Add a sync port to 580 EX (DIY)

Does anyone know how this is done with the 420EX ? Any pictures would be great. Thanks

I have added the aux sync jack to the whole line of Canon units, the 420 included and other manufacturers units as well. As you can see from my site, I use the sub-mini connector because the jack is so much smaller. I also provide a sync cable with each mod I do. I provide this as a service for those who don't want to experiment on their own. All the units except for the 580 EX do need to be sent in for the mod, while both londuck ( www.FlashZebra.com ) and I do the mod for the 580 on an OEM replacement foot, if desired.

Sorry, but I don't have pictures of the steps involved, although much of the foot assembly has to come apart to find room even for the sub-mini jack.

Michael
www.MichaelBassDesigns​.com

Very interesting thread.

I'm always very annoyed that good devices like canon speedlites and pocket wizards just can't be connected together. At the moment I'm using cheapo hotshoe-pc adapter from ebay/hongkong but totally unreliable so considering doing that modif.

I was at one of the main canoon repair place in London the other day asking if they would modify my flashes for me to connect to pocket wizard. I was treated like a weirdo, like I'm the only one they ever heard of that wanted to use a PW on a speedlite. very annoying, and then they said they sell their own canon hotshoe adater that they modify and sell for over £50 each. But when I said well if you can modify the thingy why cant you modify the flash itself I mean, if it's just connecting 2 or three wires. And the reaction was strange, like no to modify the flash is a huge job, would cost more than the flash, very complicated you need to reconfigure the flash after you do the connection. That's the explanation I was left with.

So my question to you guys is: anyone knows if adding a connector (or a cable, I want to connect a little jack cable that would hang from the flash, ready to be connected to the PW), does that do anything to the integrity of the flash? Is there some reason, electronic, impedance, god knows why, why that could actually do something to the way the flash is going to behave? Or were they just elusive because they want to sell their overexpensive little widget? Thanks for your opinions (before I tamper with my bunch of 550EX's) !!
Dr. MoO

There is very little room inside of the 550 unit for the mod. I have been doing it for some time, and it is a bit fussy to do. Many of the other units can be done with a simple foot swap, but not for the 550 and many of the older units.

Michael
www.MichaelBassDesigns​.com

Dr MoO wrote in post #3538365
So my question to you guys is: anyone knows if adding a connector (or a cable, I want to connect a little jack cable that would hang from the flash, ready to be connected to the PW), does that do anything to the integrity of the flash? Is there some reason, electronic, impedance, god knows why, why that could actually do something to the way the flash is going to behave? Or were they just elusive because they want to sell their overexpensive little widget? Thanks for your opinions (before I tamper with my bunch of 550EX's) !!
Dr. MoO

To add a jack on the flash like you described is very simple and I don't believe you would be tampering with the HV stuff either (still please take the usual precaution as if you are working on the HV circuitry)

I haven't really taken apart my 430EX to do such mod yet(I just got it 6 months ago and I don't want to void the warranty yet) But I did a similar mod on a Vivitar flash by adding a mini-XLR socket on the flash so that I have a direct TTL link from my Contax hotshoe right into the flash and it only took me an hour to do the mod. I would imagine adding a jack that's hanging from the flash would be a much simplier job.

jmb4370 wrote in post #3538467
There is very little room inside of the 550 unit for the mod. I have been doing it for some time, and it is a bit fussy to do. Many of the other units can be done with a simple foot swap, but not for the 550 and many of the older units.

Michael
www.MichaelBassDesigns​.com

Just a thought, how about adding a little enclosure for the jack? and have the enclosure epoxy right on the shoe. Please don't get me wrong, I am not talking about a big boxy project enclosure, I am thinking of cutting off the cable end of a plastic sleeve of a jack and just leave it enough for gluing.

As a matter of fact, how about a RJ45 connector? It's quite low profile and compact yet providing 8 connections.

This sounds like a great idea anyone tried this method? I have a 550ex myself and am looking for options on mods.

I thought about that with my 430EX, but found that the external part would interfere with either camera mounting or OEM flash pouch. So I use a hotshoe adapter and change out the PC jack to 1/8" jack instead.

Well I did the main mod on my 580ex and it worked for a while. Now for some unknown reason my flash is firing at random as I turn it on. I've check to see if there is a short and there doesn't appear to be anything amiss.

Anyone here have any ideas as to why this problem has started?

Thornfield wrote in post #4042498
Well I did the main mod on my 580ex and it worked for a while. Now for some unknown reason my flash is firing at random as I turn it on. I've check to see if there is a short and there doesn't appear to be anything amiss.

Anyone here have any ideas as to why this problem has started?

My best guess is that an internal metal part inside the flash is grounding itself against a metal part on your installed sync jack.

But, this is just a reasonable guess.

Enjoy! Lon

Try taking the foot assembly off from the flash unit, but leave it connected by the small connector, and then test fire it through both a hot shoe adapter (or use the bent paper clip special tool), and then through the aux sync jack you installed. This way you can visually verify that no part of the foot assembly is touching any part of the inside of the flash unit. If the random firing continues, then it is time for Canon factory service (after trying a brand new set of verified batteries).

If you are using an open style of jack for your mod, I would suggest you put some electrical tape on the inside compartment of the flash so when you reattach the foot assembly, the aux sync jack would be resting only on the new electrical tape and not on any section of the flash insides.

Does the PC terminal on the 580EX II do the same thing?

I just did this mod on my 480EX and it works great. A few lessons learned:
1. Be careful to not put the jack too close to the IR port. It can get a little tight there. I put mine in a spot where I had to turn the jack just so in order for everything to fit. If I had slid it back a millimeter or two, it would have had a little more wiggle room.
2. The first time I fired it up after soldering everything together, the pilot button lit up, but pushing it wouldn't fire the flash. Neither would the remote. "Oh great. I broke it." I thought. I looked over everything and saw that one strand of wire had shorted between the two connections on the board. A quick snip and everything was good-to-go!

Oh, and in case you wanted to know, 15/64th's is the perfect size drill bit to use to fit the jack.

Btw, what is that metal shield-looking thing around the IR transmitter? How bad would it be if someone's mod had touched that after putting it back together?

Just started this mod...a little nerve racking (very little solder experience and very little cash) but all i have left do do is drill a hole for the plug and ill be set!