Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Firmware version 31 is now online. This update will fix display errors for flash duration on -2f to -2.9f in action mode. Please be aware version 30 was posted not too long ago, so if you missed it, please review the firmware history to see what other updates have been made!

http://www.paulcbuff.com/fw-e640.php

Just a note here to Paul and all the people at "Bee" headquarters.

Not only is it rare that to find equipment that has flash upgradable features, but the ones that do rarely take advantage of it. I speak of my upgrade on my E640 units from 29 to 31.

Just fan control alone adjustment has made this AGAIN, my 'go to' kit, setting aside my 8a Air's just because these are great lights, and I love using them.

So Paul, thank you for making quality 'real-life working products', at super price points and allowing us to have benefit from all you are willing to share with us.

I am very very grateful to have and use these units each and everyday. My very best to all the Buff clan this holiday season. And continued success and prosperity in the 2013 year.

haven't visited the forums in awhile but am looking forward to updating the einstein to have fan control. Do you know if the fan inside the einstein is a standard 4 pin pwm fan (similar to a variable controlled fan as used on cpu coolers?) Or is the fan soldered onto the pcb?

thanks! curious mind just wanted to know.

I just tried to load version 31 on both of my einsteins and the Einstein ended up in a boot loop where the fan spun up for a second, then turned off, spun up for a second.... etc.

my firmware is vers 29 sw-173

Try this:
Turn the light on, then install the card. Press the function button until you get to the diagnostics screen. Arrow down to the BOOTLOAD option, then press function. When the new screen comes on, press the TEST button. The unit should start the bootload function. The screen may or may not go white, but it will likely flicker. Let it run this process for 30 seconds, then turn the unit back on.

Nope, didn't work. It did flash to a black screen that said bootload for a second and then it started a boot loop again. hmmm.

edit* I just right clicked and checked properties on the micro sd card and saw that it was formatted for fat 32 instead of fat 16. problem solved.

edit** the new fan settings is very impressive. I can't believe the difference between running at minimum speed and full speed. I haven't tested the strobes under stress yet however, I wonder if the fan takes into account modeling light temperature in addition to strobe/capacitor temperature.

thanks for the update!

There are multiple temperature sensors which could affect fan activity. However, the model lamps will be the biggest contributor to heat build up.

Is management and/or support aware that 2 gig micro SD cards are essentially unavailable? The lowest capacity generally available at Radio Shack, Staples, AT&T or Verizon stores is 4 gig SDHC, which I understand will not work.

How about fixing this?

Yes, we are aware, and we are working on it. In the mean time, I have found drug stores like Walgreens often carry 2GB cards.

Glad to hear you are working on it and in the meantime, I will try the Walgreens and their like.