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.

[laurie_rhodes]

Hi,

did you ever find a solution for this problem.  two out of my three 600-ex-rt's have just "developed" this problem after working for a year?  thank you.

[laurie_rhodes]

did you find a solution to your problem with the "battery dead" symbol?

[digitaldubuque]

Same thing here. Strange. Thank you for this post

[hcgraham]

I just got my 600 EXRT and I put new batteries into the device and found the same issue. I called around and found a solution that could help you. I powered the device down. Next I held down the two clear buttons under the display and turned the device on. I then move the power switch to lock and the device began working. I believe it reset the system and cleared out the problem.

Hope this helps!

[nvs397]

Hey guys,

I too have this issue.  I bought a new 600ex-rt from thecamerastore (calgary), and no atter what type of batteries I put in (duracel AA, or Energgizer Advanced lithium), I got the dead battery symbol.  This is hyper frustrating, I've tried everything so far suggested in the forums.  Anyone have any ideas?

[nvs397]

I can confirm the above method of the reset with the clear screen hold, turn to on and then to hold.  

It didn't work the first time, it took me 5-6 tries to do it.  

[SimonDK]

Hi there,

i had the same problem, i tried with my Eneloop but got the battery indicator, then tried with some alkaline (duracell) and the same problem, however i left the alkaline batteries in for a few minutes (i think the flash was OFF meanwhile) and after that it worked, seems like the system needed to get some juice into it first.

i havn't had the batteries in all night, and just popped them back in now, and there was no problem/wait, so perhaps it is just a firsttime thing ?

hope this helps, i was ready to replace my unit... i dont get why the manual says nothing about this "issue" .. that was very frustrating.

Regards

Simon

[rdance3]

I had the same problem. First I tried new batteries. No luck. I have two 600EX-RTs so I swapped batteries. The "Bad Batteries" workered in the other unit. The other units' batteries wouldn't work in the unit in question. I tried hitting the reset buttuns with no luck. I had had the new unit for a few month's but haden't used since I first got it. I was ready to return it. But of course I came here first. Holding down the two reset buttuns while turning the unit on is a challenge. Especially when you're ready to throw the thing down. First I tried holding the two buttons down while going from off to on and then lock. No luck. I tried it a few times. Then it tried holding the buttons down while going from off to lock then on. No luck again. Then I tried opening the battery compartement, turning the unit on and then closing the door. No luck again. I gave the first solution again, by holding the two buttons down, going from off to on then lock. Then it worked. This was at 10:00 at night and I was tired and might not have all the sequences exact, but the moral of the story is to try and try again. Hope this helps.

[Nukemttg]

Finally got it running doing the clear screen hold/reset and then turn on method.   As you said it took more than one try - in my case seven times.   Thanks to nvs397 for pointing out that you have to do it multiple times or I would have been stuck.

Kind of a stupid thing to have to do.   Not sure why Canon cannot fix this...

[SteynLaubscher7]

Hi

I just unboxed my 600ex-rt and it shows the same battery symbol... I put the flash on my camera and te af assist beam actually works but the screen shows the striked out battery and the flash does not go off... I tried the on position with the battery cover and it doesn't work... Any advice??