19104 Loc: Philadelphia

I was using a Quantum turbo power supply with my Mittros Phottix flash. The flash cooked. I sent it in to have it repaired and I was informed that only 6 volt external power should be used with the flash. I looked in the instruction manual and scoured the internet and found no such warning. This is just to warn you about a glaring omission. MY thing is that is they were aware of a problem why didn't they put a warning in the manual.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

What was the voltage on your Quantum pack? 6? 9? 330?

BebuLamar

I wonder why needs a warning. The flash is designed for one voltage. It takes 4AA so it's 6V powered.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Page 4 of the instruction manual:

“External Battery Port
The External Battery Port is a proprietary Phottix design for use with Phottix flash cables. The external port is compatible with the Canon CP-E4 compact battery pack or compatible models when the included adapter is used.
Please note:
- Batteries must be used in the flash even when an external battery pack is used.
- Never use non Canon-compatible battery packs.”

Did you use the proper power supply?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Edit: Although I quoted the warning for Canon, the manuals for other brands also specify which external power packs are compatible.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

What led you to believe the Quantum was compatible with the Mittros flash?

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

I have 2 Quantum Battery 1+ units left over from my days a a wedding photographer. They should work (with the proper adapter ) with any flash requiring 6v power input. I have successfully used them with a couple of Vivitar 285's, a Canon 580 EX and a Canon 430 EX with a home cobbled adapter and one modified that was originally intended for a Nikon flash. Don't remember which one.

Not sure about the Turbos. Do they achieve faster recycle with higher voltage feed?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

They can if the flash is compatible with a port for high voltage input.

Some flashes have a port for a six or nine Volt supply. Some have a 330 Volt port. A quick scour of www.qtm.com should lead you to answers.

I still have a 1985 Quantum Battery 1 6-Volt pack that I used for two Vivitar 285s (the low voltage model before the HV). The older 285 had a six-volt port on the side for an AC Adapter. I fashioned a cord for the Quantum pack out of half the AC adapter cord and a phono plug... I never had a problem using the flash until the battery died.

BebuLamar

If a 6V powered flash (for example a flash that uses 4 AA batteries) you can achieve faster recycle with a 6V battery that doesn't drop its voltage a lot when the flash is charging its capacitor. However it can burn the flash out.
High voltage battery like the 330V one (for flash that has a port to accept it) would bypass the inverter circuit and achieve faster recycling time.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

I think you are misunderstanding basic electricity. Six volts is six volts. Using a six volt battery or power supply of bigger amperage CAPABILITY will not burn out a flash that does not require it. A flash, or any device, only draws the amperage (current) it needs from a battery or power supply. The fact that the battery, or a power supply, CAN DELIVER high amperage does not make it harmful to a device that DRAWS A LOW AMPERAGE.

It is too-high VOLTAGE that will damage something. Voltage is what is pushed to a load, not current (amperage).

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Bedblumar’s warning was technically astute. If the unit is designed for use with portable batteries they will have a given minimum impedance that results in voltage drop and a longer recharge cycle than a higher power battery pack. Using a higher power battery pack (lower impedance) at higher cyclic rate than the portable batteries can support, could result in overheating of the flash electronics.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Quantum made a number of different add-on power packs. Some of them were simply external battery packs that were substituted for the usual 4 AA batteries that are common to many speedlights and similar units. The voltage is the same but the ampere/hour rating is significantly higher. The external packs are, of course, rechargeable and usually have indicator lights as to remaining power (approximate number flashes) as the batteries are discharged.

I have used these packs extensively and I have constructed many home custom made brews with every manner of batteries and have never experienced a burn out as long as the voltage is correct. All theses accessories are supposed to do is give you more flashes per charge and negate the continuous replacement of the AA cells on long gigs. The voltage in the Quantum pack are more constant and stable and may somewhat reduce recycling times and make theses times more consistent as the batteries discharge. The pack may be connect via a port with the exactly compatible and polarized connector or an wired insert that replaces the AA cells. With the latter arrangement, polarity and exact orientation is critical- the insert must match up with original internal battery contacts in the battery compartment of the flash unit.

There are other models of external packs that do not simply replace the internal batteries. Theses units inter-phase with the high voltage circuitry in the flash unit or speedlight and can increase the output power and significantly reduce recycling time. The are usually connected to the units they are specifically designed for through a separate port unlike the one that a simple battery pack would be connect to. As I recall Vivitar had such a booster for one of its models and Quantum may have had one for their own and possibly for aftermarket use with other makes and models that coud accommodate this connection. . Theses power boosters can output 300 or more volts- the have their own voltage multipliers and capacitors.

So...I just guessing here- it's difficult to diagnose the problem without seeing the "patient" or performing an "autopsy". The only way I can imaging something that would cause a smoking, crackling blowout is the following. Serious over-volting the unit with an incomparable battery back, possibly reversing the polarity. Some units will simply no go on with reversed polarity, while others may become damaged.

If you somehow or some way used one of theses 300+ volt boosters and managed to connect it to the low voltage circuitry that only requires 6 volts- well- that's gonna blow it up!

Another possibility- if there was a pre-existing damage, short circuit, badly deformed capacitor that has been dormant for a long time in the speedlight- powering up the unit may have finished it off- no fault of the turbo pack. If the unit currently worked satisfactory with the original internal batteries this last possibility is doubtful.

Some sped-lights are not designed or adequately ventilated for rapid sequence firing. A booster that significantly decreases the recycling time can overheat the circuitry and components in the unit and may also kill the flashtube prematurely.

Not every battery pack or booster is necessarily compatible with every flash system. The latest specification on the currently available Turbos seem to accommodate a wide variety of flash gear. I don't know which model you have, its age and specifications. For the time being, do not attach it to anythg else until you determine the output voltage of your turbo and whether or not it is comparable with the flash gear you intent using with it. It might be practical and advisable at this time to call the Quantum folks and ascertain the exact specs and repair information from them- I have had good service for them on all my Q-flash gear over the years. Tel: 630-233-1545 or 630-246-5002 Email: repair@promarkbrands.com

BebuLamar

Yeah but when you measure the voltage across the 4 AA batteries while the flash is recycling their combined voltage would drop to below 4 Volts. If you have a higher capacity 6V battery it would not drop the voltage that much and thus supplying higher current.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I am not arguing against anyone's knowledge of electrical theory. On a practical level, I have used the Quantum battery packs in many speedlight type flash units as well as larger "handle mount" flash gear, replacing or bypassing the internal "portable" batteries and have never experienced and issues of overheating or any burnouts as long as I maintain the correct voltages. In fact, Quantum supplied, with all of my older packs, an adapter insert and cable which are specified for the various makes and models that the packs are comparable with. As I alluded to in my previous post, each insert is dedicated to the polarity and orientation of the battery compartment of the speedlight or othere unit is is intended for.

I have also, for many years, made my own battery conversions using sealed lead-acid batteries and using similar inserts of my own making. Theses so-called Gell Cells or Dry-Fit batteries have ampere-hour ratings of between 5 and 7.5, depending on the size and model. The are originally intended for those emergency lights that come on in the event of a power failure so they charge fairly rapidly with the appropriate chargers and can maintain a trickle charge for months withou any issues. I like them because they are relatively inexpensive and usually last a good number of years with many charging cycles. I have never tested them in use as to a voltage drop near the end of any given duty cycle but the recycling time does not seem to diminish significantly and I don't wait until they are completely discharged before changing over to a freshly recharged pack. I use them on long jobs like weddings and events so I don't have to continuously change batteries or have a malfunction due to battery failure at critical shooting times.

I use the 6 volt models for speedlights and the 12 Volt units for my Lumadyne and Norman portables. I replaced all the costly Ni-cad batteries (usually banks of sub-C cells) with theses models and have never experienced any problems.

With the speedlights, although the Quantum pack and my home brews will tend to shorten or at least maintain the recycling times throughout any given duty cycle, I don't make a habit of rapid sequence firing in units that are not designed for that kind of usage.

As is my usual "warning" policy whenever I discuss some of my strobe conversion, I do not encourage anyone to do any of theses things unless the know exactly what they are doing and have the know-how and test equipment to verify voltage levels, current, charging rates etc. Even a small speedlight can harbor lethal or extremely harmful or damaging voltages. Some studio type units and mono-lights, especially some of the older models, have operating voltages in the 1000-V,DC range. Oftentimes its best to refer theses conversions, modifications and repairs to a qualified technician. A telephone call to the distributor's or manufacturer's repair service department or contractor is well worth the time and long distance charges in the long run. You don't wanna burn out a perfectly good flash unit or worse, turn yourself in to a "human flashtube"!

See picture of Quantum insert.

(Download)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The Quantum Batteries are designed to account for the difference. They contain circuitry that regulates (limits) energy flow. They work fine with MOST flash units.

I do know of some flash units that, paired with any auxiliary power pack, cannot handle *rapid firing* without a meltdown. A group of graduation photographers who worked for our company a decade ago had really bad luck with Nikon 900 flashes. They bought a bunch of them. They needed to be able to fire at 1/4 power, every 2.5 to 3 seconds, for however long it took to photograph every person crossing the stage at a graduation ceremony. At a big state university ceremony, that could be thousands! The Nikon 800 flashes were fine. The 910s were fine. But the 900s got so hot, they melted!