Sekonic Light meter trouble

[likemarlonbrando]

I have a sekonic l-328
I was out on a shoot today and when I pulled out my light meter it wasn't working, I changed the batteries and still nothing. Luckily I had a 35mm camera in my car and pulled it out and used the meter from that. But when I get home I clean off the battery leads with a dry paper towel and still nothing. Here is the weird part. If it is at the "on" position, and I insert the battery 1 out of every times it will turn on and work properly. But, once I turn it off and turn it back on... nothing. there is a tiny bit of corrosion on one of the leads and I wiped it off but it has always been there and the meter has always worked fine. Does anyone have any ideas or am I going to have to send it off for repair somewhere, if I do need to send it out does anyone know a good meter-repair-man?

 

[CGW]

There's always Sekonic/MAC USA but I'm uncertain whether they'd still support an oldie like a 328. Quality Light Metric in LA is another possibility. There's always the option of picking up 318 or 328 used if the fix is pricey. They were tough little meters but not immortal. The newer 308(used) is another option if you like the size.

 

[likemarlonbrando]

I hope not to have it replaced. I paid $220 for it with the spot meter attachment only 6 months ago Thanks for response, I will have to check out Quality Light Metric or sekonic I suppose

 

[tkamiya]

I am guessing you are using rechargeable batteries? Try it with fresh alkaline battery before doing anything else. If you are handy, you may want to open the back and check connection to the battery terminal is solid. If you see a little bit of corrosion, there may be more inside.

To me, it sounds as if leads to the battery terminals may have what is called "cold solder joint" but I'm just guessing without the benefit of seeing the unit and playing with it.

 

[likemarlonbrando]

Im actually using regular alkaline batteries. I have used rechargeable batteries in this in the past but they have all seemed to "walk" away. I may try to check for corrosion inside, thats a good idea.

 

[CGW]

I hope not to have it replaced. I paid $220 for it with the spot meter attachment only 6 months ago Thanks for response, I will have to check out Quality Light Metric or sekonic I suppose

Investigate a fix but you may find a replacement 318/328/308 might be cheaper. The newer 308 isn't that steep used. I'd try to resist a DIY fix.

 

[John Koehrer]

If you had corrosion visible on a wire or contact it's likely the corrosion has gone up the wire. If you're comfortable soldering, just replace the wire(s).
Could also be corrosion on the switch contacts. If it's like a Ferrari it's carbon on the valves.

 

[Timestep]

The trouble with Throw-Away digital gear. My Gossen Digi-Pro —comfortably off-warranty— failed just recently in the field. The problem may well be a dud Measure/turn-on switch. The meter is effectively dead.

So: Back to basics with a Sekonic L398 Studio Deluxe. I have borrowed my wife's spare meter, but will probably buy one for myself. No more digital gear.
A Brockway "Norwood" Studio meter was my first good meter in 1955. Sekonic made a single and significant improvement when they took over the design by adding a pointer-lock. I am confident that they cannot mess up that classic.

 

[Arvee]

Clean battery contacts with a pencil eraser, scrubbing thoroughly. Corrosion will exist as a hard transparent coating on the contact and needs some abrasion to remove it. I have seen cases where the contacts visibly appear perfect but the ohmmeter tells a different story.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

The majority of Sekonic meters are specified for use with lithium batteries, not alkaline batteries and certainly not rechargeble batteries.

 

[paul ron]

i have a seconic digipro x1 L-518 that did the same thing. it worked if i inserted the batteries as i held the on button in. if i turned it off n tried to refire it... nothing!

it turned out the on-off switch was the problem. its the type that has a carbonixed rubber tip that makes contact with a grid on the pc board.

my diy fix was to put a spot of metalic tape on the carbonized tip.

it works like new again. seconic wanted
an arm n a leg to just look at it, not even repair it.

seems your meter is probably suffering a simple fix as well. check solder joints n corroded wires. i say if you're fairly handy, go for a diy repair.... a replacement is your option if your diy fix doesnt work.

as for lithium batteries... the older seconics used silver ox batteries. although my meter doesnt care what i feed it.