Some of the newer digital flash cameras are more prone to trigger over-voltage than the older models.
Checking the trigger voltage on a flash camera or strobe device serves an important function for the user-owner. Manufacturers set maximum strobe voltages, which keep the units within safe voltage tolerances. Some infrared and regular strobes use high voltages for mechanical cameras, but many of the newer digital models can be permanently damaged by higher voltages. Some models can tolerate very high voltages, but such information can be attributed to rumor and optimistic guesswork. The best solution is for you to find the exact voltage requirements from a certified source and check the voltage with a multimeter for your brand and model unit.
Instructions
1. Refer to your operator's manual for the specifications data on strobe voltage. You will find the manufacture's listing for the maximum operating strobe voltage for your brand and model. It will be indicated in volts, such as 3.5, 6 or 10 volts. Keep that number in mind. If you have no owner's manual, log on to a site such as Botzilla.com, where you can find the specification chart on strobe voltages for your make and model.
2. Disconnect your strobe flash from the camera and install new batteries in the compartment. Unsnap the flash case and place the required number and type of batteries inside the battery bed, with the positive (+) poles of the batteries matching the positive poles in the flash unit. Snap the case back on.
3. Charge the flash until the "Ready" light or LED comes on, or until a green or other active signal is recognized that indicates flash charging. Look at the bottom of the flash connector configuration, called the "hotshoe." It will have pins protruding from the connector flange. Some flashes have a male-female connector similar to a coaxial cable fitting, while others have a central "hot" pin with a conductor element next to it or on the side. Check your manual to be sure.
4. Set a 10 ohm or higher digital multimeter for the lowest or most sensitive volts scale, which might be from 0 to 20 volts. Place the red positive meter lead on the center pin of the hotshoe. In the case of a PC-type connector, place the red lead on the central metal pin. The hot lead will always be centered in the circular or rectangular shoe, no matter what brand and model camera you have.
5. Place the negative (-) black lead of the multimeter on the element connector, located next to the central pin on some models, or on the side of the shoe. For hard to reach element connections, use a paperclip to probe the connector and rest it on the negative lead. If you make a mistake, or receive no volt reading, switch your contacts points -- it will not harm the flash unit.
6. Read the volts indicated on the meter. They should match your specification voltage from the chart or your owner's manual. You can adjust the multimeter for a finer reading with extra decimals, if you wish to get the most accurate voltage. Instead of a reading of 3.5 volts, set the sensitivity higher, which will indicate something like 3.578 volts.
Tags: brand model, flash unit, high voltages, newer digital, owner manual