Reading mode: Light Dark

SB-800 Warning!

Go to last post
Stangs55

Stangs55

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
482
Reaction score
6
Location
TX, US
I don't know if this is a universal problem, or if I just got a bad batch of batteries. But I picked up some Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries the other day to use in my SB-800 for a wedding. At $11 for four batteries and with claims of 7x the lifespan, I was expecting awesome things.

But after shooting for a bit, I noticed that when I needed to take several consecutive shots, the flash was taking FOREVER to recharge to Ready (5-6 seconds). Also, the flash would just randomly not go off at times and I would end up with black shots. I thought my SB-800 was going bad, but when the problem got worse as the night went on, I opened the battery compartment and checked to see if they were installed in the correct orientation. They were, so I took them out and they were VERY VERY hot--too hot to hold even.

Anyways, I attached a picture of what the top of the batteries that I took out of the camera looked like as compared to a new set (new on the left, bad on the right). Is this a known problem with these kind of batteries in the SB-800? Should I just never use Lithium AA batteries in a flash? Or did I just get a screwly batch of batteries?

In the end, I ended up using some standard AA batteries and the flash worked perfectly. So I guess all's well.



--
My Photo Gallery: http://www.psalms4610.com/
 
Just replaced my collection of 20 x uniross 2300s with 20 x fujicell 2600s and they are brilliant.

I have had the other set for a year, and already binned 3 of them as they wont charge in the lcd charger. I have also tried all combinations of 2300s in the MB-D200 and none of them worked, poped 6 2600s in and no problems.
--
--
Regards,
Craig
http://www.cm-photos.co.uk
 
I haven't had time to prove this yet, but it kind of makes sense. I searched around a bit and found reference that the batteries in Flash devices are hooked up in parallel. This seems possible to me as the flash has need of high current draw. In parallel the Voltage stays the same and the available current increases.

If this is truly the case then: If one of the batteries were bad or substantially discharged more than the others, the other batteries would pour their current in to the bad battery. It would look like a short and the batteries would overheat and possibly explode.
--

-Steve
 
I refer you to Page 18 in the manual. The many warnings there, tend to reinforce what I said above. The batteries should be all the same brand and type an have the same remaining charge.

If they don't then you're going to run into overheating or worse.

This could also happen if the flash was bad of course.
--

-Steve
 
It sounds like a short occurred. One or both either has an internal problem or did not mate to the connectors in the flash correctly.

Are you sure they were installed correctly and the contacts were clean?

I love those batteries for their cold weather performance and life span, and use them in my cameras (F100 and N80) and Nikon flashes (SB-28 and SB-27) with the expected results.

Something strange must have happened.
 
--
Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida
D Two X
D Two H
 
have always been bad luck batteries for me. They've leaked into my Sony World Radio despite being so-called leakproof...and I've had quite a few duds.

Generally these days I use rechargeables, or Duracells which have never been a problem, ever.

I stay far away from the Energiser brand.
--
Peter Bendheim
http://www.imagessouthafrica.co.za
 
I've been using those (Energizer Li) batteries exclusively, since I got my SB 800 about 18 months ago with no problems. I always change all four at the same time. Perhaps one or more were either defective or low on charge creating the conditions for excessive heat generation. If it happens again with a fresh set of batteries, consider a visit to a Nikon repair center.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm going to trash that pack of batteries and start with a fresh pack (I had bought two). Hopefully it won't happen again.

Thanks again for the advice and help. :)
--
My Photo Gallery: http://www.psalms4610.com/
 
Hi

Nobody mentioned that the combination of the SB-800 (high current requirement) and the Li Bats (high potential current delivery) and high cycle rate (during a wedding) might have exceeded the stated flash cycles of the device and batteries. This high useage rate (flashes) might have exceeded the capacity of the batteries to deliver current safely to your device.
--
Leo Theron, South Africa
.... see my images at http://www.pbase.com/leot
 
The user manual recommends alkaline, lithium (non-rechargeable), NiCd or NiMH batteries in the SB-800. It notes spefically about Lithium batteries that "Depending on battery specifications, when these batteries become hot, the safety circuits are activated, cutting off power." Hence, the black frames. I suspect that the rapid power drain of speedlights is not recommended for rechargeable Lithium batteries for a reason -- they get too hot.

I would not buy another set of these to try out. I would do as recommended by other posters - and Nikon - and get NiMH rechargeables instead. You're likely to encounter the same problem again, if conditions were similar.

Chris
Stangs55 said:
I don't know if this is a universal problem, or if I just got a bad
batch of batteries. But I picked up some Energizer e2 Lithium AA
batteries the other day to use in my SB-800 for a wedding. At $11
for four batteries and with claims of 7x the lifespan, I was
expecting awesome things.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top