Well I did it now! Tried a set of AA-lithium batts in my 7 year old 430EZ. It has worked fine for about 3 months, and the recycle times were really quick! I took it to a wedding today and on the 55th frame the area around the swivel joint heated up and the flash stopped working. I also noticed a foul smell (from the speedlite). Anyway, it will not flash now, and when I switch it off, the display panel remains lit, so I have to take the batts out. So... What did I burn up, and can it be repaired? Who/where/how much? I was using it on a EOS-IX (I know, but it's smarter/faster than my 8-year old Rebel S).

Thanks for any help.

-- Steven Godsey (sgodsey@swbell.net), January 01, 2000

Answers

It may not have been the lithium batteries that caused your 430EZ to fail. I have a 5-year old 430EZ and have used lithium batteries in it for the past three years without any problems.

-- Kun (lccplucker@aol.com), January 04, 2000.

Your question relates to one of my own: I have a Canon 380EX I use on my Canon Elan IIe. I also have a classic Vivitar 285HV flash--the manual for which warns not to fire more than 25 times in a row (when using direct current) because of the danger of overheating. They recommend a 4 second rest. Does the same apply to our AF flashes?

From your anecdote, it seems it would. Nowhere in my 380's manual can I find any such warning. Any clarification would be much appreciated by me, too.

-- Roy Kekewich (roykekewich@yahoo.com), January 15, 2000.

i have the 540EZ, which i got about 6mo ago. manual warns about taking more than 20 flash shots in a row and overheating.

also, if your lithium batteries were eveready, look at the original package. on the back, they quarantee that if their batteries damage your flash, they will replace or fix your flash.

-- Rizz (rizzolojf@npt.nuwc.navy.mil), February 01, 2000.