Speedlite 600ex-rt battery problem

[PhotoSmurf]

Hi

I have just bought a 600ex-rt ... But the batteries I put in it (which are all new) only result in a "replace battery" sign and the flash refuses to switch on.

I have tried 3 new sets of batteries, all are top grade lithium batteries, is there a known issue with lithium batteries - the manual says they can be used?

Many thanks for any info that could help.

[Travelure]

I faced a similar problem today; and this is what I found at another forum:

Re: Dead battery Symbol on Canon 600ex-rt Flash

In reply to jamesblk, 2 months ago

I found the problem after a lot of continuity tests. On the cover of the battery compartment is a SLIDE to open the unit to remove the batteries. This slide also acts as a switch to connect the two metal contacts inside the cover. Very carefully spay Contact Cleaner between the plastic and the metal piece that is connected to the slide. Switch back and forth a few times. Turn the flash to the ON position, put new batteries in and then push the cover back on. IT SHOULD TURN YOUR FSH ON. If it does not, do it a few times more. Should work! Good Luck!

For a very expensive flash it is a very poor mechanical design indeed.

After trying this, my flash worked. Thought I'll share it here for members' benefit.

Cheers!

[AliciaTheQueen]

Cleaning that metal slide plate fixed my issue with my flash not turning on! I hadn’t used my flash in literally over a year and I was so worried it was somehow just busted! Thank you!

[Flash_Speednite · Accepted solution]

Solution Summary

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Steps to Resolve Speedlite 600EX-RT Low/Change Battery Issue:

• Turn the Speedlite power switch to the Off position
• Remove the SCH-E1 Color Filter Holder
• Turn the Speedlite power to the On position

Details

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After recently purchasing a new Canon 600EX-RT in preparation for a family portrait session, I was eager to get the Speedlite out of the packaging and onto a stand for some test shots before packing up and heading off for a weekend with my extended family.

I grabbed a package of fresh batteries, loaded (4) AA's, secured the battery cover, attached the provided SCH-E1 Color Filter Holder and powered on the Speedlite expecting to see the default factory settings on the 600EX-RT's main LCD display.

Instead I was greeted with a blank LCD and the Low/Change Battery symbol.

I was fairly sure that the batteries that I'd selected were unused, but I usually unpack batteries from their shipping material and add them to a larger container of batteries, so it was possible that used batteries had somehow made their way into the group or that some number of the batteries were simply too old. I set aside the batteries in question and tried another group of four batteries.

I was more than a little disappointed when I was again greeted with the Low/Change Battery symbol. I was fairly certain at this point that the batteries were not the issue, but just be sure I tried a third set of batteries with the same result.

I quickly searched for an online resource that might help me troubleshoot and resolve the issue and found this Canon Support forum thread.

The problem state and the proposed resolutions seem to be inconsistent and involve variations of some or all of the following:

• Power-cycling the device a number of times
• Opening the battery cover, moving the power switch to either the Lock or On position and then closing the battery cover
• Holding the Sel/Set button while powering on the device
• Holding the Clear (Reset) buttons while powering on the device

Unfortunately, none of the proposed solutions resolved the issue for me. So I gave Canon support a call and to see if this was a known issue.

I described the behavior to the support engineer and at first he too was stumped, suggesting that perhaps this was a defective device. He offered me several options for either returning or repairing my new 600EX-RT.

I was hoping for a more immediate resolution AND based on the large number of people reporting this same behavior (here in this thread) I suspected that there might be a Canon support advisory (perhaps only available to Canon support personnel) with information describing the issue along with a resolution that did not involve returning or repairing the device.

I asked the support engineer to check and he kindly agreed. After a few minutes on hold he came back and said there was in fact a support advisory that described a similar problem, but it involved the color filter holder. As previously mentioned, I had installed the color filter holder shortly after unboxing the flash.

I was dubious at first that the filter holder would cause the Speedlite to malfunction, but hoped he was right.

Steps to Resolve Speedlite 600EX-RT Low/Change Battery Issue:

• Turn the Speedlite power switch to the Off position
• Remove the SCH-E1 Color Filter Holder
• Turn the Speedlite power to the On position

I performed the steps as indicated and the Speedlite 600EX-RT powered on correctly. I  placed the filter holder back on the device and power-cycled the flash a few more times, and each time the Speedlite came back up as expected.

Upon closer inspection you see sensors near the top of the flash unit and just underneath the bottom clasp of the color filter holder, as well as what appears to be a small magnet in the bottom clasp of the filter holder. These sensors are used by the EOS system to determine when the filter holder is attached to the flash unit and assist in white balance calculations when using Canon supplied filters.

For a more detailed explanation of the color filter's form and functions alongside an EOS camera, google 'Speedlite 600EX-RT SCH-E1 review'.

For a copy of the advisory google 'Canon Issues Speedlite 600EX-RT Product Advisory'

[beachgal]

holy **bleep**.  i tried everything posted...and this really works!  take the color filter off the camera.

[Kat65]

Hey flash, you’re an absolute legend. You dropped this advice in 2014, and 8 years later it still holds! Had almost given up on this second hand speedlite I bought but came across this advice and IT WORKED! Thanks so much!

[Flash_Speednite]

Thanks. I'm glad it's still providing use. Doesn't seem like that long ago. 😉

[whitingartist]

It's so SIMPLE!!!

Take the color filter holder off the top of the camera! Problem solved.

[Halo-is]

Great, thank you very much

[JackieStar414a]

I have this same problem. I sent it to the Canon repair center and they send me an estimate for $199.24 and they don't even tell me whats wrong with the thing.

I think we need to start a class action lawsuit against Canon.

[Ocho]

Detach the Color Filter Holder SCH-E1
Power on the flash
Re-attach the Color Filter Holder SCH-E1