Pentax AF360FGZ II Flash won't charge

AquaDome · 06-12-2015, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by aleonx3

I would stay away from alkaline batteries if I were you... they discharge at full power and your flash will heat up quickly.

OTOH, do you have another way to test if the batteries are good before putting in the flash? Or you could have a defective flash unfortunately.

Any modern device made to take AA batteries expects Alkaline batteries. Rechargeable batteries are what is outside the specification.

C_Jones · 06-12-2015, 02:25 PM

The Pentax AF-360FGZ manual states that Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) AA batteries may be used for the unit. Ni-MH AA is a rechargeable battery. I have used them successfully in my own Pentax AF-360FGZ.

sterretje · 06-13-2015, 04:05 AM

Originally posted by AquaDome

Any modern device made to take AA batteries expects Alkaline batteries. Rechargeable batteries are what is outside the specification.

I would expect modern devices to be designed with recharcheable as well as alkaline batteries in mind.

The manual for the 360/II specifically states Alkaline, Lithium and Ni-MH (and specifically excludes Ni-Mn and Ni-CD). So the flash is designed for that; the circuitry probably runs on something like 4V or 4.5V and a regulator of some kind is used to bring the higher voltages down to the required voltage.

davidlpower · 07-13-2015, 05:43 AM

Hi Everyone,

as expected the flash unit was dead on arrival and a replacement has been sourced.

Replacement flash unit is working well and I've not had a repeat of the original issue.

Regards,
David.

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06-12-2015, 01:52 PM	#16
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	Originally posted by aleonx3 I would stay away from alkaline batteries if I were you... they discharge at full power and your flash will heat up quickly. OTOH, do you have another way to test if the batteries are good before putting in the flash? Or you could have a defective flash unfortunately. Any modern device made to take AA batteries expects Alkaline batteries. Rechargeable batteries are what is outside the specification.

06-12-2015, 02:25 PM	#17
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,084	The Pentax AF-360FGZ manual states that Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) AA batteries may be used for the unit. Ni-MH AA is a rechargeable battery. I have used them successfully in my own Pentax AF-360FGZ.

06-13-2015, 04:05 AM	#18
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by AquaDome Any modern device made to take AA batteries expects Alkaline batteries. Rechargeable batteries are what is outside the specification. I would expect modern devices to be designed with recharcheable as well as alkaline batteries in mind. The manual for the 360/II specifically states Alkaline, Lithium and Ni-MH (and specifically excludes Ni-Mn and Ni-CD). So the flash is designed for that; the circuitry probably runs on something like 4V or 4.5V and a regulator of some kind is used to bring the higher voltages down to the required voltage.

07-13-2015, 05:43 AM	#19
davidlpower New Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Hi Everyone, as expected the flash unit was dead on arrival and a replacement has been sourced. Replacement flash unit is working well and I've not had a repeat of the original issue. Regards, David.