No power up symptom with Promatic FTD4000 flash

[Christopher Walrath]

Wanna buy this flash from a friend. He kept the bettaries in it a little longer that recommended for storage. One of the terminals was slightly corroded but I was able to clean it up. There is no corrosion on the interior surfaces in the battery compartment. Fresh batteries. Flip the switch . . . Waiting for the whine. Any tricks other than a nice flick of the wrist as it heads for the garbage receptacle?

 

[John Koehrer]

Corrosion on the contacts could also mean corrosion on the leads soldered to the contacts internally. Or to the switch,also internal.

 

[David Grenet]

I might add that if you didn't know already, the capacitor (and inductor in my metz 402 pack) are charged to a high voltage (often ~300V). If you don't know how to safely discharge a capacitor at this voltage, please don't open the case. Even with power removed, capacitors can hold a charge for quite some time...

 

[John Koehrer]

It's interesting how quickly you can move the hand away from the cap when you short it though

 

[David Grenet]

I'm sure you can, but if touch it the wrong way you won't be able to let go...

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Nah, could open it without permanently marring it (probably good for me). But I did, however, take a micro set of needle nose pliers and stretch the contacts by pulling them all out to twice the height from the base that they were. Batteries, lid, switch, WHINE! YEAH! Good to go. Now question is do I tell the guy I fixed it and pay him or just say I threw it away and biought one like it since it seemed like such a cool flash. I know. I know. JUST KIDDING! What kind of a bastard do you take me for anywho?

Thanks for the responses all.