Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Tonight I was going to take a picture of my son. I had the Einstein hooked up the VML and it worked fine. I triggered it with via my RF602's just like I have so many other times. My son is a newborn and he wasn't ready, so I left the Einstein sitting for a while while my wife got him ready (i.e. helped him fall asleep).

I went back after my son was asleep and when I took a picture the Einstein just beeped. There was no flash.

The modelling light worked fine and dimmed when I triggered the flash. I also triggered it manually via the test button but the same result--no pop, just a beep and the modelling light dims.

Do I need to replace the flash tube or the fuse? Or could something else be wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The unit has just over 1000 pops (and what's crazy is about 70 of those were me just pushing it to figure out what's wrong). It's still a pretty new unit.

An update...I recharged the VML (it's now full) and tried my Einstein again. It worked for about three pops, and then it stopped working.

I managed to get 1 @ 1/8 power, and 2 @ 1/1 power. The third 1/1 gave off a smell of something burning.

The modelling lamp still works and when I press the test button it still goes dim--I am unsure what's wrong. Could it be my capacitors or the fuse or the flash tube?

The unit is new--it's still under warranty and it has 1078 pops to it. That's what surprises me--the flash tube is rated for 200,000 pops...seems kind of premature to die so soon.

I'll give tech support a call. My MFA program starts at the end of the month and I'm going to need my Einstein...

As my other son loves to say "This is serious mysterious!"

***post deleted***, due to placement in incorrect thread.

It certainly wasn't the battery because the same issue happened when I plugged it into the wall. It just beeps--doesn't flash.

I spoke with Susan at repair and she asked me lot's of questions, and based on everything I told her she said to send it in. I did that today. PCB customer service is always good. You should see my unit on Friday.

Thanks for your reply on the forum.

Sorry, I posted to the wrong thread. Please disregard that message.

Yeah, based on what you have described, sending it in is the best bet. I appologize for the confusion.

No problem and no apologies required. It's good to know that someone was looking at this post.