580ex wireless infrared flaky

Hi,

I did an on-location photo shoot for a Kumon graduation for the kids and families, and my 3 flash setup --580 ex I (two) and 430ex, flaked out on me. I set up our portable portrait booth in a school theater lobby. At about 3pm our set up worked fine -- one wired 580ex master to a 5D, and the other flashes were slaves (one to the side, the other behind). But after the ceremonies ended about 4:30pm, our setup was very 'flakey' -- sometimes worked, many times not. The master flash (wired) always went off. Now our setup was facing some large bay window, and so this may some effect. The "sightlines" weren't the best, but as I mentioned things were working at 3pm, but not a 4:30pm.

I wondering if we're doing something wrong, or if there are some environmental conditions which could cause these problems. Thanks.

If the sunshine in through the windows changes, that may affect the light-controlled slaves.

The environment could cause a problem and even weak batteries. I would not rely of this type of set up.

Thanks for the replies. When I got home, my flashes, of course, worked fine Next time I do a setup, I put it away from any large windows. May be the light from outside somehow affected the IR detectors in the flashes.