Dead Battery Woes (Page 2): The good news is you get to select a new, modern flash. Don't hesitate to begin a new post when you narrow down your selection.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rdgreenwood wrote:

I'm a landscape/garden photographer, so I seldom use my flash. Since, however, I'm going out on a job that might call for some fill, I got out my flash to check the batteries. You can probably guess the rest of the story. The batteries had all gone south, leaving a nice acid crust on the contacts. I've scraped the contacts, run an emery board over them, and swabbed them with a vinegar-soaked q-tip. The flash still won't come on. Any suggestions?

The good news is you get to select a new, modern flash. Don't hesitate to begin a new post when you narrow down your selection.

whitewolfowner

rdgreenwood wrote:

I'm a landscape/garden photographer, so I seldom use my flash. Since, however, I'm going out on a job that might call for some fill, I got out my flash to check the batteries. You can probably guess the rest of the story. The batteries had all gone south, leaving a nice acid crust on the contacts. I've scraped the contacts, run an emery board over them, and swabbed them with a vinegar-soaked q-tip. The flash still won't come on. Any suggestions?

Sounds silly, but I've see it work before. You may have an invisible crust on the contacts from the vinegar swab. Try an eraser on it. If that don't work the damage probably got inside on the electronics. If you can take take it a apart and there is damage inside try cleaning it with 91% rubbing alcohol first and carefully scrub it with an old tooth brush. If that don't work, a new new flash may be in order. Check the brand of batteries; some guarantee their batteries won't explode and if they do they will repair or replace the unit. Eveready is real good about this. Duracell has the guarantee but try to collect from them without going to court; they are nasty form the first contact on. I have stopped using their batteries when their batteries destroyed a $70.00 diving flash light on me.

Emjem Loc: Perth australia

rdgreenwood wrote:

I'm a landscape/garden photographer, so I seldom use my flash. Since, however, I'm going out on a job that might call for some fill, I got out my flash to check the batteries. You can probably guess the rest of the story. The batteries had all gone south, leaving a nice acid crust on the contacts. I've scraped the contacts, run an emery board over them, and swabbed them with a vinegar-soaked q-tip. The flash still won't come on. Any suggestions?

Cloudy ammonia (all supermarkets in the laundry aisle) use a q-tip. works instantly leaving perfectly clean terminals. Use it where ever the gunk has seeped.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Yep. Corrosion of batteries is something everyone has experienced once. I bought a 24 pack of alkaline AA batteries for emergencies. 6 months later 8 batteries leaked in the packaging. Though they all leak eventually. The better brands don't leak as quickly.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

I went with a Neewer that has a rechargeable LiOn battery pack. This is a super great flash and their battery pack charge far out lasts using AA's. When I'm not using it I take out the battery and leave in the case it came with. I know own 6 of them and gave up using my studio lights for a lot of work.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

you will need a new flash, as the corrosion has gotten into the wiring beneath the battery contacts.
also, please use lithium batteries, as they to not corrode externally. and finally, when finished using your new flash, please remove the batteries until next needed.

this should be rule #1 for all battery powered devices. never leave batteries in cameras, digital bodies or flash units.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

rdgreenwood wrote:

I'm a landscape/garden photographer, so I seldom use my flash. Since, however, I'm going out on a job that might call for some fill, I got out my flash to check the batteries. You can probably guess the rest of the story. The batteries had all gone south, leaving a nice acid crust on the contacts. I've scraped the contacts, run an emery board over them, and swabbed them with a vinegar-soaked q-tip. The flash still won't come on. Any suggestions?

You didn't say what type or brand of batteries you had, but eventually all types of batteries will self discharge (and destruct) when left too long unused and not charged. It's the nature of the chemical action within the battery; the only solution is to charge them once in a while. The period between recharges will depend on the type of battery.

Note: Vinegar is not the product to use for this application; it is an acid, and although a mild one, will cause corrosion if not completely neutralized.

If they were Mallory brand batteries, you might look up the Mallory guarantee. Some (a lot) years ago they guaranteed their batteries would not leak, but I had a watch movement that was ruined by leakage. I contacted Mallory and they said to send it to them. Without much hope I did and sometime later (a month or so) I received it back from the original manufacturer, all fixed.

FrumCA

rdgreenwood wrote:

I'm a landscape/garden photographer, so I seldom use my flash. Since, however, I'm going out on a job that might call for some fill, I got out my flash to check the batteries. You can probably guess the rest of the story. The batteries had all gone south, leaving a nice acid crust on the contacts. I've scraped the contacts, run an emery board over them, and swabbed them with a vinegar-soaked q-tip. The flash still won't come on. Any suggestions?

Sorry about your problem. I left the battery in a flash unit once and never did it again. The good news is that there are some good replacements out there. Good luck.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

and don't store it with the batteries installed.
--Bob

OddJobber wrote:

Get another flash.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

Sound like you been using deracells .

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

You need to take the batteries out of the flash when your not using it for a long period of time and don't use duracalls use enerizer call never had one leak.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

I've had good luck by just removing one battery so there is not a circuit to possably drain things.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

GENorkus wrote:

I've had good luck by just removing one battery so there is not a circuit to possably drain things.

But that one remaining battery will still degrade and eventually leak!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

rdgreenwood wrote:

I'm a landscape/garden photographer, so I seldom use my flash. Since, however, I'm going out on a job that might call for some fill, I got out my flash to check the batteries. You can probably guess the rest of the story. The batteries had all gone south, leaving a nice acid crust on the contacts. I've scraped the contacts, run an emery board over them, and swabbed them with a vinegar-soaked q-tip. The flash still won't come on. Any suggestions?

Buy a new flash and never leave batteries in anything this isn't used often.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I'm cheap so would take the unit apart, rinse it out with warm soapy water and then mix up some water with baking soda and pour that on. Look for any bubbles and use a soft brush on those spots. Rinse it out very well and air dry. Use a pencil eraser on the battery contacts and check for eroded through connections.
Sounds like a joke but I used this on a $600 2-way radio that had received a cup of coffee with sugar and milk. Once dry the unit worked fine for years after.