580 EX II Died During A Parade!

[CameraLens]

Has anyone had this happen before?

Basically, after about 100 shots with the flash, I switched to a fresh set of fully charged Maha 2700 AH NiMH AA's. Then the flash wouldn't fire at all. It powers up just fine and everything on the LCD looks normal, but no flash.

The LED on the 580EX II doesn't light up green and then red the way it used to. It is simply unlit altogether. When I press the LED light to try and test fire it, nothing happens. Any ideas what I did wrong?

Thanks.

[poloman]

Check battery orientation. Try a different set of batteries.

[CameraLens]

Well, I think the batteries are okay, because the flash powers up just fine. The batteries work fine on other devices. It's odd how the LED button on the flash doesn't light up green and then red when I power it up. Usually, when you first turn on the flash, the LED lights up green for 1-2 seconds, then it turns red and stays red.

[tim]

The 580II has thermal protection, so you probably didn't fry it. Turn it on, hit the red test button, see if it fires. If so, all good tell us, if not send it to Canon for repair ($120 ish flat fee).

[CameraLens]

Well I think I figured it out. You know those batteries that I said were fully charged? Apparently charging them only 3 days before the shoot isn't recent enough. I just took all the batteries and slapped 'em back in the charger and topped 'em off. Then I pulled the batteries fresh off the charger and now the flash works just fine. :oops: User error strikes again. But at least this is a cheap problem.

I guess these 1-year old rechargeables just aren't gonna cut it for the demands of camera a flash (even though they work fine on other devices :rolleyes:). I've gotta find a more reliable power source.

[Yaamon]

Glad your flash unit good.

I used to use high cap NiMH, unit last year I decide to switch to the eneloops and rayovac hybrid batteries.

I can charge and have them sit months and they are ready to go with almost max charge.

I find that as the NiMH, gets older more than a few months they start to discharge fast. I no longer use any nimh batteries in anything.

3 days is not a lot of time, guess thsoe batteries had it days.

[poloman]

Make sure you charge them at least once a month.

[e02937]

eneloops

[Racerman]

eneloops for me :)
love them

[CameraLens]

Yep. I smell a purchase in the near future. New batteries + a flash bracket + a flash cord. Dang this hobby.

[ScottsGT]

eneloops

YES!! I got tired of poor performance from my 580EX II using alkaline's. Duracells, eveready,what ever i could find on sale. Did a search for the best batteries to use here on the forum, and came up with Eneloops. Bought the kit off Amazon that included the charger, 8 AA, 2 AAA, adapters to use the AA's in D cell products but found these useless since my Mag Light has a big spring on the base that does not make contact on the AA base! Got everything for something like $25 + shipping. My flash performs like in never has now! Consistant, even exposures, faster charge times, etc.. Best tip I ever read here!

[viet]

Shake your flash, do you hear a rattling sound? if you do, you might have broken the flash tube. Not necessarily burned it, but broke it.

[brantfordbandit]

eneloops for me too

[czeglin]

It is possible it went into thermal protection mode (as Tim mentioned) and your batteries are fine. Try charging them, waiting three days, and then using them. I only have Energizer rechargeables that are about a year old and they work fine much longer after charging than three days. They may not last for as many shots but I would certainly get a few at least.

[Todd Lambert]

At least it died with a parade. Often times they just die with no fanfare at all. ;-)

Eneloops rock. I've got four sets of em now and I love em.

[MT Stringer]

I've gotta find a more reliable power source.

I have been using Energizer 2500"s in the flash and Pwerex 2700's in the battery pack. Thomas Distributing can fix you up.
I also have a 8 cell MAHA charger that works well.
MIke

[CameraLens]

Nothing is rattling in the flash, but I have identified at least 1 or maybe 2 bad AA cells with a volt meter. These are MAHA 2700 NiMH's from Thomas Distributing. It's very dissapointing cos they're only like a year old. I thought they're supposed to last a lot longer than that. I will have to try Eneloops in the future but they have a lower capacity.