Contax flash repair

[Puggie]

HELP!!

I have a Contax TLA360 flash, it powers up, but will not charge the flash circuit. Does anyone have any idea where I may find a schematic of it, of is this likely to be a generic issue that flashes typically suffer? I have not started pulling it apart yet, so it could be a simple expired electrolytic cap or similar, I just thought I'd ask before going in screwdrivers blazing with a hot soldering iron!

many thanks

Bill

 

[sevo]

Have you already left it on power for a couple of days? Usually, flashes regain their charge after some time of formatting.

 

[Robert Lai]

Usually, the problem is that the electrolytic capacitor is dead. Or nearly so - enough charge could still be on there to defibrillate your heart if you're not careful. When you find it, get a big resistor across its leads to be sure to drain the charge. The ratings should be on the capacitor surface itself. Then it's just a matter of unsoldering, and soldering a new one in place.

It goes without saying that you take the batteries out first before you go digging.

 

[Puggie]

Thanks for the info. I had been using the flash, left it unused for 6 months then found it dead. I do a fair bit of electronics repair, its about the age for electrolytic caps to fail imho, so they are my first suspicion. Never hurts to ask the experienced before you start though, i much prefer learning from other peoples mistakes, i can make enough of my own!

Promise to take the batteries out and not lick the pcb!

 

[wolves3012]

When you say it powers up, do you mean it makes a high-pitched whistle? Is there a "ready" light and if so does it come on? If it whistles, the capacitor is (probably) at least trying to charge. If the "ready" light comes on, that might leave the trigger circuit as a failure rather than the main capacitor.

As noted above, be damn sure you drain any possible charge from the main capacitor before even thinking about messing. Otherwise things can go painfully wrong, at best.

By the way, there is no particular age for a capacitor to fail, it depends on many factors. Also, remember you will need a photoflash capacitor if you replace it - an ordinary electrolytic of the same value will NOT do and is very dangerous to substitute.

 

[Beemermark]

try replacing the capacitor. Capacitors are color coded so you should know what to order just by examining the existing one.