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Re: [OM] Powering macro flash modelling lights

Subject: Re: [OM] Powering macro flash modelling lights
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2003 23:51:37 -0700
As pointed out, the power connector is a standard plug and the modeling lights are simply little incandescent bulbs, so we ain't talking rocket science. As a couple of folks noted, the modeling lights are useless in outdoor light, so my solution is simply an AC adapter that puts out 6v. Back in March of last year, I posted the following about the T10 modeling lights.
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"Officially it's 6v, and mine draws 1.15 amps at 6v. As the lights are little incandescent 'grain of wheat' bulbs, they can burn out, so be careful if buying an AC adapter 'brick'. Cheap adapters often have a much higher open circuit voltage than their rated voltage and count on the load to draw it down. This is especially true of adapters sold with electronic equipment, where the manufacturer knows the load requirements and can provide a simple (and cheap) adapter that provides just the right voltage into the load of the specific equipment. So, for example a 6v, 1a adapter might deliver between 5.5 and 6v at about an amp into a T10 and be perfectly safe. A 6v, 3a, adapter might deliver 7v or more at 1.5+amps into the load of a T10 and burn out a light and they don't look all that fun to replace.

Better adapters with regulated outputs should be safe.

I only recently acquired my T10, so I have no practical experience with the toughness/longevity of the modeling light bulbs. I do have lots of experiecne with ac adapters and AC to DC circuits and know whereof I speak there. I also know that incandescent bulb life goes up enormously with modest decreases in driving voltage, so I'm running mine at 5.5v with very little apparent difference in brightness."
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Responses to this post indicated that the bulbs do have long life and don't commonly burn out

The Oly 'F.AC Adapter 2' powers the T1 and other T series flashes through a special 3 prong plug an works wonderfully well. The 'F.AC Adapter 3' shown in the eSIF never passed US and possibly other countries' safety standards and was apparently never put on sale. You can power both flash heads of the T28 using one power supply and a 'Y' adapter cord.

Moose

Andrew Dacey wrote:

Well recently I've begun exploring the macro possibilities with my current
OM gear and it's led me to look into using my macro flash equipment more.
However, I think it would be really helpful if I could use the modelling
lights on my flashes. This means I need either a 6V power adapter 2 or the
flash AC adapter 3 (added bonus of powering the T Power control as well).

Ideally, I'm thinking having both options (AC or Battery) would be really
handy.

So this leads me to 2 possibilities.

1. Buy the appropriate gear. Does anyone have a flash AC adapter 3 and/or 2
6v power adapter 2's (need 1 for each flash head for the T28) that they're
willing to sell?

2. Build it. How difficult would it be to build a unit? I'm guessing a
battery powered unit would probably be easier/safer to start with. It looks
like the connectors for the modelling lights are a standard connector. I
tried the various connectors for my universal AC adapter and there were 2
likely candidates (1 which fit better than the other so I'm pretty certain
which to use). I didn't proceed any further because I wasn't certain of the
voltage (although I'm guessing 6V) or the polarity to use and didn't want to
do any damage. The connector for the T Power control is different though, is
it also a standard connector?

Does anyone have any advice for building such a unit? I imagine that a
battery pack for powering the modelling lights on 1 or 2 flash heads would
be a good place to start. Offering extra juice to the T1 would be nice. And
eventually, an AC option would be nice to have for indoor work without using
up the batteries.

Bear in mind that I have only limited electronics knowledge and essentially
no experience. I don't own a soldering iron either (although this could be a
good excuse to get one). I live in Canada though so this doesn't throw off
the current demographic study of soldering iron distribution in the US
that's going on on this list.





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