Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

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Archive 2009 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

Scott Clark
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p.1 #1 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

Hey guys/gals,

I'm sure at least a few of you (my self included) would like a Quantum Turbo for improving flash recycle times, and long battery life...but they're a lot of money. I know at least a few you use the CP-E4 battery pack (or similar) for the same reason, but you're still stuck using AA batteries in it...

Both systems give you super fast recycle times by feeding high voltage current directly to the flash capacitors (both use transformers to get somewhere around 370V IIRC).

I had an idea for building a DIY version of the Turbo a while back, and today I found someone who already beat me to it...here's a rundown of what he did.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-equipment-products-news-reviews/142249-diy-mod-nikon-sd-8a-more-flash-power.html

His was for Nikon, but the Canon battery pack is (as far as I can tell) identical except for the connectors. It looks like both Canon and Nikon had the same 3rd party make their HV battery packs. You can get a Chinese ebay version for $56 shipped from Hong Kong on Ebay (just search for Canon flash battery).

Anyway, for around $100 you can get everything to build a DIY Turbo. I'm still trying to decide what battery technology to use (SLA, NIMH or LiPO). I'm also thinking about just sticking the whole thing in a project box Al Jacobs style. Obviously this isn't a solution for everyone...but for people like me that enjoy building stuff, it might be a fun and very useful project, so I thought I'd pass it along.

Mar 26, 2009 at 08:36 PM

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p.1 #2 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

You can buy the canon DPE4 for $150 or so and 8 AAs can be had for $20 or so. No time spend building it, troubleshooting it, and it won't void your warrantly - and you know it will work -and it's waterproof too.

Mar 26, 2009 at 09:44 PM

Scott Clark
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p.1 #3 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

All very true. Like I said...this wouldn't be for everyone

. I like the idea of using a single battery pack all day (the CP-E4 might get you pretty close depending on how much flash power you use). I actually already have an older Canon CP-E2 that works fine, but I was looking for a way to get out of using AA batteries, and having to swap them out. Using an external battery to power it seems like it should fit the bill. Basically what you get with the Quantum Turbo, but without the $400 price tag.

Building this sort of thing and making it work (and making it look like it isn't a back yard hack job) isn't a big deal for me... I restore cars for a hobby, and I can weld, wire, and build just about anything

. I'm probably kind of a freak that way I suppose... A project like this might be outside the scope of what most photogs would be looking for, but I figured that for other folks with a DIY streak this might be a way to get the same performance as a QT, without the big price tag.
But you're right, for most people a Canon battery pack all by itself is probably fine (and a big step up from just using 4 AA batteries) Just thought I'd put this out there...

Mar 26, 2009 at 10:22 PM

Tony Schreiber
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p.1 #4 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

I'm all for DIY, but I'm not nearly the EE freak I used to be, don't really care to muck with that kind of thing much anymore.

I don't mind the AAs since I need them in the flash head anyway. The canon pack (CPE3/E4) uses the eight-cell tray and I have a second one pre-filled with AAs ready to go, though I almost never need it. So I don't find the AAs a handicap, especially with an 8-cell charger and good rechargeables (I swear by Eneloops).

Mar 26, 2009 at 11:51 PM

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p.1 #5 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

What charger do you have, Tony? I'm in the market for a trickle charger - I want something that can charge a LOT of AAs.

Mar 27, 2009 at 12:07 AM

BGP1
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p.1 #6 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

It's basically an R/C car battery. I've seen someone that did this and just hard wired it into the flash connector from the inside...I would probably attempt the $50 ebay battery sled mod before I did that.. and unless LIPO batteries have improved in the past few years I know when they hit the scene for R/C cars there was a lot of steps you had to take to prevent them from basically exploding when using/charging them lol. That would be pretty embarrassing to have your flash battery blow up in your pocket not to mention painful

Personally I have the CP-E4 and have no problems with it using good rechargeables.

Mar 27, 2009 at 12:28 AM

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p.1 #7 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

CP-E4 and an Ansmann Energy 16 charger.

Mar 27, 2009 at 01:04 AM

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p.1 #8 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

I have this charger - does a rapid charge in 1 hour and slow in 2 hrs for 8 AA or AAA batteries. Charges each individually. Also conditions the batteries. I've been very pleased with it.

http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=407&cur=specs#mid

Mike

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:04 AM

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p.1 #9 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

MJH1 wrote:
I have this charger - does a rapid charge in 1 hour and slow in 2 hrs for 8 AA or AAA batteries. Charges each individually. Also conditions the batteries. I've been very pleased with it.

http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=407&cur=specs#mid

Mike

That's the one I have.... best battery charger I've ever read about. It even brought some AA's back to life!

-Tim

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:33 AM

ngoduyviet
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p.1 #10 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

You can get a decently used Turbo for around $160, replace the SLA for another $30 and you have yourself a good Turbo under 200. I got a few this way and very happy with it. For shorter weddings, I just use the CP-E3/4, much simpler.

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:42 AM

Andrew Welsh
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p.1 #11 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

tag

Mar 27, 2009 at 06:16 AM

Tony Schreiber
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p.1 #12 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

tmiller wrote:
MJH1 wrote:
I have this charger - does a rapid charge in 1 hour and slow in 2 hrs for 8 AA or AAA batteries. Charges each individually. Also conditions the batteries. I've been very pleased with it.

http://www.mahaenergy.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=407&cur=specs#mid

Mike

That's the one I have.... best battery charger I've ever read about. It even brought some AA's back to life!

-Tim

Deb, this is the one I have too.

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:46 PM

DB
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p.1 #13 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

Holy crud- that's the price of a used battery pack! Oh well...

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:52 PM

tmiller
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p.1 #14 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

DB wrote:
Holy crud- that's the price of a used battery pack! Oh well...

Quality costs....

-tmiller
Red Vine Studios
http://redvinestudios.com

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:58 PM

athamrin
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p.1 #15 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

That's very cool idea, and you can charged it with R/C charger for 15 minutes and you're good to go again.

Mar 27, 2009 at 05:59 PM

Scott Clark
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p.1 #16 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

One other thing about the NIMH RC batteries used in that setup...they're relatively light. SLA batteries used in Quantum packs are kind of heavy, and that NIMH setup would save some weight.

I might build one of these in Nikon form...I've got some SB-28s for off-camera use, and I already have some old QB-1s for them, but they don't do anything for recycle time...I could just about build one of these for what I can sell a QB-1 for with a new cell.

Last night I checked out used QT prices...they seem to range from somewhat under $200 to somewhat over. A new SLA cell runs around $30 if it's completely dead. Some had a charger, some didn't. Not bad really. Would still need to get the correct cables though. I don't know...if you're on a tight enough budget, the price could make the DIY job worth it. The Quantum would have the advantage of having roughly the same resale value if you decided to sell it. I'll keep an eye out for a cheap (dead) Turbo, but in the mean time I think I'll build at least one DIY pack...if only to use with my off camera lighting.

Mar 27, 2009 at 07:46 PM

Anthony Martin
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p.1 #17 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

Check this out fast forward to about 2 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_TbR3Vufs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_TbR3Vufs

Mar 28, 2009 at 12:34 AM

ngoduyviet
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p.1 #18 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

Anthony Martin wrote:
Check this out fast forward to about 2 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_TbR3Vufs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_TbR3Vufs

This is like the Al Jacob method, long lasting & reliable, but recycle time is still unbearably long.

I'd still vote for getting a used Quantum, really worth it in the long run. Coincidentally, I just bought another one on the Canon forum, never seem to have enough of these things. Now I should have enough to stick them in all corners for off lighting and forget about big strobes with heavy packs or long wires.

Mar 28, 2009 at 04:56 PM

Walter Koch
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p.1 #19 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

Tag

Mar 28, 2009 at 10:43 PM

MTBtrials
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p.1 #20 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

No problem with the 7.2 volts? Yikes, that overvoltage scares me a little bit.... or is that what makes it "turbo"? (I thought that the higher ampers were what made it turbo, not the higher voltage)

as far as it looking clean, the Quantum MB2 adapter looks the part, except for the open battery door, but at least you're not sticking wooden pegs in your flash....

As far as chargers, I went to my local battery store (bulldog battery in my case), the kind of store who rebuild laptop batteries would work... they had a charger which lets me know when I am charged.... 4500mAh, 6 volts has served me well with my 430ex.

Apr 03, 2009 at 07:45 PM

Scott Clark
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p.1 #21 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

MTBtrials wrote:
No problem with the 7.2 volts? Yikes, that overvoltage scares me a little bit.... or is that what makes it "turbo"? (I thought that the higher ampers were what made it turbo, not the higher voltage)

as far as it looking clean, the Quantum MB2 adapter looks the part, except for the open battery door, but at least you're not sticking wooden pegs in your flash....

As far as chargers, I went to my local battery store (bulldog battery in my case), the kind of store who rebuild laptop batteries would work... they had a charger which lets me know when I am charged.... 4500mAh, 6 volts has served me well with my 430ex.

Higher voltage is what makes a Turbo "turbo". It's somewhere around 400 volts (370?). The plug in connector on Nikon and Canon flashes (or pretty much any speedlight with a power plug) is strictly for HV battery packs. There are a bazillion "how to" descriptions out there on building a simple battery pack for a flash that work just like a Quantum 1 (dummy batteries and low voltage). You can shoot forever on them, but they do very little (if anything) for your recycle time. The setup I originally posted will cut recycle time down to almost nothing (in addition to getting more flashes per charge).

Personal update-- I got a deal on a DOA Quantum Turbo (about $60 to my house). I was *really* hoping it was just a dead cell... No such luck

. Looks like the transformer is fried, and what I'm guessing is an overload switch is cooked. I just sent Quantum a message asking if they sell parts...I'd just replace the main board myself if they do. If not, I guess I'll send it in. The estimate on their web page lists a $90 estimate for that type of repair. On top of that, someone jimmy rigged a set of Cylon 2.5V batteries into a pack instead of just buying a new single SLA cell

. Weird. Oh well...so much for getting a Turbo cheap

. If I really want to fix this thing I could be into it for almost $200. I usually have remarkably good luck with that sort of thing too...

Apr 04, 2009 at 05:36 AM

400d
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p.1 #22 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

You can always mod a CP-E4 or whatever HV pack you found with NiMH/Li-Ion/LiFePO4 batteries. The cheapo Chinese CP-E4 (http://tinyurl.com/djrex8) is good for Li-Ion mod (2x3.7V). I <3 my Sunpak TR-2000 packs; mine are modified to use 4x18650 (7.4V 4000mAh), each pack weighs 1lb 3.6oz (560g). SLA and NiCD should be banned

Apr 04, 2009 at 07:54 AM

MTBtrials
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p.1 #23 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

That's a pretty cool mod, but am I now to assume that it only works with flashes like the 580exII with the external battery pack port? (where there is a separate voltage for the electronics of the flash maintained by the 4x AA's, and then the 400vdc for the caps?)

Makes me want a 580ex even more!!!

Apr 04, 2009 at 01:31 PM

Scott Clark
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p.1 #24 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

MTBtrials wrote:
That's a pretty cool mod, but am I now to assume that it only works with flashes like the 580exII with the external battery pack port? (where there is a separate voltage for the electronics of the flash maintained by the 4x AA's, and then the 400vdc for the caps?)

Makes me want a 580ex even more!!!

Most newer speedlights have an HV port. With Canon, they do at least back to the 550EX. My Nikon SB-28s have one too...I'm guessing they do back to at least the SB-26. A lot of older ones do too...I know my Sunpak 544s do. Even Vivitar 285HVs do (that's what the HV stands for).

Apr 04, 2009 at 02:33 PM

MTBtrials
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p.1 #25 · Poor Starving Photographer's Quantum Turbo...

It doesn't appear that the 430ex has one

Not a mention of it in the manual, and nothing pries off..

Thanks for the info though, I have a much better understanding of what does what.

Apr 04, 2009 at 03:06 PM


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