Janco battery pack destroying 580 EX's

Ok, so I bought this Janco external battery pack because I had my first couple of weddings coming up and had just bought my 580 EXII. I put 4 energizers lithium’s in the flash and 8 energizer lithium’s in the pack and the light indicated it was on. After around 600-800 shots during my first wedding the light on the battery pack was dimming out and seconds later started misfiring and then the flash powered down. I panicked and immediately took out 4 lithium’s from the pack and put in the flash and bam.. I had enough flash power for the rest of the night. So, a pro photographer that was helping me out with the wedding that night told me it was because I have to run all of the batteries together including in the flash ( I had took 30-40 shots before I plugged it into the pack) but after my second wedding I had the same problem even after running all batteries at same time. I was looking on Amazon today and there are two new reviews since I ordered of totally frying peoples 580 EXII's. check this out………. I consider myself lucky since my 580 still works but do you think there could be any long term damage?

Don't buy this Juncko, I mean Janco External Battery Pack as it will cost you more in the long run. Buy the genuine Canon version for only $149.95. Why? This unit destroyed my 580EX II which at the time of this writing cost $499 new. Only the pre-flash works now even after disconnecting the battery pack.

Best way to make your 580ex a paper weight, April 24, 2011

This review is from: Janco External Flash Battery Pack for Canon 580EX, 580EX II, 550EX, 540EZ, MR-14EX, & MT-24EX Speedlite Flash Units (Replaces Canon CP-E4) (Electronics)
I used the Janco on about four separate occasions, and the first three times it worked well enough (though the need to have batteries in the flash head as well escapes me) - but on the fourth occasion plugged it into the flash, powered on the flash and the light on the pack winked out and the speedlite made the power up whine, but then a small pop inside and then nothing. The Speedlite is dead both using onboard power as well as external.

Could the problem be your 580EX over heating from too many fast consecutive shots?

Or the Lithiums?

Would be nice if a moderator combined these two threads:
Janco battery pack destroying 580's

WOW! 12 lithiums in your flash and the pack??? I seriously don't think the culprit in all this is your external battery pack. It's lithiums, as well as the kind of intensive use of these in an event such as wedding. Lithiums can get really hot, hot enough to fry your flash or even melt it. "After 600-800 shots" with these, oh my...

SYS wrote in post #12412423
WOW! 12 lithiums in your flash and the pack??? I seriously don't think the culprit in all this is your external battery pack. It's lithiums, as well as the kind of intensive use of these in an event such as wedding. Lithiums can get really hot, hot enough to fry your flash or even melt it. "After 600-800 shots" with these, oh my...

I'm reminded of other lithium batteries catching on fire. I guess it could have been worse...