Originally posted by MSBC1 Only that the battery drops out when you open the door if you're not careful, otherwise the K30 still runs like a trooper. Still weather sealed, still brilliant. I know this is an old thread, but this came up in the K70 forum and I posted my solution there. I'll repeat it here: I had the battery retainer lug on my K30 snap over a year ago I think. For a while, I just lived with it. Then I lost the battery in the field when the door popped open somehow. Miraculously, the battery was eventually found by someone with sharper eyes than mine. My fix: I found a piece of thin, semi-rigid plastic, and cut out a "plate" approximately the size of the bottom of my camera, drilled a hole aligned with the tripod mount, and I hold it in place using my tripod quick release plate. It covers the bottom of the camera, and ensures the battery door will not inadvertently pop open. I can easily rotate the plate out of the way if needed to replace the battery. ( ie. no need to remove the quick release plate to get at the battery ) If you don't like the look of plastic, you can use a piece of thin aluminium. If you don't have a quick release plate, or don't want it on your camera long term, you can sub a plastic or metal machine screw that will fit the tripod mount hole.

02-22-2017, 04:36 PM	#40
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	aaand... mine just broke. Oh well. Looking at the battery door, the thickness of the door goes into the compartment just as far as the little retaining clip would hold the battery in, so don't really see the need for some foam or anything. Now I'm just concerned for the life expectancy of the door, as when that goes, it wouldn't be worth repairing... which is a shame because the rest of the camera will probably be fine Except my e-dials are acting up more now...

02-23-2017, 05:24 AM	#41
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	I doubt the door will fail before the rest of the camera . I haven't heard of anyone's doors failing even those that have added items to help hold that battery off the door. I have retired my K30. as much as I loved it. The meter is off depending on lens and aperture setting. anywhere from +1 to +4. It over exposeses awful. Every since it's Kamikazy dive off the tripod. It is taking some getting use to the grip and placement of the AF button on the back.of the K-S2

02-23-2017, 07:01 AM	#42
Imp Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,749	Originally posted by patrick9 I doubt the door will fail before the rest of the camera That's good to hear! thanks