ST-E2 problem

Tonight I put my new (used) ST-E2 on my 5dMKII, put my two 580EXII flashes on stands and proceeded to get totally frustrated because I couldn't get the ST-E2 to fire my flashes. I know (from experience) that it's something simple I am not doing but here are the steps I followed:

• I set my flashes to slave setting and Channel 1 in Manual mode
  
• I turned the ST-E2 on, made sure the Ratio lamp was not on per instructions
  
• I made sure the Assist beam flash was emitting at 1 sec intervals on my flashes
  
• I made sure the flash sensors were facing the St-E2 and not obstructed
  
• I was only about 5 ft away

Is the battery in the ST-E2 dead?

TopHatMoments wrote in post #12362052
Is the battery in the ST-E2 dead?

Doesn't seem to be; the Channel lamp & Ettl lamp is on...that is one thing I wondered about, if because I have the flashes in Manual mode the ST-E2 is somehow in Ettl (tho I saw nothing in the instruction manual about changing that)?

I'd have to break mine out an look and it's miles from where Im at.

As long as there is something to reflect or direct the beam into the sensor, they should fire,

Your camera is set to fire the flash, the 5's are set to slave and your group #er matches, ratio would affect a 2 group setting.

I us mine but, have for so long it's automatic and one of them things that slips all thought till there in hand.

Read this:

http://www.learn.usa.c​anon.com …ite_tip_pt3_art​icle.shtml

Savas K wrote in post #12362212
Read this:

http://www.learn.usa.c​anon.com …ite_tip_pt3_art​icle.shtml

That was a really in-depth article but I didn't really see anything that pertained to my problem; did I miss something?

I just set my 430EX II to:
M
Channel 1
Slave
1/2 power

ST-E2
Ratio on or off
Channel 1
Pilot light turns on when on or hold

flash fires


you may have a tired battery.

The lights on the back of the ST-E2 take less power than it does to signal the flashes - they will still light when the unit doesn't have enough power in the battery to operate. If you press the test button you can see it make the signal flash in the top section on front. Try that and if you see nothing, try it with a new battery.

Half of all computing problems go away by checking the power cable.

Well guess what? It was the battery! Put a new one in and shazaam! Everything working! Thanks guys!

Same problem as above, not resolved by new battery (just made trek to Radio Shack and back). Pilot light on ST-E2 simply won't come on. Channel light and "ETTL" both light up, but pilot light stays unlit. It doesn't respond to pressing it either. This worked last time I used it. Nothing has changed. It sat in its case since I last used it. I'm truly perplexed. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

NavyShrink wrote in post #12380544
Same problem as above, not resolved by new battery (just made trek to Radio Shack and back). Pilot light on ST-E2 simply won't come on. Channel light and "ETTL" both light up, but pilot light stays unlit. It doesn't respond to pressing it either. This worked last time I used it. Nothing has changed. It sat in its case since I last used it. I'm truly perplexed. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

That bites! I'm so glad a new battery solved my issue. Any chance you got a bum new battery?