pc sync terminal on SB-800 won't fire flash

Hi all. I've got two SB-800s I use with a D7000. In the distant past I fired one flash using a wired cord with a pc adapter plugged into the SB-800 socket and the other end of the cord had a mini flash slave. I did this because the remote flash was hidden by a wall and could not "see" the on-camera flash so it wouldn't fire. I was able to hide the wire, placing that mini slave in sight of the on-camera SB-800.

The problem is it's been so long since I did that I can't recall what settings I used. Now I've tried many things and NEITHER of the SB-800 will cooperate. I switched the cords and switched the mini slave triggers but nothing is working to fire the remote flash with that system. I know it's rinky-dink but it used to work very well.

When I shoot conventionally the master and remote SB-800s work just fine. It's just when I use the hidden wire technique that things aren't happening.

Thanks, any clue?

You are using the commander, right? The SB-800 flash disables its PC sync connector (and all foot pins) when it is in Remote mode. It is instead triggered by the wireless commander. And also the philosophy that PC sync is manual flash only, and is intentionally not compatible with commander. Mixing systems (commander and manual flash) is a no-no.


If the SB-800 was the commander itself, on the hot shoe, then its PC port will still work, because it is wired to the foot pin, which has to work.

Wayne, thanks for the reply. I don't currently have any of the equipment set up but the D7000 was in Commander mode/TTL. Please remember that my "remote" SB-800 is hidden from view, hence the reason I set it up with the pc cord so the mini slave on the other end of that cord could be snaked around a wall and seen by the camera.

One of the things I tried was having the remote flash in manual mode, which I thought would fire no matter what. So if I get you correctly, you're saying, the remote should be set at a "remote", as if there's no wire with the funky mini slave. Is that right?

Also, remember that I'm NOT tethering the two speedlights together, which I think is what you assumed from re-reading your last paragraph. To repeat myself, my intention was to fire the remote via the dangling cord that's not connected to any hardware
whatsoever.

Meanwhile, in awhile I've got to split so Happy New Year if I can't respond until tomorrow.
Thanks again.

One other thing. I think I did not try setting the remote flash to SU-4 mode. That may do the trick but I won't know today.
Again, thanks.

OK, I may not get the picture of your setup, although I think I do.

What is a mini-slave? I suspect it is an optical slave? Which is only for manual flash, incompatible with the Commander - because if it triggers, it will likely trigger from the early Commander command signals, before the shutter opens.

Any PC cord device will not trigger the SB-800 in Remote mode, which has disabled its own PC port (in Remote mode). It could trigger the SB-800 in manual mode (real Manual mode, the mode called M on the menu), but the slave would be triggered before the shutter opens (if from the commander), so it would be useless to the picture.

So I think there are two reasons it cannot work as is. Trying to trigger optical slave from commander, and trying to use SB-800 PC port in Remote mode.

Selecting Manual in the Commander menu is a manual power level, but it is still Commander, and not remotely like real Manual mode. It is still incompatible if mixed with manual optical slaves, or manual light meters, etc.

The Commander will still put out early flash commands to transfer that menu's manual power level info to the flash, which will trigger optical slaves too early, before the shutter opens. We just cannot mix systems that way. We need to choose one and go with it, either Commander or Manual flash equipment.

If you need the flash to be hidden (where commander cannot trigger it), I think the only way is to turn the commander off, and switch to "real" manual mode IN ALL GEAR. There are no cables in the Commander system. If you really need the cord to get into the hidden area, the slave could trigger the mode called M on the SB-800 menu (but too early and useless if triggered by the Commander).

But better yet, the SB-800 has its own optical slave (a really excellent sensitive one), called SU-4 mode. Just select SU-4 instead of Remote, and then (what I do is "tap" the power button) switch to its second menu, where you select Manual and set its manual power level.

SU-4 mode is an excellent optical slave trigger (for manual flash systems). Its sensitivity will very likely trigger anywhere in the room, even if hidden, because optical slaves are triggered from the full final flash, instead of a weak command flash. Its sensor is the same red port on the side by battery door - optimally it is aimed at the triggering flash, but normally not very important in most rooms. But it is for manual flash systems, and incompatible with the Commander.

So then, you will need to trigger some other manual flash some other way, to then trigger this slave. Camera internal flash IN MANUAL MODE (at low power level) could do that. But not as Commander.

Or could run PC sync cord from camera to SB-800. D7000 will need a hot shoe PC sync adapter, Nikon AS-15 is an excellent one. (still manual mode).

Or could use radio trigger (still manual mode).

I am seriously late for a date; putting it another way, my wife is about to hit me. I read your thoughtful response only once and it makes good sense. Just can't check it out beyond that, maybe not for a day or two.

Again, thanks. I'm impressed and appreciate this. Ken