Canon PowerShot G3 Flash Capacitor Replacement

Introduction

The flash of the Canon PowerShot G3 camera is operated by the discharge of a capacitor. A capacitor is an energy storing device that stores a charge between two conducting plates. Before the capacitor can discharge, it must be charged by the battery.

Note:

1.) There are many screws to be removed before you can reach the capacitor.

2.) To install a new capacitor you must know how to solder wires to the capacitor.

3.) Do not continue unless you have a magnetic pad to place the screws and a soldering iron.

What you need

Step 1 Flash Capacitor

Canon PowerShot G3 Flash Capacitor Replacement, Flash Capacitor: step 1, image 1 of 1

Start to remove all of the screws around the camera: from the front, back, sides, and bottom.

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Step 2

Once the screws have been removed, Remove the back panel. The panel should be able to be removed by hand.

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Step 3

Next remove the front panel and right side panels (the left side is part of the front).

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Step 4

Finally, remove the top panel as shown.

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Step 5

The front of camera should now resemble the picture shown.
To remove the circuit ribbon (the brown strips) pull them out of the plastic pieces they are connected to.

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Step 6

After that you can lift up the capacitor housing by using your finger nail, or other small object, to lift it up around the edges.

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Step 7

Use a spudger, or other thin object, to remove the capacitor from the housing. (Image 2)
To remove the red and yellow wires connected to the capacitor, use a soldering iron to heat up the solder and a vacuum to suck up the solder. Any other methods you know of will also work.
Take the capacitor to you local electronics store or order another capacitor online by reading the capacity off of the side of the capacitor. It should be in microFarads (µF).
Once you have a new capacitor, solder on the red and yellow wires to the same place as the old capacitor.