Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I'm not sure if it's something I'm doing wrong or if it's my equipment, but I'm having problems with misfires. I have the Alien Bees B800, using it with my Nikon D5100 with the HSA hot shoe adapter and sync cord. Everything will work fine when I first get started, but after several fires, the flash will stop firing. I've tried everything I can think of, powering down everything, unplugging and replugging the sync cord, hitting the test button, changing settings on my camera and the flash unit. I've found nothing specific that reliably fixes the problem. Sometimes simply replugging the sync cord does the trick, sometimes not. And sometimes the problem resolves itself after just a few shots without my doing anything. I've read the FAQs and have ruled out everything they suggest. The unit, sync cord and adapter are all brand new, and it's not the power outlet, as my house is only 6 years old and it happens regardless of the outlet I'm using.
I am brand new to studio lighting, so it could very well be user error, but since it is firing at first just fine, I know I'm at least following all the proper steps. Any idea what the problem might be?

So I ran a little experiment and tried going wireless using the light as a slave. It fired every single time, with no issues. The only problem with that is the delay between shots while my on-camera flash powers up. Not a huge delay, but it could make a big difference when I'm shooting a toddler :(
So I'm wondering if my cord is bad or if it's the adapter?

PC sync cords are notoriously flaky. Just look at the tip of the connector and you'll see why. The round outer part gets bent and the connection becomes loose.

Save yourself some hair pulling and buy a wireless trigger. You'll like the ability to walk around w/o being tied to a cord too. And if you get the ones that let you remotely control power, you'll wonder why everything doesn't do that :)

From a Photographer's standpoint, I will agree with Kenyee.

From a technical support standpoint, does the cord fit snugly in the hotshoe adapter? When this quits working, can you press down on the HSA and fire the camera. Does the flash fire then? Or maybe loosen the HSA a tad. This will keep the contact from being drawn up too much.

Even if the cord is brand new, there is a chance it is faulty. You can take a ballpoint pen, paperclip, etc, and touch the round shield and center pin of the PC connector simultaneously. This should fire the flash. Flex the cord and repeat. If you flex and the flash does not fire, then it is a bad cord.

Yes, definitely set yourself free and get radio triggers. You'll find just what you need on the PCB site.

However, if you do this, never forget the golden rule...if you have radio triggers ALWAYS pack a working sync lead in your lighting case. You may use it once every couple of years but it can save a job.

This happened to me last week when a low transmitter battery caused the Einsteins to go into uncontrolled rapid strobing. Now I know the cause, but I didn't at the time. (Thanks to these technical forums). But the nice long sync lead that ships with new Einsteins saved the day.

Paul Wright

Thanks so much for the responses. Well, it's a relief to know that it's not something I'm doing wrong (aside from not using radio triggers ha ha!). I wish they were in the budget right now, but until they are, I guess I'll have to muddle through. I am going to check my cord as suggested, though, because I know another photographer who is using the same unit with a sync cord and I've seen her shoot for 2 hours straight with no misfires and I'm lucky to get 10 minutes in :(
Thanks again! You are all very helpful :)
Kim

Well, an update: After playing around with the cord a bit, I determined that it was actually the adapter that was not screwing on tightly enough to my hot shoe. Even when screwed all the way down, it can easily be pulled off. So I called customer service and they're sending me a replacement. No hassle, no headache. What a great company!