SB-600 battery connection issue

[Ali_334]

<p>Hello, I have a SB-600 that has trouble turning on or staying on because what of what seems battery connection issue. <br>

Here's a video I shot of how it behaves.<a href="http://youtu.be/ozzZxJpXF0g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/ozzZxJpXF0g</a> <strong>Note how pushing the battery compartment door turns it on again. Then as soon as I set it down it goes out again. </strong>It's almost as if the batteries are too short! I have used other brands of batteries with no better results. <br>

I used a screwdriver to pull up the contacts inside the compartment. The strobe was in storage for a while (without batteries) and already tried rubbing the contacts with pencil eraser and rolling the batteries, as suggested in this thread: <a href="/nikon-camera-forum/00ciHC">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00ciHC</a> <br>

But this problem started before storage. At first the unit would suddenly shut off once in a blue moon and then more often. Now, after storage, it is in this shape, more off than on. <br>

<strong>Has anyone ever tried putting some kind of metal or spring inside the compartment to further squeeze the batteries?</strong><br>

Any help would be much appreciated. I dread having to spend money on repair or drop several hundred dollars on another flash. </p>

[jonb]

<p>I would inspect the contacts at the bottom of the cylinders that hold the batteries. They'll be hard to see, way down in there, but I'd try taking a look. If one or more looks damaged, that's probably the problem. In any case, it looks like service is needed.</p>

[sem_svizec]

<p>Leaking batteries may result in contact issues after a few years. <br>

Try googling up a repair manual (hint: elektrotanya).<br>

Or better take it to an electronics repair shop, because you could get zapped by the capacitor. </p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>As I mentioned in Ali's earlier thread: http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00ciHC<br>

I would highly recommend against opening up an electronic flash and repair it yourself, unless you have been trained to do so. You can potentially get an electrical shock and in some rare cases, that can trigger a heart attack with serious consequences.</p>

<p>Without opening up the flash casing, I would use something to clean the electrical contacts in the battery compartment. If a more gentle cleaning doesn't work, personally, I wouldn't mind trying some more abrasive cleaning, but that is something you need to decide for yourself since it is your flash that can get damaged.</p>

[duncan_mcbride]

<p>I have had a similar problem. With the battery cover off and the batteries upright, if I look horizontally at the tops of the batteries I see one that appears lower than the others. This battery is not making contact with the conductors on the battery cover, breaking the circuit to the charging circuit. <br>

<br />It looked to me like one of the contacts in the bottom of the battery compartment was bent downward so that it was lower than the others, and that made the top of that battery low. I made a narrow hook out of steel wire (literally baling wire) so that I could pull up the contact spring. Be gentle not to pull it up too far; try the batteries until the low one is again level. That fixed it for me. I think I have had to do this twice over several years. I know of no unusual pressure on that battery. Either the contact spring bent under the weight of the battery when the flash was banged, or the spring is not quite springy enough, or both.</p>

<p>This does not involve disassembling the flash nor any contact with the high voltage circuits. Hope it helps.</p>

<p>Duncan</p>

[Ali_334]

<p>Hello, I just wanted to thank you for all responses. I ended up taking it to a Steve's Camera Repair in Culver City http://www.yelp.com/biz/steves-camera-service-center-culver-city and got it cleaned for $45 and it works now. It could have been worse if leakage had reached further in. I couldn't be happier because wanted to avoid buying another NIkon flash which I think are overpriced considering their flimsy construction.<br>

Steve told me not ever use Duracell. He recommends EverReady lithium batteries and swears they last much longer and also don't leak. </p>