My 430ez just up and quit?!?!?

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After a four roll shoot (15 frames ea.) My 430ez just quit. Everything seems to work except for the thyristor. You can adjust the modes, you can change the zoom, you can even see that the cap's are charging up but you cannot release the flash. I have changed the batteries, disasimbled the flash looking for broken wires. and have had no luck. I assume it may need a new bulb? Any ideas, and if it's the bulb how do you change it?

-- Thomas Blackwell (Tblackwell1@sc.rr.com), February 17, 2002

Answers

It could be the bulb. They do fail and the 430EZ is getting on in years, so it is possible. I had a 430EZ fail on me as well, with the same symptoms. As it turned out it was just a wire that had gotten pinched in half right where the flash head's tilt joint is. I just repaired the wire & everything was back to normal.

If you're adventuresome, skilled or just a fool you might take it apart & look for the same. But if you're none of the above, do the smart thing & take it in to a repair shop.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), February 18, 2002.


By the way, I couldn't see the broken wire either. I had to use an ohm meter to check for continuity with each strand. The broken one was on the edge of the ribbon cable.

I just reread your question & I see that you have already been into the flash. I missed that before. Do be careful as the capacitor does store a real wallop & can bite you real good.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), February 18, 2002.


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