Re: softbox help needed for White Lightning strobe
The tubes get deposits from the electrodes on the ends as they age. Always a good idea to have a spare on hand anyway. With Buff products the parts are inexpensive.
I believe the \"pop\" normally comes from the gas reaching the plasma state but failing capacitors can also. It would be prudent to call Buff (it has excellent customer service) and have it checked before the tube or a condenser does fail. I have four AB800 that got fired by a lightning strike and the total repair bill was only $200.
The way a strobe like that works is a small trigger current is sent to the thin wire around the tube. That changes the state of the xenon gas and makes it conduct electricity and close the circuit with the capacitors. They then dump all their current across the gap between the electrodes and the xenon is changed into a plasma state. The flash duration ends when the condensers are drained. Power levels are controlled by regulating how long the capacitors are recharged and/or by switching them in banks. Newer studio designs like Einstein add a IGBT semiconductor switch gate to more precisely cut off the power at the end to control exposure.
The Buff speedrings are compatible with most SBs (strip lights may be an exception) and are less expensive than the alternatives. I use them with small, med, large Photoflex boxes. It it fits into the speedring it\'s compatible.. That\'s the idea behind the ring; a universal attachment. The rods from the SB go into holes in the ring. If you have a question about specific SB type call Buff and ask.
Re: softbox help needed for White Lightning strobe
The tubes get deposits from the electrodes on the ends as they age. Always a good idea to have a spare on hand anyway. With Buff products the parts are inexpensive.
I believe the \"pop\" normally comes from the gas reaching the plasma state but failing capacitors can also. It would be prudent to all Buff (it has excellent customer service) and have it checked before the tube or a condenser does fail. I have four AB800 that got fired by a lightning strike and the total repair bill was only $200.
The way a strobe like that works is a small trigger current is sent to the thin wire around the tube. That changes the state of the xenon gas and makes it conduct electricity and close the circuit with the capacitors. They then dump all their current across the gap between the electrodes and the xenon is changed into a plasma state. The flash duration ends when the condensers are drained. Power levels are controlled by regulating how long the capacitors are recharged and/or by switching them in banks. Newer studio designs like Einstein add a IGBT semiconductor switch gate to more precisely cut off the power at the end to control exposure.
The Buff speedrings are compatible with most SBs (strip lights may be an exception) and are less expensive than the alternatives. I use them with small, med, large Photoflex boxes. It it fits into the speedring it\'s compatible.. That\'s the idea behind the ring; a universal attachment. The rods from the SB go into holes in the ring. If you have a question about specific SB type call Buff and ask.
Re: softbox help needed for White Lightning strobe
The tubes get deposits from the electrodes on the ends as they age. Always a good idea to have a spare on hand anyway. With Buff products the parts are inexpensive.
I believe the \"pop\" normally comes from the gas reaching the plasma state but failing capacitors can also. It would be prudent to all Buff (it has excellent customer service) and have it checked before the tube or a condenser does fail. I have four AB800 that got fired by a lightning strike and the total repair bill was only $200.
The way a strobe like that works is a small trigger current is sent to the thin wire around the tube. That changes the state of the xenon gas and makes it conduct electricity and close the circuit with the capacitors. They then dump all their current across the gap between the electrodes and the xenon is changed into a plasma state. The flash duration ends when the condensers are drained. Power levels are controlled by regulating how long the capacitors are recharged and/or by switching them in banks. Newer studio designs like Einstein add a IGBT semiconductor switch gate to more precisely cut off the power at the end to control exposure.
The Buff speedrings are compatible with most SBs (strip lights may be an exception) and are less expensive than the alternatives. I use them with small, med, large Photoflex boxes.
Jan 21, 2013 at 05:29 PM
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