Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I just purchased a second hand AB400 on eBay a couple of weeks ago. This is my first time using a strobe, so I'm not very familiar with them. It came with a 150 watt modeling bulb, which was just a regular looking light bulb. It worked fine when I first started the first session. At one point, I had to move my lightbox closer to my subject, and when I moved the stand, the bulb blew. I purchased a new bulb, but none of them have worked. It's like something happened to my modeling light and it's just dead now. The strobe still fires fine, but I'm working in the dark! What can I possibly do to remedy this??

Try the bulb in a table lamp. Or buy a 60-100 watt bulb at the drug store (most still carry them) and try it in the Bee.

Also, make sure the white button is pushed in on the back panel.

I've tried both of those already. The bulb is good, just not working in the bee. White button is pressed in. Not sure what else to do!

With the unit !unplugged! remove the model lamp and look in the base of the socket. At the bottom, there is a metal tab that is supposed to contact the base of the model lamp bulb. It is possible this has become depressed from its previous owner. Pry up on this tab, re-install the model lamp, and try again.

Also, be sure nothing is in the telephone style "remote" jack.

Thanks.. I will give that a try and report back!

Tried that and nothing. It's like it's just not getting power. It did pop when the bulb went out on it, but I thought that was the bulb blowing. I don't really know what to do with it at this point.

If you have checked the following:
-Model lamp switch is ON (depressed)
-Known working bulb is installed
-Nothing in the telephone style REMOTE jack
-The contact in the base of the socket is making good contact
-The flash unit is getting power (i.e. red power switch light and green ready light)

and the model lamp still doesn't work, then there is an issue in the light which will require repair. Most repairs for that light are under $40, but should not exceed $100 (plus any flash tubes or model lamps required).

Please visit http://www.paulcbuff.com/repair.php for information on how to have a light repaired.

Thanks so much for your help. I'll have to send it in, looks like.