Is it normal for a Canon Speedlite to drain batteries while switched off?
Asked 6/29/2012
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2 answers
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My Canon Speedlite 430EX II seems to drain its batteries even when the flash is switched off and removed from the camera. If I leave batteries installed, they can be dead within a day or two. I’ve seen this happen more than once, including with lithium batteries. Is that expected behavior for a speedlite, or does it suggest a fault with the flash?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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I have a 580EX speedlight, and the rechargeable batteries can stay in there for months no problem. The flash unit can be turned on and ready to fire within seconds. Of course there will be some battery drain, but 3 days is def. a sign of a problem. You should seek a replacement if the problem persists.
Originally by user10119. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10119
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No—rapid battery drain while the flash is switched off is not normal. Some tiny standby drain can happen in electronic devices, but a speedlite should not kill a fresh set of batteries in a day or two just sitting unused. A similar Canon flash can hold rechargeable batteries for months and still be ready quickly, so your 430EX II’s behavior points to a problem rather than normal operation. If you’ve confirmed the batteries themselves are good, the flash may be faulty and should be exchanged or serviced.
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