Help! 580EXII fell in seawater

[jeromego]

both of my flashes on lightstands fell in seawater. one is still working the other doesn't fire anymore but pilot light is still on. Aside from this 2 cybersyncs also took a dip.
I rinsed them with with fresh water even the one that still fires before sending them to canon? was that a good idea or not?

Any advise? thanks.

[SnlpeR]

happened to my friend
both flashes were toast.
i brought them to canon for him and canon charged like over 300 to fix it.
its basically replacing all the components inside
so sad

[jeromego]

I don't mind sending it to canon but was it good as new after canon replaced it?

[Todd Lambert]

Ah man.. sorry to hear that.

I would probably rinse them very well with distilled water then I'd put them into a bag of rice and let them dry out completely. I would not try to turn them on until they are completely dry (this is VERY important whenever any kind of electronics get wet).

If that doesn't work, I guess sending them in is your only option.

Sucks to hear and I'm sorry.

[FlashZebra]

Remove the batteries.

Open all closures on the flash

Rinse in clean water for one minute moving the flash around.

Throw water out.

Rinse in clean water for one minute moving the flash around.

Throw water out.

Rinse in clean water for one minute moving the flash around.

Throw water out.

Rinse in distilled water for one minute moving the flash around.

Throw water out.

Rinse in distilled water for one minute moving the flash around.

Throw water out.

Drain all the water out. Rotate flash to get water out of cavities.

Set down for 10 minutes.

Drain all the water out. Rotate flash to get water out of cavities.

Set down for 10 minutes.

Drain all the water out. Rotate flash to get water out of cavities.

Place fan on flash in open space.

Change positions of flash every few hours.

Leave fan on flash for three days.

You MIGHT get lucky.


Enjoy! Lon

[jeromego]

Update: Believe it or not. I rinsed them and now it works. but do you think, in time it'll get rusted?

[Todd Lambert]

That's why you want to use distilled water, it will help keep it from rusting. Also, be sure it's completely dry before continuing it's use. If anything I'd let it sit unused for a week or so, just to make sure.

[FlashZebra]

Update: Believe it or not. I rinsed them and now it works. but do you think, in time it'll get rusted?

Rust is not the major issue, the corrosive nature of salt on all sorts of components and parts inside the flash is is major issue.

The rigor I suggested above is specifically geared to eliminate the salt from the flash.

Even if the flash works short term, if salt is present it will corrode important components inside the flash and render the flash useless.

But realize the cure above may also damage the flash. There is no easy band aid for a flash immersed in salt water.

Enjoy! Lon

[jeromego]

Rust is not the major issue, the corrosive nature of salt on all sorts of components and parts inside the flash is is major issue.

The rigor I suggested above is specifically geared to eliminate the salt from the flash.

Even if the flash works short term, if salt is present it will corrode important components inside the flash and render the flash useless.

But realize the cure above may also damage the flash. There is no easy band aid for a flash immersed in salt water.

Enjoy! Lon

Thanks Lon. I just ogt an email from Canon today they cleaned and fixed everything, $128 for each flash, which is not bad at all compare to getting a new one which i already did for $420 each.

[jetcode]

If they were on when they got wet there is no guarantee that the electronics didn't short circuit. Drying them out after rinsing in distilled water will likely have little effect in reviving the units.