Canon Community

PhotoSmurf · ‎01-02-2013

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.

Flash_Speednite · ‎12-16-2014

Solution Summary

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

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'

View solution in original post

TCampbell · ‎04-05-2017

@Son wrote:
I just read on the Canon website to power it down, detach the colour filter holder (the plastic cover that fits in fromt of the flash and holds the lottle colour filters) and then power it up and oh my word it works!!!

The filter holder is really only included if people are actually going to use a filter. With no filter (clear) the filter-holder shouldn't be attached.

When I first read about this issue it was a bit of a mystery. Then I read the solution and was a bit suprised... it never occurred to me that people were leaving their filter-holder on the flash (with no gel in it.) I only use my filter-holder when I actually want to gel a shot.

Tim Campbell
5D III, 5D IV, 60Da

belflo · ‎08-04-2017

You are my angel today. I have to cover a wedding this afternoon and my flash won't start even with fully charged battery. I tried to do exactly what you did and YES!!! Thank you soon much for posting.

ShootingStarsHI · ‎09-24-2017

The power of like minded Canon users & the internet!
This answered and fixed my problem.
I was able to read & follow the directions while in a total panic at (1) how much is this going to cost to fix at Canon!? & (2) why does this happen the night before a shoot!?

RobertTheFat · ‎09-24-2017

Has Canon come out with an actual fix for this problem?

Bob
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

moranjr · ‎09-24-2017

No fix from Canon as far as I know. They came out with a new model and sweep this issue under the rug in my opinion.

RobertTheFat · ‎09-24-2017

@moranjr wrote:
No fix from Canon as far as I know. They came out with a new model and sweep this issue under the rug in my opinion.

I'm sure you're probably right, but it's not exactly what I wanted to hear. I have a 600EX-RT that's in excellent condition, and I have no desire to spend the $$$ to replace it. But I've had a flash unit decide to quit in the middle of a shoot, and it's an exceedingly embarrassing occurrence. Now that I'm retired, my tolerance is a little higher, but I'll be a long time forgetting the day I had to change flash units while our incoming City Manager and his wife waited at the preliminary photo-op a few minutes before his inauguration.

Bob
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

7atran · ‎02-01-2018

Thanks A lot.
Great tip. Release my frustrated. I hope it works for many years.
I won’t have to return it. Hopefully

7atran · ‎02-01-2018

Good tip
This is a third tip f solving flash battery issue. Thanks

7atran · ‎02-01-2018

Tip 1: turn on then close the cover
Tip 2: hold two clear buttons while turn it on
Tip 3: put filter on turn it on
I collect these tips for everyone use. I am not sure will solve the problem. It may be more tip. Good luck

lbow · ‎03-15-2023

This actually worked! Very weird solution, but thank you!

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Speedlite 600ex-rt battery problem