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Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:03 pm

Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:15 pm
Posts: 4

Thank you!




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Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:45 pm

Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:14 pm
Posts: 45

PowerEngineer wrote:
If the flash has not been used in a long time then you might want to start out at minimum power and make a few pops at each level until you reach full output. I've read that this can help re-form the capacitors if they've sat idle for a long time. (the caps I normally deal with are MUCH larger and sit on utility poles!)



I think the caps still get hit with a full charge from the moment you power it on, just not a full discharge when you run them in low power. I play guitar and dabble with vintage amps. We use a variac to power up old amps by running them at lower voltages, then gradually bring the voltage up over time to reform the caps. I don't know if this will work for strobes but I do know you don't really want to slam an old cap with voltage.




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Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:49 pm

Site Admin
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:49 am
Posts: 1432

Wrong. The flash caps charge to about 140B at 1/32 power and to 500V at full Power.

True, a variac is good practice on a guitar amp or old tv, etc, but the concern on flash units is primarily the gigantic flash caps, not the power supply caps.

Except for Einstein, the flash caps always discharge to zero (actually about 40V when the tube falls out of conduction) on each shot.

Power Engineer gave good advice.




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Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:40 am

Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:14 pm
Posts: 45

You're so awesome to have around, Paul.
Where else can you learn stuff like this?
Thanks for the info.




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