My 1st flashes won't flash! Help!!!

Hi everyone. So I just got my calumet 400's. My first lighting setup. I got them put up and attached the Calumet trigger set as per the instructions in the set. I attached the reciever to the Sync cord outlet on my main light. I turned it on, and the green light was blinking. Then I attached the transmitter to my hotshoe on my 40D. Making sure that they were both on the same channel (I tried them on all four channels) pressed the shutter button with no flash. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong!!! Does anyone know off hand what it might be. Incidentally I attached the lights to my camera previously with the sync cord and the one light that I was attached to flashed. Shouldn't the other flash go off automatically? Can anyone help me?

does the trigger and receiver have test buttons? try pressing it to see if it fires.

The instructions say, "To "test" your flash, press down the fan-shaped button on the top of the unit and an F will appear in the LED, indicating flash. To fire your flash unit, depress the shutter button on your camera." When I press that button, it does say F, but when I press my shutter button it doesn't flash.

have you tried pressing the test button on the Genesis 400 if it fires? if it does, then you can isolate the problem, might be communication between your receiver and transmitter. Or maybe your sync cords from the receiver to the strobe aren't snugly plugged in. Or check your transmitter if it's mounted properly on your 40D's hot shoe.

Yeah, the test buttons on the lights work. I also tried checking the cables. Nothing helped. Could I have a bad trigger set, or do they just not work well?

Federkeil wrote in post #9105409
Yeah, the test buttons on the lights work. I also tried checking the cables. Nothing helped. Could I have a bad trigger set, or do they just not work well?

not really familiar with calumet triggers since i use cybersyncs with my genesis. it could be that you have a bad set. i would call calumet about it.

try replacing the battery's in the triggers

Thanks for the advise. I will call them first thing in the morning. I'm just mad! It's like opening a christmas present that you can't play with.

Federkeil wrote in post #9105544
Thanks for the advise. I will call them first thing in the morning. I'm just mad! It's like opening a christmas present that you can't play with.

Nice analogy.

You can still play, just use the sync cord.