When buying used strobes....

In article <3F33F2FF.9010108 DeleteThis @videotron.ca>,
Alan Browne <alan.browne DeleteThis @videotron.ca> wrote:

 > I haggled a price on some used 300W-s studio strobes, complete to
 > stands, umbrellas, 1 softbox, remote controls, sync cords, case. down to
 > cad$750 (~US$540). I was to get them today, subject of course to a test.
 >
 > I tested the strobes at 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1, at a fixed distance. The
 > first strobe worked fine, except between 1/2 and 1/1 there was only a
 > half stop difference in light. (Between 1/4 and 1/2 it was 1.1 stops).
 >
 > The second strobe wouldn't fire at all.
 >
 > The owner had only used these about 5 times, and otherwise had kept them
 > in a closet for the last couple years.
 >
 > I haven't bought them, but any opinion on why one won't fire and the
 > other doesn't seem to charge/discharge completely? Could lack of use
 > have done something to the capacitors?
 >
 > Model: Medalight 600XL.
 >
 > Cheers,
 > Alan
 >

Second strobe:
If you can hear a very high frequency whine coming from the strobe, then
the oscillator works and the problem is probably the capacitor. If you
can't hear the whine, then the oscillator or low volatge supply section
has some problem. You did check the fuse or circuit breaker right?

--
Rudy Garcia<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes.... 

Rudy Garcia wrote:
 > In article <3F33F2FF.9010108 DeleteThis @videotron.ca>,
 > Alan Browne <alan.browne DeleteThis @videotron.ca> wrote:
 >
 >
  >>I haggled a price on some used 300W-s studio strobes, complete to
  >>stands, umbrellas, 1 softbox, remote controls, sync cords, case. down to
  >>cad$750 (~US$540). I was to get them today, subject of course to a test.
  >>
  >>I tested the strobes at 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1, at a fixed distance. The
  >>first strobe worked fine, except between 1/2 and 1/1 there was only a
  >>half stop difference in light. (Between 1/4 and 1/2 it was 1.1 stops).
  >>
  >>The second strobe wouldn't fire at all.
  >>
  >>The owner had only used these about 5 times, and otherwise had kept them
  >>in a closet for the last couple years.
  >>
  >>I haven't bought them, but any opinion on why one won't fire and the
  >>other doesn't seem to charge/discharge completely? Could lack of use
  >>have done something to the capacitors?
  >>
  >>Model: Medalight 600XL.
  >>
  >>Cheers,
  >>Alan
  >>
 >
 >
 > Second strobe:
 > If you can hear a very high frequency whine coming from the strobe, then
 > the oscillator works and the problem is probably the capacitor. If you
 > can't hear the whine, then the oscillator or low volatge supply section
 > has some problem. You did check the fuse or circuit breaker right?
 >

Yes, the modeling light worked, the charge whine was heard ...

Thx, for reply..
Alan.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes.... 

You might have tried rebuilding the capacitors. Put the units on full and
fire about 5 or so times immediatly when the ready light comes on. However,
a strobe left in a closet for a couple years is not going to be a good buy.
I exercise my strobes about once every month or two to keep the capacitors
good. It seems to work.

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"Alan Browne" <alan.browne DeleteThis @videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:3F33F2FF.9010108@videotron.ca...
 >
 >
 > I haggled a price on some used 300W-s studio strobes, complete to
 > stands, umbrellas, 1 softbox, remote controls, sync cords, case. down to
 > cad$750 (~US$540). I was to get them today, subject of course to a test.
 >
 > I tested the strobes at 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1, at a fixed distance. The
 > first strobe worked fine, except between 1/2 and 1/1 there was only a
 > half stop difference in light. (Between 1/4 and 1/2 it was 1.1 stops).
 >
 > The second strobe wouldn't fire at all.
 >
 > The owner had only used these about 5 times, and otherwise had kept them
 > in a closet for the last couple years.
 >
 > I haven't bought them, but any opinion on why one won't fire and the
 > other doesn't seem to charge/discharge completely? Could lack of use
 > have done something to the capacitors?
 >
 > Model: Medalight 600XL.
 >
 > Cheers,
 > Alan
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes.... 

 > I haggled a price on some used 300W-s studio strobes, complete to
 > stands, umbrellas, 1 softbox, remote controls, sync cords, case. down to
 > cad$750 (~US$540). I was to get them today, subject of course to a test.
 >
 > I tested the strobes at 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1, at a fixed distance. The
 > first strobe worked fine, except between 1/2 and 1/1 there was only a
 > half stop difference in light. (Between 1/4 and 1/2 it was 1.1 stops).
 >
 > The second strobe wouldn't fire at all.
 >
 > The owner had only used these about 5 times, and otherwise had kept them
 > in a closet for the last couple years.
 >
 > I haven't bought them, but any opinion on why one won't fire and the
 > other doesn't seem to charge/discharge completely? Could lack of use
 > have done something to the capacitors?
 >
 > Model: Medalight 600XL.
 >

yes, lack of use 'deforms' the capacitors, the opposite of charging them up,
or 'reforming.'

try leaving them on for a couple hours and popping a half dozen every hour
or so.

that might improve the performance.

the next question is, are they consistent? can shoot a couple, wait a few
minutes, shoot a couple more and get very close results?

this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes.... 

And if you do decide to whip out the old soldering iron to replace your
capacitors, do take care to insert the new ones the right way around.
Putting them in with the terminals reversed WILL result in an explosion.

--
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hey, I'm playin' with the Stones, man. You know, I mean why shouldn't I
smile?"
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..
"Paul W. Ross" <pross.RemoveThis@dejazzd.com> wrote in message
news:91c6534c.0308081644.37b357fa@posting.google.com...
 > Unfortunately, the capacitors -- most likely electrolytic, need to be
 > "formed" and used on a regular basis. 5 years is not a regular basis!
 > They can be replaced. Easy to do, if you are handy with a soldering
 > iron, and understand some basic electronics. Major problem will be
 > getting the needed replacement parts where you live. How about from
 > the mfg.??<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes.... 

Tony Spadaro wrote:
 > You might have tried rebuilding the capacitors. Put the units on full and
 > fire about 5 or so times immediatly when the ready light comes on. However,
 > a strobe left in a closet for a couple years is not going to be a good buy.
 > I exercise my strobes about once every month or two to keep the capacitors
 > good. It seems to work.
 >

Agree, my own strobes ... no problem, they get worked more than 1/month
in any case...<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes.... 

Yes its lackof use .
I have some and they do need powerup and testing at least once every 6
months
If left any longer they can be unrealaible . and just need exercising
set them to alower power 1/4 and they may fire and if they do repat charge
and dis charge by firing. and graduually bring up the power

mine are pair of Courtnay 600s ( good old british make)
B
"zeitgeist" <blkhatwhtdog DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:0p_Ya.101938$Ho3.13565@sccrnsc03...
 >
  > > I haggled a price on some used 300W-s studio strobes, complete to
  > > stands, umbrellas, 1 softbox, remote controls, sync cords, case. down to
  > > cad$750 (~US$540). I was to get them today, subject of course to a
test.
  > >
  > > I tested the strobes at 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1, at a fixed distance. The
  > > first strobe worked fine, except between 1/2 and 1/1 there was only a
  > > half stop difference in light. (Between 1/4 and 1/2 it was 1.1 stops).
  > >
  > > The second strobe wouldn't fire at all.
  > >
  > > The owner had only used these about 5 times, and otherwise had kept them
  > > in a closet for the last couple years.
  > >
  > > I haven't bought them, but any opinion on why one won't fire and the
  > > other doesn't seem to charge/discharge completely? Could lack of use
  > > have done something to the capacitors?
  > >
  > > Model: Medalight 600XL.
  > >
 >
 > yes, lack of use 'deforms' the capacitors, the opposite of charging them
up,
 > or 'reforming.'
 >
 > try leaving them on for a couple hours and popping a half dozen every hour
 > or so.
 >
 > that might improve the performance.
 >
 > the next question is, are they consistent? can shoot a couple, wait a
few
 > minutes, shoot a couple more and get very close results?
 >
 > this reply is echoed to the z-prophoto mailing list at yahoogroups.com
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: When buying used strobes....