Problem with a Canon 420EX flash.

[brandonXcore]

I've been using this flash quite a lot for the past year and a half or so. Just recently, however, it stopped working all-together. It will not even turn on. I checked the batteries, the contacts, and they seem fine. Batteries are kept fully charged when needed to. It may be a simple fix, but as for now, I can't seem to tell what the problem is. Anyone have any idea as to what it may be?

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[keith foster]

My 580EX II will not power on with rechargeable batteries. Try regular batteries to see if your recharges are not charging as much as they used to.

[Garbz]

! keith for the love of god how can you accept an expensive product with such a "feature"!

brandonXcore you seem to have a lot of your bases covered, but I do agree with keith on one core point. Try a different set of batteries. Fully charged batteries are quite different from working batteries

[keith foster]

Garbz, I know. I feel like an alcoholic just admitting he has a problem.

Actually, I only tried one set of rechargeables, the ones I bought the day I bought the flash, and when the flash wouldn't power up I did all the trouble shooting and got online to look for help. Someone suggested trying different batteries and all I had were alkalines. When the thing powered up I was so thrilled I never tried rechargeables again.

I need to try a different set of namebrand recharges just to see if I am going to be permanantly disabled or there is hope.

[brandonXcore]

Keith, I took your advice and went with the alkaline batteries but still no luck
It seems to be the actual flash itself. I tested two sets of rechargable li-ion batteries that are still functional and they don't work either. So weird...

[brandonXcore]

Nevermind guys I fixed it. Dunno exactly how I did it because all I really did was use a multimeter to test all my batteries out and then I unscrewed the hotshoe contact off and screwed it back on. I'm guessing the solder for the power switch may be getting weak and by detaching and reattaching the hotshoe I knocked the connection back in place. I have no idea I'm no electronic specialist. But it works now. Yay.

[pbelarge]

Sometimes by disconnecting and then reconnecting electronic gadgets, they will reset. Sort of like turning your computer off and on to clear it up.


I know this sounds off, but there are times when we perform what to us is a routine procedure, yet make a slight mistake. Then in trying again we do not even know what we did and it works.
With batteries, one may not have been properly aligned...just a thought