Problem with my SB-900 need help!

[nik34]

Hi fellow menbers,my SB-900 stop fire after 15-20 shots when i covering
some event. The thermo indicator reach the high point & cut off automatically,i need to off it for a while before i can use it again.I use TTL-FP setting & bounce the flash 60 degree upwards with diffuser provided.using 4 full charge eneloop battery.
As mention in the instruction book is it true that it work in this way?
I got no problem with my SB-800 before,or anything wrong with my setting.pls HELP tks..

[feetless]

Its the thermal cut-out function. to prevent your sb900 from overheating (pg f-6) and melt whatever that will melt inside the unit. to switch off this function, refer to pg C-21 of the manual.
Yup it works this way, just have to be careful if u switch the function off though.

[nik34]

Originally Posted by feetless Its the thermal cut-out function. to prevent your sb900 from overheating (pg f-6) and melt whatever that will melt inside the unit. to switch off this function, refer to pg C-21 of the manual. Yup it works this way, just have to be careful if u switch the function off though.

Tks feetless,now i got abit regret upgrading to SB-900.
Just wonder is a external batt pack like Eastgear 2x2 can help to solve
the problem.
any user can share some tips here,very appricate & tks.

[cyrilng]

Originally Posted by nik34 Tks feetless,now i got abit regret upgrading to SB-900. Just wonder is a external batt pack like Eastgear 2x2 can help to solve the problem. any user can share some tips here,very appricate & tks.

Don't think an external battery pack will solve the problem as you'll be flashing even more like theres' no tomorrow. It's supposed to be a safety feature but possibly it's not been properly calibrated or gone off calibration. Maybe you might want to consider sending it in for a check.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by nik34 Tks feetless,now i got abit regret upgrading to SB-900. Just wonder is a external batt pack like Eastgear 2x2 can help to solve the problem. any user can share some tips here,very appricate & tks.

NO... it'll worsen the problem... you'll shoot even faster and heat up the flash faster.

Drop the flash ev, use a higher ISO and larger aperture to reduce the flash power required. This will help.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by cyrilng Don't think an external battery pack will solve the problem as you'll be flashing even more like theres' no tomorrow. It's supposed to be a safety feature but possibly it's not been properly calibrated or gone off calibration. Maybe you might want to consider sending it in for a check.

I guess he was firing non-stop.... or in bursts, thus the heat cut off....

Relax on the flash. Else you'll be likely to burn it....

[nik34]

Originally Posted by cyrilng Don't think an external battery pack will solve the problem as you'll be flashing even more like theres' no tomorrow. It's supposed to be a safety feature but possibly it's not been properly calibrated or gone off calibration. Maybe you might want to consider sending it in for a check.

Ya tks, i'm going soon.

Originally Posted by zac08 NO... it'll worsen the problem... you'll shoot even faster and heat up the flash faster. Drop the flash ev, use a higher ISO and larger aperture to reduce the flash power required. This will help.

Great,i will try that again.tks very much.

Originally Posted by zac08 I guess he was firing non-stop.... or in bursts, thus the heat cut off.... Relax on the flash. Else you'll be likely to burn it....

Not at all,i was doing a very relax way of firing last night at a temple.
Preparing for next week end (the actual event day),cos this happen 3 time already
so i really time myself while walking around to try out,given more time for the flash
to recharge,about 10sec each shot.

[longkangman]

May I know what type of battery you are using ?
Is it fresh after a full charge?
Is your battery very hot during the time you encounter the problem?

[nik34]

Originally Posted by longkangman May I know what type of battery you are using ? Is it fresh after a full charge? Is your battery very hot during the time you encounter the problem?

Hi,
1-i'm using Sanyo eneloop AA R6.
2-use it 2nd day.
3-For eneloop just warm feeling but for GP recyko &
other alkaline battery is more hotter.

[fabianaino]

Originally Posted by nik34 Ya tks, i'm going soon. Great,i will try that again.tks very much. Not at all,i was doing a very relax way of firing last night at a temple. Preparing for next week end (the actual event day),cos this happen 3 time already so i really time myself while walking around to try out,given more time for the flash to recharge,about 10sec each shot.

I can get your useless SB900 from you ... or u want to trade, I have many SB800 to trade with you .. I can do a topup =)

[bhybhy]

hi

I am encountering the same problem with my SB-900, over 4-5 shoots in between. I guess/figure it out that it could be the batteries that is causing the problem because when I open up the battery chamber the last time that the overheating occurred... the batteries were super duper hot.

I am using the recyko batteries, after i pop in my spares batteries(recyko also), the problem stops.

I bet it was the batteries that was faulty. I have yet to try normal alkaline batteries yet to see if its the faulty batteries or its the performance of the poor recyko batteries.

Was thinking of swithcing to sanyo batteries since.. but saw your thread that you are using sanyo too....so holding my purchase.

I would think that the external battery pack will help to cool down the super duper hot chamber and batteries (which i encounter during my last shoot).

keep me updated on the issue, whether its the equipment or batteries or performance of the batteries that is causing all this overheating problem.

[nik34]

Originally Posted by fabianaino I can get your useless SB900 from you ... or u want to trade, I have many SB800 to trade with you .. I can do a topup =)

Tks bro,not at the moment i still got another Sb800 for back up.

Originally Posted by bhybhy hi I am encountering the same problem with my SB-900, over 4-5 shoots in between. I guess/figure it out that it could be the batteries that is causing the problem because when I open up the battery chamber the last time that the overheating occurred... the batteries were super duper hot. I am using the recyko batteries, after i pop in my spares batteries(recyko also), the problem stops. I bet it was the batteries that was faulty. I have yet to try normal alkaline batteries yet to see if its the faulty batteries or its the performance of the poor recyko batteries. Was thinking of swithcing to sanyo batteries since.. but saw your thread that you are using sanyo too....so holding my purchase. I would think that the external battery pack will help to cool down the super duper hot chamber and batteries (which i encounter during my last shoot). keep me updated on the issue, whether its the equipment or batteries or performance of the batteries that is causing all this overheating problem.

Hi,sad to know got the same problem but don worry i'm going to send in to check shortly.
update later....Good day to all....

[longkangman]

I too believe is the battery as when I have the same problem I swap the EX580mk2 to SB900 it stop but the problem move to EX580mk2.
I did over 300 shoot on the SB900 with CD2x2 yesterday without any problem. I have since stop using that over heat battery.

[kkcharles82]

Absolutely nothing to do with the battery. It is just how fast you are using the flash. You fire off 50 flashes in under a minute you are dissipating a lot of energy.
The tube if I am not mistaken dissipates around 100 to 150 joules or watt second of energy. 50 flashes is around 5000 joules, and in 50 seconds (assuming 1 sec recycle)
that is over 100W in an area less than the size of your palm! Melt it will! Thats why there is a cutoff circuit.

[blazer_workz]

If u r not shooting hi-speed sync y turn on the FP thinggy? IMO, i think AutoFP draws more power than the usual should..by turning FP off, u should be able to squeeze another 10 to 20 more..

[kkcharles82]

AutoFP is auto Focal Plane. It does not consume more power but it reduces the power dissipation during high shutter speed hence the reduced GN during autoFP operation.
Please refer to http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2008/03/10-auto-fp-high-speed-sync-explained.html for information.

[blazer_workz]

Originally Posted by kkcharles82 AutoFP is auto Focal Plane. It does not consume more power but it reduces the power dissipation during high shutter speed hence the reduced GN during autoFP operation. Please refer to http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2008/03/10-auto-fp-high-speed-sync-explained.html for information.

Thank you for the information..

[nik34]

Tks to all respond,i just came back from NSC.
got one very simple solution just need to deactivate the themal funtion,problem solve.
control the flash usage just need to be gentle abit for this one

[linse]

Originally Posted by kkcharles82 AutoFP is auto Focal Plane. It does not consume more power but it reduces the power dissipation during high shutter speed hence the reduced GN during autoFP operation. Please refer to http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogsp...explained.html for information.

I believe you've got the idea of AutoFP wrong. It does consume more power as the flash has to be on at a longer flash duration at the same power to compensate for a narrower travelling shutter "slit". That's why the guide number drops, because part of the flash output is blocked out by the travelling shutter. At the normal flash-sync speed, the full flash output is captured by the CCD as the focal plane is fully opened ... that's why the guide number is higher. So for any given situation, AutoFP will alway fire at a higher power compared to non-AutoFP mode and hence require more time to dissipate the heat.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by nik34 Tks feetless,now i got abit regret upgrading to SB-900. Just wonder is a external batt pack like Eastgear 2x2 can help to solve the problem. any user can share some tips here,very appricate & tks.

It will probably help to get it to overheat a little faster.