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Re: [OM] Power Cable for T-20

Subject: Re: [OM] Power Cable for T-20
From: "John A. Lind" <jlind@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 01:18:54 +0000
>As the flash takes 2 AA (1.5v) batteries so wont it
>require a 3V adapter

No.

The three pins on the front are for a high voltage source that can recharge
the flash much faster than the two internal "AA" cells can.  I believe it's
on the order of 220 Volts, perhaps higher.  This high voltage is provided
by either a special adapter that plugs into a wall outlet, or by the socket
on a BG-2 which uses four "C" cells and a high voltage converter inside the
handle. The third pin is a signal from the flash to the high voltage source
that the flash's "On/Off" switch is turned one so that the high voltage
source will turn on and apply a high voltage to its plug only when the
flash is turned on.  Quantum makes a couple of different models of large
battery with built-in high voltage inverter you can strap over your
shoulder or mount on a belt with a cord to fit the T-32 or T-20.  These not
only provide for very fast flash recharge, they allow hundreds of flash
discharges before having to recharge the battery.

Plugging your T-20 into a BG-2 would give a clear demonstration.  The BG-2
makes a quiet intermittent high pitched beeping sound when the flash is
turned on, and it stops when the flash is turned off.  This is the high
voltage converter inside the handle running off of 6 Volts from the four
"C" cells.

The same three pins are present on a T-32 which runs on 6 Volts from four
"AA" cells and it is designed to work on the high voltage from a BG-2 (or
wall adapter) as well.  Having used a T-32 and T-20 in a BG-2, I can attest
that indeed, the BG-2 will recharge either one dramatically faster than
even a new set of "AA" cells in the flash battery box can.  It's not
because of the "C" cell capacity inside the BG-2 handle, it's because of
the high voltage it provides to the flash.  The "C" cell capacity only
means you get more flash discharges before having to replace them.

It is not uncommon for generic (Vivitar and Sunpak) flash units to have a
provision for a separate high voltage power source to recharge them faster
also.  Thus, the three pins for a high voltage flash recharge system on
both the T-20 and T-32 are consistent with the generics, albeit with a
proprietary plug.

-- John

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