2. When i put in a newly charged battery, and turn it on nothing happens at all. When i have the switch in the on position and press the "picture taking" button (to the second stage / all the way down) it makes a little beep that is very very quiet. I can only hear it from a few feet away but only slightly. It is definitely a beep, not some spring or something mechanical. I don't know what this beep means though.
Unfortunately due to technology all digital cameras are throw away, unlike the solid robust 35mm analog cameras of our past. What this means is they are not built to be repaired after a relatively short life. It sounds like the circuit or program that operates the camera is starting to go on the old lumix. They have no resale value and are meant to be replaced when issues such as you're describing occur. Sorry but it's time to recycle.
Is it fixable though? I feel like it is just the charger but i am not sure. I had the thing working two-three weeks ago, but that was when the battery was still on the same charge it received from the battery shop (they come precharged).
You can probably find a cheap chinese charger on ebay for it. Worth a try before you bin it I suppose?
smells like the charger is screwed up to me.
New battery had the camera working a couple weeks ago. Battery died, now camera doesn't work. It may be that the charger died and is now killing your batteries. I would get ahold of a voltmeter and see what the battery is putting out after it's charged. The proper output voltage should be listed right on the battery somewhere.
smalliesteve wrote: smells like the charger is screwed up to me.
I am almost positive it is the charger. After charging the battery with it, and putting it in the camera, I can hear little beeps when I press buttons (and the camera is on) which are so faint I have to put it right up to my ear. I think this is cause it wants to turn on but it can't cause it doesn't have enough juice.