Problems with my 580EXII & PW Plus IIs

I've had this happen 3 times recently: having a 580EXII on a stand with a PW PlusII connected to it & my 5D MKII with a PW PlusII on it, the flash keeps failing to fire. Batteries in everything are always fully charged. Not an issue of not giving the flash time to recycle. I can't pinpoint the problem, I'll try everything (turning the flash off, then on, turning the PWoff then on) & suddenly it'll start working again, sometimes not failing again but sometimes happening again. Suggestions on what to check? Could it have anything to do with my camera settings? I shoot in Manual, flash is set to manual.

I've only had this happen to me about 30 or 40 times. I love the idea of the TT5 paired with the 580EXII, but they just don't work well together. This is just something that happens (plenty of threads on this forum about it!). That's why I've just picked up three of the new 600EX-RT speedlights. So far they've all worked beautifully together. Their workable distance range isn't as far as that claimed by PW but it's still 90 feet, which is plenty for my wedding work.

Are you sure the sync cord and both it's connectors are good. The PC connection like the one that the 580exII has is historically iffy. Try slightly crimping the outside barrel of the PC connector. Not too much or you will deform the connector and it will not work.

Just saw that you were having this issue with the Plus II, not the TT5. I used those a lot before I got the TT5 units and they always seemed to work. Hmmm

Sync cords seem to be good.I'm too scared to try crimping anything! I was reading something on POTN about some kind of electrical block or something, gotta go back & try to find it. Yes, these are Plus IIs not TT5s

The Screwlock type PC connector is far superior.
http://flashzebra.com/​products/0030/index.sh​tml

Also, maybe try a different channel on the PW.

Curtis N wrote in post #14525206
The Screwlock type PC connector is far superior.
http://flashzebra.com/​products/0030/index.sh​tml

Also, maybe try a different channel on the PW.

Thanks, Curtis, will do!

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #14525165
Sync cords seem to be good.I'm too scared to try crimping anything! I was reading something on POTN about some kind of electrical block or something, gotta go back & try to find it.

The electrical block you're talking about (I believe) is the problem the 580EX (and EXII) have had with the TT5 units. I can't remember which company (Canon or Pocket Wizard), but one of them sold an insulating 'sock' that fit over the flash and was supposed to reduce the interference. I tried that once but it was such a hassle I never used them again.
I believe your issue is indeed with the sync cord. Now that I remember, you have to use sync cords in all your OCF units if using a PW Plus II and the ones that come with the product aren't very long, maybe 6 inches or so? Also, the pc port on the 580EXII was fairly loose, now that I think about it. You could try crimping the cord end just a bit, not the speedlight port end, since those cords are fairly inexpensive.

PhotoMatte wrote in post #14525252
The electrical block you're talking about (I believe) is the problem the 580EX (and EXII) have had with the TT5 units. I can't remember which company (Canon or Pocket Wizard), but one of them sold an insulating 'sock' that fit over the flash and was supposed to reduce the interference. I tried that once but it was such a hassle I never used them again.
I believe your issue is indeed with the sync cord. Now that I remember, you have to use sync cords in all your OCF units if using a PW Plus II and the ones that come with the product aren't very long, maybe 6 inches or so? Also, the pc port on the 580EXII was fairly loose, now that I think about it. You could try crimping the cord end just a bit, not the speedlight port end, since those cords are fairly inexpensive.

Yes you're right, the sync cords that came with the PWs are short, & the connection to the flash does seem less than dead tight. I'll try the crimping :0)

I use CyberSync triggers but they take the same connector that your PWII's do and this is what I use.
http://flashzebra.com/​products/0126/index.sh​tml
This adapter eliminates the PC connection all together. You never have to worry if a flash has a sync port again. Just slide it into this adapter, plug the cord into your trigger and start shooting.

Could be the cord, could be the other problem which I was experiencing.........R​F noise. I couldn't get further than maybe 10ft before they would fail to fire. Before you go out and buy anything else, try getting next to it and triggering it with the test button on your on camera mounted PW. If it works, your problem isn't the cable. It doesn't happen to everyone, some 580s seem to be "noisier" than others. Some of mine work ok, some won't let me get beyond a dozen feet or so. Putting on the RF sock makes it better, so did using a longer cord with a ferrite core on the cord. In the end I just gave up on using my PW plus II with the 580EX II and went with CyberSyncs. I don't get the same range as PW advertises, but I get much better than a few feet. If it is RF noise, a longer cord won't help unless you put a ferrite core on it, because it travels right down the cord.

Just an update - I crimped the end of the cable which did make it fit real tight, but I shot a bridal this evening & the same stupid thing happend - no flash - flash - no flash -no flash - flash...grrr!

Michelle Brooks Photography wrote in post #14526251
Just an update - I crimped the end of the cable which did make it fit real tight, but I shot a bridal this evening & the same stupid thing happend - no flash - flash - no flash -no flash - flash...grrr!

Read my post above yours then.
Also, when you trigger the flash, can you see the red light on your receiver go off to let you know it fired?
If not, turn the flash off and try again. If you can see it, you're experiencing the RF nightmare that others have.

Yes, when I press the test button on the camera mounted PW it fires...so that indicates RF noise problem? And if so, the solution is a RF sock & the kind of cord you mention?? Jeez, why doesn't PW mention this problem on their website?? Would be good to know before spending hundreds of dollars on their products. I wonder why I just now started having this problem? I've had the PWs for months, with flawless performance in the beginning...

bdillon wrote in post #14525783
Could be the cord, could be the other problem which I was experiencing.........R​F noise. I couldn't get further than maybe 10ft before they would fail to fire. Before you go out and buy anything else, try getting next to it and triggering it with the test button on your on camera mounted PW. If it works, your problem isn't the cable. It doesn't happen to everyone, some 580s seem to be "noisier" than others. Some of mine work ok, some won't let me get beyond a dozen feet or so. Putting on the RF sock makes it better, so did using a longer cord with a ferrite core on the cord. In the end I just gave up on using my PW plus II with the 580EX II and went with CyberSyncs. I don't get the same range as PW advertises, but I get much better than a few feet. If it is RF noise, a longer cord won't help unless you put a ferrite core on it, because it travels right down the cord.

bdillon wrote in post #14526548
Read my post above yours then.
Also, when you trigger the flash, can you see the red light on your receiver go off to let you know it fired?
If not, turn the flash off and try again. If you can see it, you're experiencing the RF nightmare that others have.

Whoa, sorry......I skimmed your post and didn't see ALL of your problem. That doesn't sound like RF to me. With the flash powered on if you press test on your transmitter and can see the light on the receiver fire, then it's not RF.