Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Back in September, Technical Support commented "...We will be offering a modeling bulb for Einstein for use with the Vagabond Mini, ..." I haven't seen any reference to this since. Have you made any progress sourcing a lower wattage, Vagabond Mini-friendly modeling light bulb?

Thanks,

Dave F.

I just tested samples of a 25W 100V lamp for Einstein. It looks good. The overvoltage operation increases its light output to about 50W equivalent so it provides pretty decent light output. The cost of overvolatge is reduced bulb life. We are testing this now and have passed 500 hours at full brightness, so it's looking pretty good. Should run about 3 hours continuous at full brightness from VML. Don't know what our production time is yet but we should be ordering production soon.

Is this part of the reason you recommend one VLM per Stein? Will this low wattage bulb allow you to run 2 steins per VLM. Just curious?

Thanks

One light per VML is recommended for faster recycle times and less cable clutter. Any time you add a continuous load (model lamp), you will reduce the number of shots per charge, as well as potentially reducing recycle time (unless the model lamp is used as a recycle indicator, going off during recycle). Add an additional continuous load, this will double the effect.

We do not recommend using the 250W bulb on the Einstein at full power, regardless of the number of Einsteins connected. You can certainly run multiple E640's off one VML without model lamps, if you desire.

What are the advantages of using a lower wattage bulb? I've used my steins at full output power and they seem to perform really well.

Using the model lamp on any light will consume more battery power out of the VML battery. Using a lower wattage bulb will consume less of that battery power. Additionally, a 250W bulb cannot run at full power on a 120W inverter, regardless of settings.

While each E640 can be dialed down to 50W model lamp, that does not leave much room for the model lamp to track flash power. By inserting an inherently lower wattage bulb, room is left for tracking throughout the flash range.

Thank you, Paul. Sounds great. I'm in for four as soon as they're available.

Dave F.

And I'm in for 7 or more.
The one nit I have with the PW module is that it turns the modeling light on, even when its been turned off in the Einstein configuration. Urg.

This will at least minimize the problem.

Sounds like there is a TT1/TT5 setting that is enabling the model lamp. Like with CC, the transmitter is in charge, so if a setting is made on the light that does not jive with the transmitter, the transmitter over rules the light.

I exchanged some emails with them.
The jist is that they don't see it as a big problem.
I know that ultimately it comes down to how well they integrate their remote controller software with the firmware on the Einstein.

The good news is that its all software so if enough pressure is applied someone can write the code required.