One unique feature of the FlashMaster line is that the power ratio
of the light outputs is controlled by a removable plug. Each plug
sets a particular ration for all four lights.
In the AA01 and AA01A supplies, the plugs are round (they fit an
11-pin tube socket). The first plug, #1, is designed to be inserted
in either of two positions. In one position it gives 100 Watt-seconds
on each plug; in the other it gives 50 Watt-seconds on each plug.
I only own three plugs, #1, #2 and #3, but I've been able to find out
about a bunch more from various sources. (Please note that the light
jacks (lights) on the front of the supply are numbered from right to
left, not left-to-right as one would expect.)
# POSITION LIGHT: 1 2 3 4
-- ------------ --- --- --- ---
1 100WS x 4 100 100 100 100
1 50WS x 4 50 50 50 50
2 400WS COM 1,2,3,4 |---------- 400 -----------|
3 200WS 1,100WS 2, 100WS 3,4 200 100 |-- 100 ---| Y
4 200WS 1, 100WS 2, 50WS x 2 200 100 50 50 N
5 200WS COM 1,2; 50WS x 2 |-- 200 --| 50 50 N
14 100WS 1, 50WS x 3 100 50 50 50 N
21 350WS COM 1,2,3; 50WS 4 |------ 350 ------| 50 N
24 200WS 1; 50WS x 3 200 50 50 50 N
29 300WS COM 1,2,3,4 |----------- 300 ----------| N
61 200WS COM 1,2; 150WS 3; 50 |-- 200 --| 150 50 N
62 300WS COm 1,2; 50WS x 2 |-- 300 --| 50 50 N
63 250WS COM 1,2; 100WS, 50WS |-- 250 --| 100 50 N
64 150WS 1, 100WS 2; 50WS x 2 150 100 50 50 N
65 250WS COM 1,2; 150WS COM |-- 250 --| |-- 150 --| N
66 300WS COM 1,2,3; 100WS 4 |------- 300 ------| 100 N
69 150WS COM 1,2; 250WS cOM |-- 150 --| |-- 250 --| N
PLUG WIRING
# CONNECTED PINS
Position A Position B
-- ------------------- --------------------------------------
1 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-10 7-8(n.c.), 9(n.c.)-10, 11(n.c.)-1, 2-5
2 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-10
3 1-3, 2-4-7-10, 5-6
Photogenic went to a square plug for later models in the FlashMaster line.
I was never able to get a schematic for the AA01 (Photogenic did not return
my two e-mails), but was able to figure out how the plug wiring works,
using the information in the
Instruction Manual and Parts List for
a slightly newer model (which I believe to be the AA01A) on Butkus.org:
https://www.butkus.org/chinon/flashes_meters/photogenic_machine_company/electronic_flashmaster/electronic_flashmaster.htmThe section "Information for the Electronics Serviceman" was particularly
helpful. (Unfortunately, the scan is missing the schematic diagram, as
well as the list of plugs.)
The power supply has four jacks for lights, referred to in the manual as
J1, J2, J3 and J3 (and numbered on the front panel 1 to 4, from righ to left).
Each jack is connected to a capacitor, which when charged holds 50 Watt-seconds
of power. Jack and capacitor are connected to a pin the "power plug" socket.
In addition, there are four more capacitors, also 50 Watt-seconds when charged,
each of which is connected to a pin in the "power plug" socket. By using a
"power plug" that jumps the appropriate pins, these four capacitor can be connected
in parallel with the any jack in any combination.
There is one additional wrinkle: not only can jumpers in the "power plug"
connect caps to jacks, they can connect jacks to jacks. That means that
two or more jacks can share the same capacitors, and hence that the power
will be split between the lights connected to those "common" jacks.
The pinouts for the round "power plug' socket are:
PIN JACK POWER
1 J4 50WS
2 50WS
3 J3 50WS
4 50WS
5 50WS
6 J2 50WS
7 J1 50WS
8 n.c.
9 n.c.
10 50WS
11 n.c
The best way to think about this is as three sets of pins:
Jack + Cap, Cap only, and no connection.
This can be represented as a "connect the dots" diagram:
PIN JUMPERS PIN
1 J4--50Ws * * 2 50Ws
3 J3--50Ws * * 4 50Ws
6 J2--50Ws * * 5 50Ws
i
7 J1--50Ws * * 10 50Ws
No connection: * * *
Pin: 8 9 11
Here are the wiring of the plugs I have:
PLUG #1
# POSITION LIGHT: 1 2 3 4
-- ------------ --- --- --- ---
1 A: 100WS x 4 100 100 100 100
1 B: 50WS x 4 50 50 50 50
Wiring:
Position A: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-10
PIN JUMPERS PIN
1 J4--50Ws *--------------------* 2 50Ws
3 J3--50Ws *--------------------* 4 50Ws
6 J2--50Ws *--------------------* 5 50Ws
i
7 J1--50Ws *--------------------* 10 50Ws
No connection: * * *
Pin: 8 9 11
Effective wiring when rotated:
Position B: 7-8(n.c.), 9(n.c.)-10, 11(n.c.)-1, 2-5
PIN JUMPERS PIN
1 J4--50Ws *--------------. .--* 2 50Ws
| }
3 J3--50Ws * | | * 4 50Ws
| |
6 J2--50Ws * | `--* 5 50Ws
|
7 J1--50Ws *------. .---}-----* 10 50Ws
No connection: * * *
Pin: 8 9 11
PLUG #2
# POSITION LIGHT: 1 2 3 4
-- ------------ --- --- --- ---
2 400WS COM 1,2,3,4 |---------- 400 -----------|
Wiring: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-10
PIN JUMPERS PIN
1 J4--50Ws * * 2 50Ws
| |
3 J3--50Ws * * 4 50Ws
| |
6 J2--50Ws * * 5 50Ws
| |
7 J1--50Ws *--------------------* 10 50Ws
No connection: * * *
Pin: 8 9 11
# POSITION LIGHT: 1 2 3 4
-- ------------ --- --- --- ---
3 200WS 1,100WS 2, 100WS 3,4 200 100 |-- 100 ---|
Wiring: 1-3, 2-4-7-10, 5-6
PIN JUMPERS PIN
1 J4--50Ws *--. * 2 50Ws
| |
3 J3--50Ws *--' .-----* 4 50Ws
|
6 J2--50Ws * | * 5 50Ws
i |
7 J1--50Ws *----------------+-----* 10 50Ws
No connection: * * *
Pin: 8 9 11