Gossen Digisix Problems..

[RanceEric]

I haven't needed to use my light meter in quite some time, but I pulled it out of my bag today, put a new battery in, and tried to meter, but instead of metering, it just cycles through numbers on the screen (and beeps).. Have anyone else had this problem or know how to fix it?? I can't shoot slides without it!

I've only used it for maybe 10-15 rolls of slide film, so it would be horrible to have to replace it after such little use....

-Rance

[sevo]

Bad battery? Even former top brands nowadays sell a fair amount of batteries which are already dead on arrival...

[RanceEric]

Originally Posted by sevo

Bad battery? Even former top brands nowadays sell a fair amount of batteries which are already dead on arrival...

I don't think so.... the screen comes on, and beeps.. but instead of metering (or doing any of it's functions) it just cycles through numbers on the screen..

[sevo]

Well, try with another battery all the same.

Was the former battery flat? It should not be so after a mere 400-600 exposures, so there might be something draining its batteries - perhaps a stuck knob.

[Ljós]

Rance, I have been using a Digisix for some years now. The problem you are describing I have never encountered. I did have a fair share of battery changes/problems with my Digisix "eating" batteries. But nothing like your problem.

In my experience, an insufficient battery will simply fail to power the device, but will not cause the "cycling" behaviour you are talking about.

Questions: How long do you own it? Still under warranty?

- Why did you change the battery? Just to start fresh, or was it "dead" with the old battery?

- what numbers can you see cycling? Are you sure you are not cycling through the ISO adjustment? (And my apologies for the possible insult ;-))

Greetings,
Ljós

[Gabriel M.A.]

Sounds to me like the button is "permanently pushed in": not implausible if you stored it in a very tight spot and it fell hard while the button was pressed in.

The one time the battery drained "fast" I noticed I had put it and left it in the bag in such a way that it was effectively "metering" as I transported it around. click click ... click click

[RanceEric]

Originally Posted by sevo

Well, try with another battery all the same.

Was the former battery flat? It should not be so after a mere 400-600 exposures, so there might be something draining its batteries - perhaps a stuck knob.

Tried another.. same thing. The last battery was dead, but the buttons don't seem to be stuck..

I just uploaded a video of the problem I'm having..:
Digisix Issue

[sevo]

That does not look entirely meaningless, but rather as if it were stuck in some self test or boot cycle. Have you mailed Gossen support?

[Blanc]

Seems like a shortie in one of the buttons contacts, there are also some condensers that if fried can lead to such behavior.

Just send gossen an email or call a gossen specialist.

[bigeye]

I had a (gradually) unresponsive button problem with mine after about a year. Sent it back to NJ and they returned a new one, which is about a year on, now. Used the (always perfect) 25yr old SBC brick in the meantime.

[pjbaur]

Hi Rance,

Did you get your issue resolved? I'm having the same problem.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Paul

[GaryLH]

I have had mine since the first year it was introduced and never had a problem so far... But it sounds like the problem is associated with..
1- stuck in reset power on test reset mode
2- button stuck down (or contact itself is stuck down)
3- moisture around the button contact area

I have never taKen apart my digisix.. If it is the membrane style button design underneath the physical button, then moisture is not the issue and if it is this style, harder to fix as opposed to sending it into the factory...

Gary

[Roger Hicks]

Press all the buttons, quite hard, repeatedly. This has worked for me in the past when the meter has misbehaved, though I've never had the cycling problem you describe.

Cheers,

R.