Inon S2000 Troubleshooting

[snowdog61]

Looking for some suggestions/opinions/recommendations on what to do with my inoperative strobe. I purchased a used (less than 6 month old) Japanese sourced S2000 a few months ago off the forum and finally got it in the water to start using it. I verified its function when i received it, taking a picture in the mirror in the darkened bathroom to verify it fired. I've removed the strobe from the arm and tried firing it directly without the FO cable placing the sensor against to the camera's (Canon S95) internal flash. No joy. I don't suspect the optical cable since i can see light through it during a flash cycle. I've tried both sTTL and manual on the strobe and both 1st & 2nd curtains on the camera. Strobe was used with a freshly charged set of Eneloops. The strobes "ready" light glows red and I do hear a steady "chirp" sound from the strobe (I can't say is whether this is normal or not, having not heard that before but assuming that's the capacitors refresh charging cycle). Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can try next? Thinking it may be the sensor or trigger circuit but would like to eliminate other possibilities before I start looking into sending it to Inon for repair. Thanks in advance

 

[Ardy]

The only thing I can suggest is you try to trigger it with a separate flash whilst in manual mode. That would tell you if the sensor is working or not. Have you checked the position of the magnet it is normally down? That would affect TTL but not sure if that would stop it as I have never tried it in the up position.

Go as manual everything if you can on your canon and inon (full) then check it again to test the sensor. Sure it can't be too much wrong if it worked in the mirror when you bought it???? does it still work in the mirror test?

Is there water inside the battery housing?

 

[snowdog61]

No - it didn't flood - battery compartment & front bulb area look dry as a bone. I took it into the girlfriend's pool to practice since i was less than thrilled with my first attempt photos and the way the lighting/exposure was when the strobe was functioning. At first I figured the FO cable must have failed but that doesn't seem to be the case. Magnet wasn't installed and i did shoot in manual mode and cycled through all positions on the strobe while in manual mode on the S95. I had removed the strobe from the arm and kept the strobe sensor in very close proximity to the Canon's flash. I'm assuming I've gone as far as I can with troubleshooting but needless to say I want to make sure I haven't overlooked something obvious. Very frustrated.

 

[Cumbo]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/strobes-lighting/385385-problem-inon-d-2000-type.html

I had some problems with my Inon D-2000 a while back. Check the above thread if it's of any help.

 

[jameseg]

snowdog61, I was having the same issues in manual mode. After reading a bunch of stuff here, including the thread that Cumbo linked to, I realized that you need the magnet installed to shoot the strobe and camera in manual.

James

 

[snowdog61]

thanks for both the replies - I'm still baffled as it worked before without it. I'll try installing the magnet and see what shakes out.

 

[terson]

snowdog61, I was having the same issues in manual mode. After reading a bunch of stuff here, including the thread that Cumbo linked to, I realized that you need the magnet installed to shoot the strobe and camera in manual.

James

???? I was told by the Inon distributer in my area( authorised distributer that is ) that it is best to throw away the magnet if you are using either STTL or manual. I have never even had the magnets out of their plastic wrappers for either of my two S2000 and never a problem.
I shoot with an Olympus EPL2. . . .
Bruce

 

[Ardy]

???? I was told by the Inon distributer in my area( authorised distributer that is ) that it is best to throw away the magnet if you are using either STTL or manual. I have never even had the magnets out of their plastic wrappers for either of my two S2000 and never a problem.
I shoot with an Olympus EPL2. . . .
Bruce

I have a Z240 and found exactly the opposite - I could not get my flash to work in TTL without the magnet down (it is permanently fixed in the 240). Then I had problems with my internal flash on Olympus E-520 it needed to be on auto to drive the TTL so I had 2 issues to resolve. Manual worked fine from start.

Sorry snowdog, I think it is time to take it to someone who knows more.

 

[jameseg]

???? I was told by the Inon distributer in my area( authorised distributer that is ) that it is best to throw away the magnet if you are using either STTL or manual. I have never even had the magnets out of their plastic wrappers for either of my two S2000 and never a problem.
I shoot with an Olympus EPL2. . . .
Bruce

As I think about it more, I believe this is an issue for certain cameras only, including the canon the op has (which I also own). Something to do with the way the manual mode works ( pre flashes maybe?). I'm obviously not an expert on the subject.

 

[Cumbo]

I also had to install the magnet to my Inon D-2000 in order to get it working properly with my G12.