Repairs to Canon Speedlite 580 Ex battery contact points.

Lagnagoushee

I need help in repairing a Canon Speedlite 580ex.
The problem is that some of the battery chamber contact points have corroded due to battery leakage.

I have attached two photographs of the 580 ex Speedlite.
The number on the Speedlite is 445181 on the front head and inside the battery chamber is U6 10 .
The bottom left contact is loose (looking at it with the chamber door open on the right hand side) This is where most of the signs of corrosion is seen.
The corrosion on the contacts means that the speedlite only works occasionally when the contact makes the circuit connection.
Any ideas as to where I might get this repaired in Ireland or where I might source new contact points to do the job myself.

Borderfox

nail file and sand the contacts?

AnCatDubh

Had this on a battery charger recently and will a little scraping at the green oxide it came back as good as new - well working fine at least. The speedlite is worth a lot more than a charger though so I'd imagine to go gently with it.

pixbyjohn

Try clean the contact as best you can then add a touch of solder to the cleaned part. Sometimes a bit of breadsoda added to a drop of water will clean the contact using a small paint brush

Sleepy

piece of iron wool between a tweezers should sort that out...

democrates

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Try clean the contact as best you can then add a touch of solder to the cleaned part. Sometimes a bit of breadsoda added to a drop of water will clean the contact using a small paint brush

Solder is not a great conductor, it's purpose is to hold an already electrically sound connection in place. The contacts themselves are the best surface and if they're worn down I'd be inclined to solder on a contact saved from some broken piece of electronics, or bought from the likes of Peats in Parnell st.

I'd be wary of the bread soda, first because I'm not sure if it's applicable beyond lead acid battery leaks, but also if the connectors are loose there may be a gap allowing bread soda into the inner circuitry, seems risky. I'd use white spirits on cotton buds to clean up the main mess, then a bit of metal sandpaper on the end of pliers or a metal file to redeem the contact surfaces, and a final clean with white spirits to get rid of remaining residue.

pixbyjohn

solders are very good conductors of electricity and heat

jpfahy

Yer only man!!:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/searchtemplate.asp?criteria=FIBREGLASS%20PEN

http://www.consolesandgadgets.co.uk/catalog/fibreglass-pen-p-1610.html

great for cleaning off corrosion in awkward places.