Help! My Canon Speedlights keep sleeping!

I recently purchased Cactus V5s to trigger a 580exII and a 420ex flash. The Cactus V5s work great but both flashes go to sleep after 90 seconds (I timed them). Has anyone else figured out how to keep them awake? I have used the V5 on a Vivitar 285hv. It has insomnia (it never sleeps).
I have searched the posts and have not found an answer to this specific problem. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Have you messed with the custom functions on the flash? I believe it's custom function 1; set it to 1 and it will never sleep. I have my 580 setup that way. Check your Speedlite manual.

Mr. Blue wrote in post #12434220
Have you messed with the custom functions on the flash? I believe it's custom function 1; set it to 1 and it will never sleep. I have my 580 setup that way. Check your Speedlite manual.

Thanks Blue. I will check that out on the 580. The 420 is an older flash and does not have custom functions. Anyone have any ideas on that one?

Mr. Blue wrote in post #12434220
Have you messed with the custom functions on the flash? I believe it's custom function 1; set it to 1 and it will never sleep. I have my 580 setup that way. Check your Speedlite manual.

What he said ^^. I had the same problem a couple months ago and was banging my head off my desk trying to figure it out :P

So, the Cactus v5's don't have wake up functionality? With my RF-602's, the 580's go to sleep, but wake up with a half press on the shutter.

Dave Jr wrote in post #12434355
So, the Cactus v5's don't have wake up functionality? With my RF-602's, the 580's go to sleep, but wake up with a half press on the shutter.

No, the v5's do not.

Mr. Blue wrote in post #12434220
Have you messed with the custom functions on the flash? I believe it's custom function 1; set it to 1 and it will never sleep. I have my 580 setup that way. Check your Speedlite manual.

Blue - you were 100% correct. Custom Function No.1 is the auto power off. 0=enabled and 1=disabled. One half of my problem is solved. Thank you.

Mr. Blue wrote in post #12434359
No, the v5's do not.

Good to know, thank you.

The 420EX isn't much good with the Cactus V5. It has no manual settings for adjusting its output or zoom. It is meant to be an ETTL flash either mounted on the camera or as a slave. I looked in the manual for the 420EX and see no way of disabling the 90 second sleep timer.

cjefko wrote in post #12434416
Blue - you were 100% correct. Custom Function No.1 is the auto power off. 0=enabled and 1=disabled. One half of my problem is solved. Thank you.

Dave Jr wrote in post #12434444
Good to know, thank you.

That is pretty much the only thing I don't like about my v5's. Luckily, the 580 EX II (which are the only Speedlites I own) isn't really affected since you can disable sleep.

Frogday wrote in post #12434470
The 420EX isn't much good with the Cactus V5. It has no manual settings for adjusting its output or zoom. It is meant to be an ETTL flash either mounted on the camera or as a slave. I looked in the manual for the 420EX and see no way of disabling the 90 second sleep timer.

Thanks for the information Frogday. I do use the 420EX as a slave and it works great for that purpose. I was just hoping someone had figured out a work-around for the V5s.

Mr. Blue wrote in post #12434497


That is pretty much the only thing I don't like about my v5's. Luckily, the 580 EX II (which are the only Speedlites I own) isn't really affected since you can disable sleep.

Does the 580ex allow sleep to be disabled as well? I have one of each.

Dave Jr wrote in post #12435015
Does the 580ex allow sleep to be disabled as well? I have one of each.

Not sure...I've only played with the EX II.

Dave Jr wrote in post #12435015
Does the 580ex allow sleep to be disabled as well? I have one of each.

Yes it does. Do not remember the CF number off the top of my head but it is there.

dedsen wrote in post #12435178
Yes it does. Do not remember the CF number off the top of my head but it is there.

Ok, thanks Dale. I've been wanting to try a set of the V5's but the sleep thing would be a problem. Since I can turn it off on my flashes, it's not a problem, other then some additional battery drain.