Flash connected to Pocket Wizard turns off.

A quick search brought up nothing but I have been having a problem here.

Using 3 flashes, 2 older manual flashes, and a 430 EX.

Using the 430 with gels for different background colors, fully manual attached to a Pocket Wizard.

The problem is that the flash has a tendency to go into power save I guess and shut off until I turn it off then back on.

Any ideas?

Set custom function 01 to 1 should disable the auto turn off.

Is the 430EX set up with a PW to hotshoe connection? If so, set the 430EX to Slave mode. That keeps the 430 EX receptive instead of going into its power save sleep mode. I don't mess with Custom Functions, just switch the level to Slave, and never had a problem. Jack

Yes the 430 is connected via a hotshoe to miniphone connector to connect to the PW.

When in Slave mode I cannot quickly control the power of the flash.

Also I have the very annoying and very distracting (to children and brides) flashing red light.

I will give the custom function a try and see if that helps. I never use it at weddings so I am getting used to it.

I do not believe this addresses the issue, but feel free to test. The Custom Function(s) enable/disable the Auto Shutoff. The Custom Function does not disable the battery save sleep mode of the flash, which is source of the non-response to PW. My experience has been the only reliable way to disable the battery save sleep mode, which causes lack of response to PW trigger, is put the EX flash in Slave Mode.

I have never had anyone comment or complain about the faint red Slave indicator light. Are you sure it bothers them, or you? If it bothers people, just point it in another direction, or put some gaffer tape over it. 430EX was built to perform basic TTL autoflash on-the-go. You are modifying a $200 TTL auto metering hotshoe to behave as radio triggered manual flash, and you want perfection in features?

I do not understand. When in Manual, whether in Manual or Manual Slave, the settings are... well, Manual. How does flash power adjustment differ whether in Manual vs. Manual Wireless Slave Mode? I'm confused.

J Rabin wrote in post #6872756
I do not believe this addresses the issue, but feel free to test. The Custom Function(s) enable/disable the Auto Shutoff. The Custom Function does not disable the battery save sleep mode of the flash, which is source of the non-response to PW. My experience has been the only reliable way to disable the battery save sleep mode, which causes lack of response to PW trigger, is put the EX flash in Slave Mode.


I have never had anyone comment or complain about the faint red Slave indicator light. Are you sure it bothers them, or you? If it bothers people, just point it in another direction, or put some gaffer tape over it. 430EX was built to perform basic TTL autoflash on-the-go. You are modifying a $200 TTL auto metering hotshoe to behave as radio triggered manual flash, and you want perfection in features?

I do not understand. When in Manual, whether in Manual or Manual Slave, the settings are... well, Manual. How does flash power adjustment differ whether in Manual vs. Manual Wireless Slave Mode? I'm confused.

The Auto Power Off feature and the battery saving feature are the same thing. If the Auto Power Off feature is disable, the flash will never go to sleep or shut off.

In Slave mode, the custom function can be set for the slave to go to sleep mode in 10 minutes or 60 minutes but in either case, the slave will eventually go to sleep unless the Auto Power Off feature is disabled.

Re the flash red light, I can understand how it can be distracting to people, especially during a wedding or other forms of ceremony. But, by the same token, it can also serve to let you know that the flash is alive and active without you having to walk up to it to check.

Re the adjustment of the flash levels, once the flash is set to manual mode in slave mode (takes all of 2 seconds to do it), as Jack already said, there will be no difference in how the output is adjusted.

With the non-II flashes, I think switching the flash to Slave mode would be the quickest way to use the flash for off-camera use and ensure that the flash doesn't go to sleep for at least 60 minutes since last activity. If you use the custom function to make sure the flash doesn't go to sleep, you'll need to check the setting every time you use the flash off camera to make sure the it didn't get reset to the default (which is to go to sleep).