Scorched Flash - HELP!!!

Antomus Prime

As far as I know I'm posting this in the right place...... Can anyone tell me has this ever happened to them before and is it possible to get the scorched part replaced?? It's my dad's flash and it wasnt cheap!!!

Effects

Was it your fault? What happened? What type of flash is it and how old? It can be repaired but might not be cheap. I'm nit sure if Zero Hamster has worked on flashed but he would be worth a try. Post it in the sticky thread, 'The Hamster Clinic'.

Antomus Prime

It basically just got scorched inside from over use I would imagine, Ive been using it a lot more than I used to and in recent shoots ive taken up to 100 pics one after the other. It's a Sigma EF-500 ST. About 3 years old....

I'll head over to the clinic now so, thanks effects

zerohamster

Does the flash still work?

Not 100% sure but the scorch marks may be able to be cleaned off it it is residue rather than the plastic being burnt.
It's odd that this would happen simply from normal use but if the flash still works then it's not a blown bulb anyway.

The flashes themselves are between €79-99 on ebay new by the way in case the part isn't available.

If you need to get it done PM me and I can see if it can be cleaned or if the part is available.

Antomus Prime

zerohamster wrote: »

Does the flash still work?

Not 100% sure but the scorch marks may be able to be cleaned off it it is residue rather than the plastic being burnt.
It's odd that this would happen simply from normal use but if the flash still works then it's not a blown bulb anyway.

The flashes themselves are between €79-99 on ebay new by the way in case the part isn't available.

If you need to get it done PM me and I can see if it can be cleaned or if the part is available.

Thanks Zero, Im gonna have a closer look at the surrounding plastic to see it it can be taken out. The flash does still work so its not the bulb. Hopefully I can clean the inside. I'll give you a shout if I dont have any luck... thanks

zerohamster

Antomus Prime wrote: »

Thanks Zero, Im gonna have a closer look at the surrounding plastic to see it it can be taken out. The flash does still work so its not the bulb. Hopefully I can clean the inside. I'll give you a shout if I dont have any luck... thanks

Ok, just a few things before you do open it.

Normally the screws to open the head of a flash are located as follows:
2x on the bottom near the front
2-4x at the back of the flash head, usually under the rubber covers on the sides.

If it doesn't seem to be coming off don't force it as you may need to have it at a certain angle to remove one of the halves and also you may be removing the wrong half (sometimes it can be the top and other flashes it's the bottom that comes off first).

Be very careful, the capacitor has enough energy to kill you or at least burn you badly so when you are opening it keep away from the capacitor (at the back) and the wires and contacts connecting to the bulb as if you short the wrong one you can fry the flash and your finger/worse.

The front screen should be able to come out as soon as you have the cover off so you shouldn't need to be in contact with the circuits much.

Good luck with the repair.