Does "Sony" version of Godox/Neewer flashes have a Canon-style external power socket?

windhorse · Apr 4, 2025

I am trying to figure out what type of power cable is needed to supply external power to a Neewer Nw880-S (for Sony) flash, as unfortunately the manual does not specify this and I cannot find any additional information on the company website.

The external socket on this flash has three pins in a row and a slight indent on one side that does not resemble any Sony cable connector I can see (Sony power cables appear to have the pins off set rather than in an evenly spaced row). I am no expert but the arrangement of the pins in the socket of the NW880-S does look the same as the arrangement of pins in the external power socket of the Godox TT600 and I have just read a post elsewhere that mentions Godox speedlight flashes use Canon connecter!

So I am curious to know if anyone can confirm if Godox/Neewer flashes do use a Canon connecter regardless of the compatability of the flash to Sony etc, which would be surprising and strange, but good to know

Hassasin · Apr 4, 2025

Not sure what cable you are referring to, sync / remote cable ?
All these flashes have TTL features of a camera maker as they connect through hot shoe, and difference from an S to a C is in the foot pin arrangement, all else is universal and same regardless of dedication designation.

so if I have a C version, but flash has say wireless trigger built in, I can use that feature with any camera system, basic flash fires off center pin anyways, and as such any of them should work on any old non-ttl hot shoe.

windhorse · Apr 4, 2025

I am interested in the external power supply socket, not the sync/remote. Its purpose is to connect an external battery to fire the flash.

It is located under a plastic flap on the front of the flash.

The external power socket on the Neewer Nw880-S (for Sony) flash looks like this:

Hassasin · Apr 4, 2025

If it's power supply then 100% it's the same connection across the dedicated line. It has nothing to do with flash functions and how they are transmitted to camera through foot pins.

No, I do not own this flash, I do have some Godox stuff, but any other answer to mine would make no sense.

Chan Tran · Apr 4, 2025

What does Godox say about cable and power pack? They must have their version of power pack and cable to use with that port. Basically the 3 pins are common, high voltage and low voltage. But the voltages and which pin is which can be different for different brands. I don't know if they use the Canon cable but I think it makes sense for them to use the same cable for all the flashes dedicated to different brands.

windhorse · Apr 4, 2025

Yes, Godox makes their own Propac external battery pack with different cables for different brands of flashes.

As you can see here, the connecter on the cable they specificy for Sony flashes is quite different to the socket of the Neewer flash NW808-S (S for Sony) I am talking about (see photo in earlier post:

https://www.godox.co.uk/products/ppack/pb960/iluxtm-godox-propac-sony-cable-2-20m.html

However, the connecter Godox specifies to link their external battery pack to Canon flashes looks exactly the same as the socket on the NW808-S flash:

https://www.godox.co.uk/products/ppack/pb960/iluxtm-godox-propac-canon-cable-2-20m.html

Hence my confusion!

Good idea to contacr customer support!

I just sent a message to Neewer and am interested to see what they say!

Hassasin · Apr 4, 2025

windhorse said:
Yes, Godox makes their own Propac external battery pack with different cables for different brands of flashes.

As you can see here, the connecter on the cable they specificy for Sony flashes is quite different to the socket of the Neewer flash NW808-S (S for Sony) I am talking about (see photo in earlier post:

https://www.godox.co.uk/products/ppack/pb960/iluxtm-godox-propac-sony-cable-2-20m.html

However, the connecter Godox specifies to link their external battery pack to Canon flashes looks exactly the same as the socket on the NW808-S flash:

https://www.godox.co.uk/products/ppack/pb960/iluxtm-godox-propac-canon-cable-2-20m.html

Hence my confusion!

Good idea to contacr customer support!

I just sent a message to Neewer and am interested to see what they say!

The point I was trying to make, this is NOT related to actual function of the flash unit, and it would be inventory killer for Neewer (or whoever makes it for them) to make different power cable depending on TTL dedication. It simply makes no sense.

Chan Tran · Apr 4, 2025

Hassasin said:
The point I was trying to make, this is NOT related to actual function of the flash unit, and it would be inventory killer for Neewer (or whoever makes it for them) to make different power cable depending on TTL dedication. It simply makes no sense.

No I think they use the same cable for all of their flashes but their cable isn't the same as Sony cable.

windhorse · Apr 7, 2025

Propt and helpful reply from Neewer customer support:

"Thanks for your question about the external power supply. All of our flashes have the power port integrated into their design as this is an industry standard expectation, but unfortunately we don't sell the supply adapter for it. The flash is designed to use battery power support. Using an external power supply can only reduce recycling times and make the unit work faster, but it cannot provide power to flash and will also heat up more as a result. If you wish to use this, we recommend that you purchase a Godox external battery to see if it works with this flash".

windhorse · Apr 8, 2025

Meanwhile, I also found the following helpful hint in an old thread:

"Godox uses the Canon connector on their TT speedlights".

windhorse · Apr 10, 2025

SOLVED!

For anyone who may be interested in this esoteric subject, I have found the answer to my own question, by buying a preloved Quantum Compact battery with a cable that was used by the previous owner to connect the battery to his Canon speedlight. I used the same "Canon" cable to connect my Neewer Nw880-S (for Sony) flash to the Quantum battery and it works perfectly, so yes, the power connector on the front of the Neewer880-S (for Sony) flash is compatable with Canon-style connecter, at least when powering the flash with a Quantum battery, which I am happy to now be able to do, as the recycling time after each flash with the Quantum power pack is MUCH faster than the recycling time using 4 AA batteries, and the power pack also provides a lot more flashes than 4 AA batteries in the unit before needing to be recharged.

Meanwhile, a few extra tips I found along the way: when using an external power pack always keep 4 batteries in the flash (required to power the display not the flash), don't use rechargeable AA batteries, as it apparently mucks up the AA batteries, and don't insert the power cable upside down (thereby reversing the terminals and fryinging the flash).

... now all I have to figure out is how to replace the cells in Quantum QB1 and/or SC battery pack without ever having used a soldering iron before, lots to learn

Chan Tran · Apr 12, 2025

windhorse said:
SOLVED!

For anyone who may be interested in this esoteric subject, I have found the answer to my own question, by buying a preloved Quantum Compact battery with a cable that was used by the previous owner to connect the battery to his Canon speedlight. I used the same "Canon" cable to connect my Neewer Nw880-S (for Sony) flash to the Quantum battery and it works perfectly, so yes, the power connector on the front of the Neewer880-S (for Sony) flash is compatable with Canon-style connecter, at least when powering the flash with a Quantum battery, which I am happy to now be able to do, as the recycling time after each flash with the Quantum power pack is MUCH faster than the recycling time using 4 AA batteries, and the power pack also provides a lot more flashes than 4 AA batteries in the unit before needing to be recharged.

Meanwhile, a few extra tips I found along the way: when using an external power pack always keep 4 batteries in the flash (required to power the display not the flash), don't use rechargeable AA batteries, as it apparently mucks up the AA batteries, and don't insert the power cable upside down (thereby reversing the terminals and fryinging the flash).

... now all I have to figure out is how to replace the cells in Quantum QB1 and/or SC battery pack without ever having used a soldering iron before, lots to learn

When you use alkaline batteries be careful as they tend to leak. For low power consumption I found rechargeable AA Li-Ion works very well. They keep a constant voltage of 1.5V until the end. Just don't use it to power the flash which would result in slow recycling time (even slower than alkalines).

mgb74 · Apr 13, 2025

windhorse said:
Propt and helpful reply from Neewer customer support:

"Thanks for your question about the external power supply. All of our flashes have the power port integrated into their design as this is an industry standard expectation, but unfortunately we don't sell the supply adapter for it. The flash is designed to use battery power support. Using an external power supply can only reduce recycling times and make the unit work faster, but it cannot provide power to flash and will also heat up more as a result. If you wish to use this, we recommend that you purchase a Godox external battery to see if it works with this flash".

This seems a bit nonsensical to me. The provide the power port because it's "an expectation" yet don't provide the means to use it. Nor do they recommend using it. And if it "cannot provide power to flash", how does it "reduce recycling time and make the unit work faster"?

Chan Tran · Apr 13, 2025

mgb74 said:
This seems a bit nonsensical to me. The provide the power port because it's "an expectation" yet don't provide the means to use it. Nor do they recommend using it. And if it "cannot provide power to flash", how does it "reduce recycling time and make the unit work faster"?

The first part "provide power port because it's "an expectation" yet don't provide means to use it". On this you're right. I think brand like Neewer and Godox don't provide good support. They made their sales with their low prices. Their manuals are very poor. The fact that they don't design their own high voltage cable and power pack but use the Canon design is not good in my opinion.
For the second part, the OP didn't write it clear enough. The flash normally use the battery to run the control circuit and the display. It also run the inverter that convert 6V or so from the batteries to 350V to charge the capacitor. This is the most power demanding in a flash. The external high voltage power pack only supply this voltage and it helps in shortening the recycle time but not supplying the low voltage to run the control circuit and display.

mgb74 · Apr 13, 2025

windhorse said:
... now all I have to figure out is how to replace the cells in Quantum QB1 and/or SC battery pack without ever having used a soldering iron before, lots to learn

I was playing with one I have a few years ago. If I recall correctly, the QB 1 uses 3 2v sealed lead acid batteries wired in series. Open your battery pack up. You may not need to do any soldering if spade connectors are used. And if it is required, I suspect you could find an electronics hobbyist willing and able to do that. There is even a "monobloc" 6v version (3 2v in series) but I'm not sure it would fit in the case. I do recall trying to find a 6v SLA battery (as are commonly used in security systems, etc) but could not find one small enough.

mgb74 · Apr 13, 2025

Chan Tran said:
The first part "provide power port because it's "an expectation" yet don't provide means to use it". On this you're right. I think brand like Neewer and Godox don't provide good support. They made their sales with their low prices. Their manuals are very poor. The fact that they don't design their own high voltage cable and power pack but use the Canon design is not good in my opinion.
For the second part, the OP didn't write it clear enough. The flash normally use the battery to run the control circuit and the display. It also run the inverter that convert 6V or so from the batteries to 350V to charge the capacitor. This is the most power demanding in a flash. The external high voltage power pack only supply this voltage and it helps in shortening the recycle time but not supplying the low voltage to run the control circuit and display.

First, to me it appears the OP cut and pasted the reply from Neewer customer support. So perhaps it was Neewer that was not clear.

But are those external power packs "high voltage"? It's my understanding that they are typically the same (or similar) voltage as the batteries in series. So if the flash uses 4 AA batteries (4.8 to 6v depending on chemistry) the external battery pack is typically 6v.

I agree that with budget brands such as Neewer and Godox, you get a lot of bang for the buck in terms of product but expectations for customer service and technical support should be realistic.

Chan Tran · Apr 13, 2025

mgb74 said:
First, to me it appears the OP cut and pasted the reply from Neewer customer support. So perhaps it was Neewer that was not clear.

But are those external power packs "high voltage"? It's my understanding that they are typically the same (or similar) voltage as the batteries in series. So if the flash uses 4 AA batteries (4.8 to 6v depending on chemistry) the external battery pack is typically 6v.

I agree that with budget brands such as Neewer and Godox, you get a lot of bang for the buck in terms of product but expectations for customer service and technical support should be realistic.

Those packs use 6V battery but they have the inverter built in and the output to the flash is high voltage typically 350V. But this is another thing too that the flash manufacturer should sell the high voltage pack themselves because you can design flashes that take different high voltage not always 350V. In fact the OP Quantum battery pack that failed I suspect it's the inverter circuit and not the battery.

windhorse · Apr 25, 2025

Now here is an interesting (for me) development. I felt so enthusiastic after the heady success of getting the Neewer flash to work with Canon cable on Quantum compact battery that I bought another two used Quantum battery, one old-fashioned Battery One and a Quantum SC, that I hope to use with either another speedlight or my trusty old Qflash T2.

Now when I plug in the Neewer speedlight to the SC it works like a charm, but when I plug in the Qflash it goes awol straight away. Could it be that the speedlight only uses the equivalent of 4 AA batteries so does not demand much of the old SC battery, just the equaivalent of 4 AA batteries, but the Qflash requires 300 w, so it is possible for the SC battery in its present condition to give enough power for the speedlight to work but not enough power to satisfy the requirements of the Qflash T2.... in which case I can confidently use the SC battery as a power pack for the speedlight but need to look more into what may need to be done to get it to work with the Qflash?

As far as the justice of Neewer providing a socket for external power supply but not offering its own oem power pack, I am happy about it as if they opted not to provide the socket I would be stuck with using 4 aa batteries in the speedlight, but this way I at least have the option of using this fine flash with an equally fine power pack albeit made by another company. What I reckon is really good is their customer support was quite open about this and helped me find a solution.... how likely is it that customer support of a company like apple would do that?

I also don't mind buying my shoes and socks from different companies (-:

windhorse · Apr 25, 2025

mgb74 said:
I was playing with one I have a few years ago. If I recall correctly, the QB 1 uses 3 2v sealed lead acid batteries wired in series. Open your battery pack up. You may not need to do any soldering if spade connectors are used. And if it is required, I suspect you could find an electronics hobbyist willing and able to do that. There is even a "monobloc" 6v version (3 2v in series) but I'm not sure it would fit in the case. I do recall trying to find a 6v SLA battery (as are commonly used in security systems, etc) but could not find one small enough.

Yep, I see the QB1 uses 3x2 volt (eg Cyclone) lead acid batteries wired in series, but soldered not connected with spades. I am reluctant to open up the SC as it says in big letters on the case NOT to do so and NimH is a very different technology.

windhorse · Apr 25, 2025

Chan Tran said:
When you use alkaline batteries be careful as they tend to leak. For low power consumption I found rechargeable AA Li-Ion works very well. They keep a constant voltage of 1.5V until the end. Just don't use it to power the flash which would result in slow recycling time (even slower than alkalines).

Good to know, though have read elsewhere that it is important to NOT use rechargeable AA batteries in the flash when it is hooked up to a power pack?

Chan Tran · Apr 25, 2025

windhorse said:
Good to know, though have read elsewhere that it is important to NOT use rechargeable AA batteries in the flash when it is hooked up to a power pack?

If the flash requires you to have AA batteries when using the power pack then whether or not the AA are rechargeable doesn't matter. The NiMH's have lower voltage but should be sufficient for the task.

windhorse · Apr 26, 2025

Happily after 16 hours on the charger the cantankerous SC NimH battery has started to work well enough to fire the Qflash.

If I understood right the correct way to revive a lead acid battery like the Cyclones is a long charge but I had thought the only way to revive a Nimh battery was to completely discharge and recharge it a couple of times, but maybe I am wrong about this. I guess it also depends on the design of the battery pack.

windhorse · Apr 26, 2025

... but after a few flashes the SC battery nose-dives (again), so it is back on the charger, while I search for any suggestion about how to recondition a Nimh battery pack by deep cycling or some other technique, or is the only solution when this starts happening to a nimh battery pack either to get it recelled or to use it as a paperweight?

The great thing about the Quantum Turbo is anyone (even me) can replace the cell, whereas other battery packs are not so simple.

Chan Tran · Apr 26, 2025

windhorse said:
... but after a few flashes the SC battery nose-dives (again), so it is back on the charger, while I search for any suggestion about how to recondition a Nimh battery pack by deep cycling or some other technique, or is the only solution when this starts happening to a nimh battery pack either to get it recelled or to use it as a paperweight?

The great thing about the Quantum Turbo is anyone (even me) can replace the cell, whereas other battery packs are not so simple.

Why don't you just replace the batteries inside the pack? I wouldn't bother reviving them.

Does "Sony" version of Godox/Neewer flashes have a Canon-style external power socket?

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