Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I am thinking about powering an old Sunpak 522 Auto handle mount flash using its AC adapter and the Vagabond mini lithium. How many falshes should I expect to get out of a fully charged VML? (of course I will test that as soon as I get my hands back on my 522 which I loaned out to a friend). Just curious - I'd guess might yield thousands of pops as opposed to the old rechargeable DC pack I used to own for my potato masher.

Mike

I suspect the "AC Adapter" is not a battery or 120VAC input . . . rather an input for a high voltage recycler or a 120V to 9V power supply. So I don't think the VML will work. Maybe TK knows more about this unit and will weigh in.

The adapter says: "Allows conversion to an AC power supply when used with the 544, 555 & 622 Sunpak flashes. Supplied with U.S. type plug, but can also be used worldwide in 110/220 voltage with the use of a local plug adapter".

I mistakenly said it was a Sunpak 522 when it is in fact a Sunpak 555. The adapter is an Sunpak AD-26 Worldwide 110/220v AC Adapter for 544, 555, 622 & 120JTTL Flashes.

Regards,
Mike

OK, it sounds like like a 120/220VAC in, to low voltage adapter for the flash. If so it should plug into VML and provide gobs of full power flashes from the Sunpack . . . probably several thousand pops per charge.

But this was on B&H review::
Back-Up for Batteries
Describe Yourself:
Pro Photographer
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
I own a Sunpak 622, and regularly use NiMH batteries. With a fresh set of these batteries, I get a 5.5 sec recycle time at full (1/1) power. When I attached the AD-26 AC Adapter, I consistently got 18+ sec. recycle times. When I called Tocad (Sunpak) and asked about this issue, I was told that the 18+ sec. recycle time is standard.

yah, that's why I am so interested - I can imagine that paired up the VML would be a lightweight endless power supply (thousands of pops) for that flash. The 555 also has mini nicad packs and an AC charger for the mini nicad battery so at a minimum the VML could be recharging the nicad packs. I will try it out and post the direct recycle times.

The big problem is that the AD-26 is a pretty limited AC adapter. A speedlight needs about 100-120 w-s to charge. It's only a 60-80 w-s device, but it's charging circuitry seems to only be 50-70% efficient. NiMH batteries can deliver up 30W with no trouble and charge a flash in 4-5 seconds. The AC-26 is more like 10W.

But the 555 has a 320V high voltage input. Theoretically, all you need between the VML and the 555 is a bridge rectifier, and you should be able to get 1-2 second recycle times. As far as putting that theory into practice, well, not on my watch. I would suggest not trying to perform that experiment.

Joseph . . . you're a smart guy and I alway enjoy your posts. Want a job:)

You're dead on with this one . . . a 230V VML plus bridge rectifier would give you 324V via a speedlight hi voltage input . . . perfect. My first thought was (thinking in terms of the connecting a rectifier to a 230V powerline) was it would charge the flashcap instantly . . . which ain't good . . . big bang! But the 230VVML is current limited to about 250Watts.

Gee . . . . 250W into a 60WS flash cap would charge it in 1/4 second. . . about the same rate as a 160WS B400 at 1/2 power plugged into the wall. That's a match made in heaven . . . safe, won't stress anything and around 5000 60WS pops per battery charge. Sounds like the ultimate speed cycler. May have to think about that VML use. As you say, it just takes a $1 rectifier and appropriate cable.

One possible caveat that would require a bit of testing: With conventional studio flash design there is a situation known as afterglow. When a flashtube discharges and an immediate high current recharges the caps the tube can remain in conduction. I don't believe this can happen in an IGBT speedlight because the IGBT interrupts the current with each shot. In our lights we have afterglow prevention circuitry. But if this were to occur, the speedlight would sit there glowing and become a continuous 250W light. This would fry the tube in a couple of seconds. So if you try this, make sure you put a switch inline with the charging current so you can quickly shut it off if anything like this happens.

Well gentlemen, I got my answer.

I got the AD26 and plugged it into my standard wall AC wall outlet first. In manual mode, full power, full discharge, recycle time took 9.2 seconds, better then the documented 13 seconds. Then I did the same using the VML, same settings, recycle time 10.5 seconds. When dialing down to 1/2 power the recycle time was 4.7 seconds - not much more than with the Sunpak Nicad cluster (4 seconds/45 full power flashes). The best the flash could do in theory is a 2 second recycle using Sunpak's old rechargeable 510V battery pack which I don't even think exist anymore (they were about the same size and weight as the VML but limited to 60 full power pops).

The Sunpak 555 is a pretty capable handle mount potato masher - 3,980 BCPS at full power; a real workhorse. I usually dial it down to 1/2 or 1/4 power in manual mode and in Auto mode the ready light is almost always on.

So the net-net is it appears the VML will give me a very nice power supply with a HUGE number of pops ; virtually bottomless for any day long shoot - I dare not even guess how many or how long it would take to deplete the VML.

Regards,
Mike

PS, The Bridge Rectifier sounds wonderful - but of course not being an electrical engineer I'd certainly fry myself :-)

My 2cts = why not plan a VLM 2 with a "quantum turbo2" like prong and put the rectifier bridge and all the gizmos inside the VLM 2. i would love to dump my crappy digitalcamerabattery in favor of VLM.

People are already freaking out about the einstein and the VLM, imagine what they would say if the could also power the canon flashes with VLM.... that would be sick.... only one battery in my bag... that can power all of my flash...mmmmmmmmh my dream.....

and though i don't care about frying my canon flash sometimes (one of my 550 EX already went 26 time at CPS for burned tube or capacitor because i use a QB1 in the flash battery compartiment + a 80w digital camera battery in the HV socket).... it's fast but i have to carry 4 battery to do that for my 2x550 EX, and the DCB are just falling appart and unreliable now.

I do love my einstein, but when i shoot BMX road trip I have to follow the guys on my bmx, and carrying 2 einstein +V2 + my hasselbad+my canon stuff is just a PITA. most of the time. i would be happy if i could only carry an einstein, 2 canon flash, 2 VLM and ditch the qb1+DCB crap.

////side-note//// is there any way to make the USB port able to charge an IPHONE??????

long live to King who brings us the LIGHT !!!!!!!!

Christian.

UP!