I haven't used this camcorder in a couple of months (bought new in January). When I went to charge it last night, neither the mains charger or USB lead will charge it. Does it just need a new battery or is it something more serious?

Probably, the ac charger unit isn't good anymore. Output charge voltage& current isn't sufficient to drive your battery charge beyond 80% threshold.

Change or replace this with a new one (same ac charger specs please) and charge your tab again.

It would appear to be the battery or the battery contacts. Clean the contacts on the battery and recharge the battery. If still does not charge then get a new battery

NiCad batteries have this problem when they are recharged frequently after being only partially discharged. This is also the case when the batteries are left in the charger continuously - even if the charger is described as being "automatic". I have old 12v batteries that I have been using for 20 years, but I only charge them for a few hours, and only when they have run down enough to be useless. I prevent leaving them too long in the charger by using a timer that cuts the power to the charger after a couple of hours. A couple of years ago I bought new drills and chargers, and believed that the chargers would be automatic and so could be left plugged in. Those batteries only lasted a couple of years, while the old ones are still going strong. I now use the timer for any of these chargers, automatic or not - but I had to buy new batteries first. good luck, Al K

The lens should be realined

I don't think you did anything wrong. I think your battery is tired and can't take a charge deep enough as it used to. As batteries get older and after repeated discharge and recharge during normal operation, they start losing their ability to hold charge as deep as when new. This is gradual and after a couple of years they drop to 50% and less. I think your attempt was "gallant" and you did everything correct, but it sounds that battery has flatlined on you and "Doc, the patient is gone"

Yes your batteries have dropped below 9 vlt each and they wont chage using your charger. Yuo must take a car battery charger and charge each battery up to at least 11vlts for your charger to charge! This ought to work if batteries have only been sitting a couple of mths . When using a car charger set charge at 6-10 amps for about 45mins to 1hr then hook up chair charger and you should be ok

Hi Riannasmail,
You need a camcorder to charger DC cable,it looks like a battery with a trailing cable that has a DC plug on the end that plugs into the Hitachi battery charger.If you are in the USA you should be able to buy one for about $8 to $12,if you live in UK you will be ripped off at about £24.
I made my own adaptor and charger system for less than £20,If you need more info please contact me.

dunno. try to have it on the charger, and at the same time try to push and hold the power button. try it a couple times. my v180 from motorola did that and it seemed to work.

This camera has had problems with the primary switch block faulting. The camera will power up all by itself when unattended and drain the battery. Another symptom would be the battery refuses to charge fully because the camera must remain in the "OFF" mode for the charge process to begin. Sony in Laredo, TX is replacing these controls at little or no cost, I would call them to see if they will repair this for you. Hope this helps you. Joe Weibel Custom Electronics (customelectronics.org)