Breaking in a pocket strobe ?
Mar 28, 2018 08:52:15 #
Have a pocket strobe (Leica SF 40/Nissin i40) that I don't/won't use a lot. In less than a year it broke and the manufacture sent me a new one.
I cant help thinking that my not "breaking" it properly is what caused problem? The new one is sitting on my desk unopened.
Can someone give me advice as to how to break it in? Or perhaps I'm wrong and it just broke down from poor manufacturing?
I'm thinking new batteries and leaving the flash on for a week, day and night . And every time I walk by it give it a flash to exercise it and "break in the capacitors?
After that store it, batteries out, until its next use 3 or 4 times a year? Its difficult to remember monthly to exercise all unused equipment....but I may have to create a plan
......thoughts welcome?
I cant help thinking that my not "breaking" it properly is what caused problem? The new one is sitting on my desk unopened.
Can someone give me advice as to how to break it in? Or perhaps I'm wrong and it just broke down from poor manufacturing?
I'm thinking new batteries and leaving the flash on for a week, day and night . And every time I walk by it give it a flash to exercise it and "break in the capacitors?
After that store it, batteries out, until its next use 3 or 4 times a year? Its difficult to remember monthly to exercise all unused equipment....but I may have to create a plan
......thoughts welcome?
Mar 28, 2018 09:01:40 #
Looks like you simply had an early life failure with the first flash.
They really don't require a "break-in period" like car engines.
However, to keep the capacitors in the flash from drying out (a long term effect), I'd pop it a couple of times every six months or so of non-use.
They really don't require a "break-in period" like car engines.
However, to keep the capacitors in the flash from drying out (a long term effect), I'd pop it a couple of times every six months or so of non-use.
Mar 28, 2018 09:14:51 #
Steamboat wrote:
Have a pocket strobe (Leica SF 40/Nissin i40) that... (show quote)
Load fully charged rechargeables (NiMH battery chemistry). Turn flash on. Wait about 60 minutes. Set it on FULL MANUAL power mode. Fire it and wait for ten seconds AFTER the ready light comes on. Repeat ten times. Now it’s ready to use. (You might want to swap the batteries for fresher ones.)
This forms or re-forms the capacitors in a flash. I’ve successfully preserved my two Vivitar 285s since 1980 by doing this before each session of flash photography. As long as it hasn’t been sitting longer than a week or two, the flash is ready to use.
Mar 28, 2018 09:25:32 #
It's not necessary to fire it every couple of weeks. Capacitor dry-out is a LONG term effect.
I have an old Vivitar 2600D that gets cycled about once a year, still works fine.
I have an old Vivitar 2600D that gets cycled about once a year, still works fine.
Mar 28, 2018 12:45:32 #
Longshadow wrote:
Looks like you simply had an early life failure with the first flash.
They really don't require a "break-in period" like car engines.
However, to keep the capacitors in the flash from drying out (a long term effect), I'd pop it a couple of times every six months or so of non-use.
They really don't require a "break-in period" like car engines.
However, to keep the capacitors in the flash from drying out (a long term effect), I'd pop it a couple of times every six months or so of non-use.
It is very advisable to have a break-in-period for new car engines!!
Mar 28, 2018 12:51:07 #
speters wrote:
It is very advisable to have a break-in-period for new car engines!!
Shoes too, though I'm never sure where the batteries go.
Mar 28, 2018 13:00:45 #
speters wrote:
It is very advisable to have a break-in-period for new car engines!!
Implied "do" at the end of car engines......
Mar 28, 2018 13:16:09 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
Shoes too, though I'm never sure where the batteries go.
I takes me longer to break in a new pair of shoes than a new car. The last two Jeeps I bought the break in period was less than 300 miles. And, they recommended flooring it a few times during that period. With the HEMI engine I probably would have done that anyway.
--
Mr. Burkholder's advice on breaking in a flash is very old, and I still practice it today. I don't only do it with a new flash, but ones that I have forgotten about for a long time.
--
Mar 28, 2018 14:31:48 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
Shoes too, though I'm never sure where the batteries go.
Agent 99: “It’s in the heel.”
Mar 28, 2018 14:58:08 #
LoneRangeFinder wrote:
Agent 99: “It’s in the heel.”
(next comment for the progression should be about phones.)
Mar 28, 2018 19:07:12 #
Early life failure ... sounds great to me.
I figured with pocket strobes the more you used them the better it was for the capacitors....I'm happy to be incorrect
Thanks to all for your help and advice ...it is very much appreciated.
Attached 86 and 99 with there shoe phones
I guess we're all about he same age here......Gotta love Mel Brooks and Buck Henry!
I figured with pocket strobes the more you used them the better it was for the capacitors....I'm happy to be incorrect
Thanks to all for your help and advice ...it is very much appreciated.
Attached 86 and 99 with there shoe phones
I guess we're all about he same age here......Gotta love Mel Brooks and Buck Henry!
Mar 29, 2018 12:12:47 #
New product Infant Mortality.. Not uncommon at all.. In spite of all the quality controls that happen in manufacturing there will always be some percentage of component failure. One reason there is a warranty on the product.
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