almost dead 600ex-rt

its spot has been filled already but i have a 600ex-rt that powers up but wont flash.

not on the camera, not with the remote trigger (canon brand), not with the test button.

ive thought about just buying a yongnu (actually had one coming from ebay) but the seller ran out and refunded my money.

ive always been a firm believer that native gear works best with members of the same tribe, so id LIKE to get this one repaired.

has anyone ever had their 600, or any of the canon flashes looked at and repaired? curious of pricing...

this flash has never been abused, and really hasnt been used all that much. ive not dropped it and i used it and a couple of days later, pulled it from my bag and nothing...

tia!

Used LN/EX+ 600RT's are $250'ish range so if the repair is below that I'd consider it.

Canon had a flat rate repair on my G6 at $150.

Ltdave wrote in post #19323812
ive always been a firm believer that native gear works best with members of the same tribe...

Up to you, but the Godox TT685 is $120 and works great with Canon.

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …ttl_camera_spee​dlite.html

Ltdave wrote in post #19323812
its spot has been filled already but i have a 600ex-rt that powers up but wont flash.

not on the camera, not with the remote trigger (canon brand), not with the test button.

ive thought about just buying a yongnu (actually had one coming from ebay) but the seller ran out and refunded my money.

ive always been a firm believer that native gear works best with members of the same tribe, so id LIKE to get this one repaired.

has anyone ever had their 600, or any of the canon flashes looked at and repaired? curious of pricing...

this flash has never been abused, and really hasnt been used all that much. ive not dropped it and i used it and a couple of days later, pulled it from my bag and nothing...

tia!

Just a couple of thoughts.
For starters, let’s try this first.
Did you install fresh new AA or newly charged batteries (Ni-MH) Eneloop, in both the 600 and the ST-E3 Transmitter?
If you hand hold just the 600, (ST-E3 RT OFF)and press the Lightning bolt does it fire?
We can then build from here.
Here to help.

OP has already stated the flash will not fire via Test button
...as well as not firing via hot shoe or remote trigger.

The flash sounds like it needs a new main board, which does the triggering. In view of the current reduction in public interest in flash units, particularly the Canon ones vs. the inexpensive aftermarket brands, it might well be possible to buy a used Canon flash at a good price (due to lack of interest in the Canon flash) rather than the expense of Canon repair. Also, keep in mind the 600EX is NO MORE powerful than the 580EX-RT...it is only the focusing lens position for 200mm which accounts for the higher GN at 200mm...at 105mm the GN is no different, so if your primarly use with for flash with 105mm and less, the 600EX provides little advantage.

Wilt wrote in post #19325008
OP has already stated the flash will not fire via Test button
...as well as not firing via hot shoe or remote trigger.

The flash sounds like it needs a new main board, which does the triggering. In view of the current reduction in public interest in flash units, particularly the Canon ones vs. the inexpensive aftermarket brands, it might well be possible to buy a used Canon flash at a good price (due to lack of interest in the Canon flash) rather than the expense of Canon repair. Also, keep in mind the 600EX is NO MORE powerful than the 580EX-RT...it is only the focusing lens position for 200mm which accounts for the higher GN at 200mm...at 105mm the GN is no different, so if your primarly use with for flash with 105mm and less, the 600EX provides little advantage.

Power is one thing.
The built in RT Radio Transmission is the key to the 600 EX-RT. No third party barriers needed.

Nick5 wrote in post #19324951
Just a couple of thoughts.
For starters, let’s try this first.
Did you install fresh new AA or newly charged batteries (Ni-MH) Eneloop, in both the 600 and the ST-E3 Transmitter?
If you hand hold just the 600, (ST-E3 RT OFF)and press the Lightning bolt does it fire?
We can then build from here.
Here to help.

yes, new batteries from a pack, and fresh off the charger eneloops. no go with the lightning bolt (test) button

Wilt wrote in post #19325008
OP has already stated the flash will not fire via Test button
...as well as not firing via hot shoe or remote trigger.

The flash sounds like it needs a new main board, which does the triggering. In view of the current reduction in public interest in flash units, particularly the Canon ones vs. the inexpensive aftermarket brands, it might well be possible to buy a used Canon flash at a good price (due to lack of interest in the Canon flash) rather than the expense of Canon repair. Also, keep in mind the 600EX is NO MORE powerful than the 580EX-RT...it is only the focusing lens position for 200mm which accounts for the higher GN at 200mm...at 105mm the GN is no different, so if your primarly use with for flash with 105mm and less, the 600EX provides little advantage.

i use the 600 for a) the radio transmitter control b) i prefer to keep everything same same...

Nick5 wrote in post #19325062
Power is one thing.
The built in RT Radio Transmission is the key to the 600 EX-RT. No third party barriers needed.

hence why i went with 600s a few years back...

i DID advertise here and got a replacement but i use three in my 5' shoot through and i think id like one more in case i want to have it on my camera and wandering around (think event photography with a "booth" set up for portraits and walking, more for candids) and it allows me to keep my shoot through/lighting kit gear i little less used. id like to think it helps keep things in better condition

Ltdave wrote in post #19325077
yes, new batteries from a pack, and fresh off the charger eneloops. no go with the lightning bolt (test) button

i use the 600 for a) the radio transmitter control b) i prefer to keep everything same same...

hence why i went with 600s a few years back...

Wilt’s assessment of the Power Board may be the problem, can’t hurt to try some other things with today being a Holiday. Trying is free.
I Have both the 600 and ST-E3RT here in front of me.
Did you clean the Contacts in the battery cover with a dry micro Fibre cloth.
The Red Test Button is illuminated in Red?
Also for the old College Try. Cycle through the Mode button from M To E-TTL and so on.
Try pressing the “Z” in the upper left corner of buttons and try cycling through all the options and see if they should happen to fire the flash
Can you “ LINK” your 600 and your ST-E3 RT?

Nick5 wrote in post #19325083
Wilt’s assessment of the Power Board may be the problem, can’t hurt to try some other things with today being a Holiday. Trying is free.
I Have both the 600 and ST-E3RT here in front of me.
Did you clean the Contacts in the battery cover with a dry micro Fibre cloth.
The Red Test Button is illuminated in Red?
Also for the old College Try. Cycle through the Mode button from M To E-TTL and so on.
Try pressing the “Z” in the upper left corner of buttons and try cycling through all the options and see if they should happen to fire the flash
Can you “ LINK” your 600 and your ST-E3 RT?

yes, ive cleaned the contacts.
yes, the Red Test Button illuminates Red
yes, i can cycle through all of the Modes with the Mode button.
no, the Link ("Z") button does not cause it to fire
yes, i can link the 600 and the ST-E3RT

when i am linked, if i hold the speedlite to my ear, i can hear a faint clicking, when pressing the ST-E3RT test button.

Try the hammer test. Then bin it.

I would not hesitate to go with a new Yongnuo flash.

I used a combo of Canon and Yongnuo 600-RT speedlites primarily for weddings over the last several year. Seven speedlights in total (3 Canon, and 4 Yongnuo). I would typically have 3 groups with 2 flashes/group and then one on-camera as the trigger for the other groups, or as the bounce flash for candids. Never had a single issue, not even when syncing different brand lights within the same group. All speedlights are still functioning like new and identical to each other.

mannetti21 wrote in post #19325199
I would not hesitate to go with a new Yongnuo flash.

I used a combo of Canon and Yongnuo 600-RT speedlites primarily for weddings over the last several year. Seven speedlights in total (3 Canon, and 4 Yongnuo). I would typically have 3 groups with 2 flashes/group and then one on-camera as the trigger for the other groups, or as the bounce flash for candids. Never had a single issue, not even when syncing different brand lights within the same group. All speedlights are still functioning like new and identical to each other.

had a Yongnuo 600 on order and the vendor cancelled it because it suddenly became out of stock and was being replaced with an upgraded model.

DIY repair (???) or replace from eBay or with a 3rd party unit. See https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=6tHDCkNc5Pk for repair and https://uscamera.com …-1051-1052-parts-catalog/ for a parts manual and/or parts.

I don't want to ask the obvious, and I have gone back and read all posts (hopefully I didn't miss this one). Do you know for certain that the flash element didn't "burn out"?

I've diagnosed flash issues in the past by swapping boards from a known good one to the bad one. Sometimes it's the board, sometimes it's a broken wire internally, sometimes it's the flash element itself. I fixed one that had a broken wire, and I don't know how it got broken. The owner said he didn't abuse the flash, didn't drop it, it just stopped working. Whether that's true or not I don't know, but I just soldered it back together and it worked perfectly afterward.


As long as you discharge the capacitor you're good to go, if you have enough technical skill to disassemble/re=assembl​e stuff like this.


Apart from that, B&H has the YN600 listed as "in stock", maybe check it out. I have a couple of YN600 and I absolutely love them. They work perfectly with my cameras and I've had zero issues with them. Apart from human error anyway...

katodog wrote in post #19325339
I don't want to ask the obvious, and I have gone back and read all posts (hopefully I didn't miss this one). Do you know for certain that the flash element didn't "burn out"? i have no idea. it doesnt look discolored in any way

I've diagnosed flash issues in the past by swapping boards from a known good one to the bad one. Sometimes it's the board, sometimes it's a broken wire internally, sometimes it's the flash element itself. I fixed one that had a broken wire, and I don't know how it got broken. The owner said he didn't abuse the flash, didn't drop it, it just stopped working. Whether that's true or not I don't know, but I just soldered it back together and it worked perfectly afterward.


As long as you discharge the capacitor you're good to go, if you have enough technical skill to disassemble/re=assembl​e stuff like this. ive thought about taking it apart but i dont have any repair parts, nor a manner to test anything


Apart from that, B&H has the YN600 listed as "in stock", maybe check it out. I have a couple of YN600 and I absolutely love them. They work perfectly with my cameras and I've had zero issues with them. Apart from human error anyway...

yeah, i had ordered one as i mentioned but it was cancelled and money refunded because it had gone out of stock and there was a newer model coming out