Fix Your Stuff Community Store

Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit

Introduction

How to remove the two flash capacitors and the PCB they are attached to. A donor part from another camera will be needed.

What you need

  1. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove back cover: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Push down on the screw to depress the spring loaded hinge and release the door.

    Edit

  2. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove bottom cover: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Remove six 5.3 mm #00 screws.

    • Remove one 3.4 mm #00 screw.

    • The short screw has a machine thread and screws into the plate underneath. The rest screw into the plastic body.

    Edit

  3. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove left front cover: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Remove three 5.3 mm #00 screws (the bottom-most screw is not always present).

    • Remove one 7.3 mm #00 screw.

    • Remove the remote trigger cover.

    Edit

  4. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove front cover: step 4, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove front cover: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Remove one 3.4 mm #00 screw.

    • Remove two 5.3 mm #00 screw.

    • Gently lift up on the flash housing to help remove the cover if necessary.

    Edit

  5. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove right front cover: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove two 3.9 mm #00 screws.

    Edit

  6. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove eye cup: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Slide the eye cup up and off to access the screws underneath.

    Edit

  8. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Unscrew top cover: step 7, image 1 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Unscrew top cover: step 7, image 2 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Unscrew top cover: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Remove two 5.3 mm #00 screws by the eyepiece.

    • Remove one 6.8 mm #00 screw in the battery compartment.

    • Remove one 7.0 mm #00 screw near the take up spool.

    Edit

  9. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Lift top cover: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the cover so it is just free of the body. It is still attached by several wires.

    Edit

  10. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Discharge flash capacitors: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Use a 1kΩ-10kΩ resistor to discharge the capacitor. Place the resistor between the blue wire, exposed in the previous step, and ground.

    • The flash capacitors store energy at a very high voltage. Failing to discharge the capacitors properly could result in personal injury and/or damage to the camera.

    Edit

  11. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Release top cover: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • De-solder the green, blue, brown and black wires from the flash PCB.

    Edit

  12. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, De-solder battery connections: step 11, image 1 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, De-solder battery connections: step 11, image 2 of 3 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, De-solder battery connections: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Move the top cover to the side to access the battery connections. It is still connected by a flex cable.

    • De-solder the indicated joints. Use a solder sucker on the tabbed connections.

    • Pull the black wire from the battery flex to get more slack in the connection to the top cover.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

    Edit

  13. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Desolder flex cable: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Desolder the flex cable connecting the top plate to the camera body.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

    • The top cover can be completely removed at this point.

    Edit

  14. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, De-solder flex posts: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Use a solder sucker to de-solder the four posts from the flex circuit.

    • This is the most difficult part of the repair. Patience and persistence are required.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

    Edit

  15. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, De-solder flex connections: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • De-solder the marked connections.

    • Be careful not to overheat the flex circuit. Work in short durations. Allow for cool downs in between if necessary.

    Edit

  16. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Unscrew flex circuit: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Remove one 4.3 mm #00 screw.

    Edit

  17. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Lift the flex circuit: step 16, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Lift the flex circuit: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Gently pry up the plastic carrier under the flex circuit. It may catch slightly on the battery contact tab.

    • Pay close attention to the connections around the four through-hole posts as you lift the flex. Make sure that no solder is left over and that it pulls away freely.

    • This metal tab is lightly held in place with lacquer and can easily come loose. Keep an eye on it.

    Edit

  18. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Unscrew flash PCB: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Remove one 3.3mm #00 screw.

    • Remove one 3.9 #00 screw.

    • De-solder the red wire.

    • Peel off the black tape. Leave it attached to the wires.

    Edit

  19. Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove flash PCB and capacitors: step 18, image 1 of 2 Pentax ZX-5n Flash Capacitor Unit, Remove flash PCB and capacitors: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Gently peel the flex circuit from the surface of the capacitor.

    • There may be additional adhesive underneath the larger capacitor.

    • Lift the two capacitors and the flash PCB out as a single unit.

    • The double sided tape used to secure the capacitors can be softened with isopropyl alcohol if necessary.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

with 1 other contributor

Sam Gustafson

Member since: 09/01/22

3,233 Reputation

13 Guides authored

Badges: 14

+11 more badges

0 Comments

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 13

All Time: 138