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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

nvs397 · ‎07-14-2013

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 · ‎07-14-2013

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 · ‎07-21-2013

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 · ‎08-30-2013

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.

busdoc80 · ‎04-20-2014

Thanks rdance3. Tried your same sequence of 'trial & errror" throughout the day!! It finally worked after reading yours and the others' posts!! If only I had come to this forum after I initially started having problems....would have saved me a lot of grief..and my sppedlite curses!! Thanks again to everyone!!

RickD · ‎11-18-2013

I just brought me new 600 ex speedlite home and had the same problem reported here. I tried holding the two clear buttons down and turning the power switch to lock and presto it now appears to be working fine.

Thanks so much for you help!

NoelCass · ‎03-26-2014

Hello All

Yesterday, I received my new 600EX RT and was excited to make it FLASH 🙂 But I had the same problem using the Ultra+ Energizer AA-LR6 alkaline batteries. Read through the instructions and rechecked the position/polarity of the batteries. No luck !! I got the crossed battery sign, so I checked the batteries with AVO meter! All ok, but flash did not power 😞 This morning, I went again through the ritual, and believe or not it powered and worked. Don't know what happened :-). The only thing that I did differently was that at first I put the switch to the "Lock" position, left it for a few seconds and then turned it to the "On" position and it worked.

Regards

Noel

Rameshg · ‎09-16-2015

this helped me alot

Rameshg · ‎09-16-2015

this helped me alot

Nukemttg · ‎10-06-2013

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...

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Speedlite 600ex-rt battery problem