Interesting rescue trick for Finepix with bad date/time cap

If you have any of the Finepx Sxxxx cameras that have lost the ability to remember custom settings & date/time when changing batteries I have a trick for you.

The problem is a capacitor inside that is supposed to store enough charge from the batteries to power the memory for 4~6 hours. but it was a poor idea as the caps died making the camera forget everything instantly. The usual symptom was a "SET DATE/ TIME" reminder after changing batteries, but it also trashed all your custom menu choices.

Either

Plug it in to the a/c using an a/c adapter & then swap batteries

or

Build a backup battery from e-bay parts.

You'll need an a/c adapter ($8~10 on eBay)

a 2 pin polarized in-line plug (from you auto parts store)

a 3X "AAA" battery holder, (again e-bay & I suggest the enclosed ones with an on/off switch.)

All you do is cut the cable between the a/c adapter 7 attach the plugs to make it removable, just solder red/red & black/black with a heat shrink insulation.

Now if you're somewhere with a/c power just plug the camera & then change the batteries. If you're outside then swap the battery holder for the a/c adapter & plug that in to the camera's a/c power port. Turn on, swap batteries turn off unplug. Done!

Running on batteries is NOT recommended with this fix because it only provides 4.5 volts or less which is enough to maintain memory (with low battery warning) but not to actually power the camera. The spec for the power socket is "5 volts" so for safety i run a lower 4.5 volts as that is safe & plenty to maintain, but the a/c adapters actually produce 5.3 volts, so you might, again MIGHT I haven't tried it use 4 rechargeable "AA" through the same port.