I bought a Nikon SB 700 about six months ago. When I tried to use it today, it wouldn't turn on at all, so I replaced the batteries (admittedly cheap generic batteries) with some Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. It STILL won't turn on at all. I've left it on for the last ten minutes in the desperate hope that it would miraculously turn on, but nothing. It was working fine two weeks ago so I'm stumped. Has this happened to anyone else? Is my only recourse to send it in to Nikon for repair? I've never had to send them anything before.
Any corrosion or tarnishing of the battery terminals (both pos and neg)? Just a little bit will prevent power from reaching the flash. You may want to invest in some DeoxIT (http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f)...handy stuff to keep around for battery terminals and lens terminals.
You know what? One of the contacts does look very slightly dirty. I think I'll order the Deoxit pen on Amazon Prime and try that before I send it in. (I read that an eraser can strip the coating?) Thanks for the help. I'll let you know if it works. I know you'll be dying with anticipation over the holidays .
Home Depot has them if I remember right. Also most electronic stores. Its just a contact cleaner. Try your local RadioShack. However, RadioShack has turned into CellphoneShack. But thats a whole 'nother discussion.
when the last set of batteries were pulled out of the unit were they leaking in any way?
if not, don't do anything else to it and simple pack it up and send it to Nikon (as it is under warranty) and let them deal with the issue. the more you do to it under warranty the higher the chance it will be rejected by them as a damaged by owner.
I had Duracell batteries leak in an SB700 and that was all she wrote. First time that ever happened, so I now always take the batteries out of my flashes. Had to buy a new unit.
James R wrote:
I had Duracell batteries leak in an SB700 and that was all she wrote. First time that ever happened, so I now always take the batteries out of my flashes. Had to buy a new unit.
actually Duracell warrantees their batts from leakage if their product damages your device you should have held on to the cells and contacted them.
I had the same problem and discussed it on the Nikon Cafe forum. Here is a copy/paste of how I solved the problem.
I just ran into this same problem with a flash I bought from a Cafe member. I had already boxed the flash to send it back when he mentioned this thread. (The rest is a quote that I sent to him in a PM.). I couldn't stand it, so I went to the store and bought a pack of AA batteries. I put them in and turned on the flash...nothing. But I decided to give the flash a bit of a shock: I turned it off, took out the batteries, turned it back on and put the batteries back in. It powered up. It still won't work with my Imedions, but I'm gonna give it a day to recharge the capacitor. I've got hope. I put some Imedions in the flash and left them in overnight. The next morning, I repeated my little experiment with the rechargeables. It worked, and now the flash works like new. I'm kinda glad to learn this about the flash...and I'm a happy camper now.
If you need more detailed instructions on how I did this, shoot me a PM.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! The Deoxit pen arrived today and my flash is working again! I cannot tell you what a relief it is to not have to send it in for repair. I am SO grateful for your help!
facingthelens wrote:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! The Deoxit pen arrived today and my flash is working again! I cannot tell you what a relief it is to not have to send it in for repair. I am SO grateful for your help!
It's handy stuff to keep around. I use it on anything and everything with electrical contacts. I also use it in a preventative fashion by putting a dab on the ends of the battery terminals when I install new batteries.
the thing is you need to figure out how they got that bad as to prevent it from working. other then cell leakage the generally hold up pretty well against corrosion build up.
sjms wrote:
actually Duracell warrantees their batts from leakage if their product damages your device you should have held on to the cells and contacted them.
This is worth repeating.
A year or so ago I had reason to take Duracell up on their guarantee. It took a couple of months, but no questions asked--they sent me a check for full replacement of the damaged item, a letter of apology, and a coupon for free batteries. Thumbs up for the good guys who stand behind their products.
