Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi there, Tech Support:

I bought an Ultra 600 off ebay and have been trying it out. Unfortunately I think it has problems.

While both tubes flash, it is a very, very weak flash. For example: The modeling light is brighter than the flash, even at full power.

The green ready light on the back never lights up. Neither does the red dump light if I reduce the power.

If I push the white modeling lamp button IN, then the modeling light just goes off and stays off. It never comes on.

When I fire the strobe with the with teh whtie modeling light button OUT, the modeling light does not go out at all. The modeling light stays on. I have the metal three-position toggle switch set to tracking, and the white push button set to OUT, and the modeling lamp stays on all the time.

1) Could this be something simple like a fuse? Or do you think the caps are shot? Or a circuit board problem?

2) Can you estimate how much a repair cost would be?

3) If I send in for repair, will they do a general diagnostic of the overal units health? By that, I mean, if they determine it is a circuit board problem, will they still also check the capacitors as well as the optical slave and remote jack to make sure those are all functioning correctly, too?

Assuming the worst: That the capacitors are bad AND there is another electrical problem not allowing the light to fire correctly, what sort of repair cost would that be?

Thanks in advance.

BTW: I tried to "refresh" the capacitors using the method that David Hobby outlined here:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2013/06/ho ... -from.html

Namely, firing off about 20 pops at the lowest power settings, then moving to 1/16th and firing off 20 shots, then 1/8th and firing 20 shots, etc. Still no increase in flash power.

Also, I should mention that I tried firing with a radio trigger in the quarter-inch socket, and with the trigger removed, using the test button, and it was still the same weak flash.

There is nothing plugged into the telephone jack.

thanks in advance.

It sounds like a charging system failure, and repairs start at $45 for a diagnostic fee (plus 5 for U.S. shipping) that typically covers most repairs. However, depending on the problem(s), the repair can be higher, and we would make any repairs up to $85. Any repairs above that, we would contact you before making them.

Since the tubes and stand mount are new, I would remove and hang on to them before shipping the light.

Thanks so much for the response, Tech Support.

Just to clarify one or two things:



would that diagnostic fee of $50 cover an OVERALL diagnostic (including the quality of the capacitors as well)? or would they most likely just diagnose the charging system alone (and I would still be in the dark about the capacity of the capacitors)?

Also, could you "guestimate" what the cost might be if you had to repair BOTH the charging system and capacitors? (I am assuming that they are separate things.)

Thanks in advance.

The answer to that is rather complex, and difficult to answer without seeing the light. I would recommend contacting our repair department directly.

You can reach them at repair@paulcbuff.com or by phoning 1-800-443-5542.

Thanks again!