Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Rolfe Tessem wrote: >The newer ones are stamped "Made in China" and I believe any of those are >the low voltage models. If you're extra paranoid, you should check the >voltage, but the change occurred many years ago. - --- Apparently, the original 283's had a trigger voltage between 230 & 240 volts! (I know of one that measured 238V DC!) This is fine for older cameras with mechanical sync contacts, but newer ones have electronic triggering that can handle only a few volts without damage. If anyone is concerned about the trigger voltage in their Vivitar 283 (or any other flash) try this: Turn the flashgun on and wait for the ready light to come on. Use a voltmeter set to at least 300V DC and measure the voltage from the center pin and the ground contacts. (Usually the ground pins are on the sides of the foot.) Don't mount the gun on the camera and you don't need to fire the flash, either. My fairly ancient 283 (marked "Korea") measures 8.4 Volts. A Metz 40MZ (where this thread started!) measures 4.4 Volts; a Nikon SB-15 - 3 Volts. Beware the little Sunpack 1600A! It's the smallest electronic flash with bounce capability that I could find and I've often taken it overseas because of it's size and weight. It measured a modest 213.8 Volts! I've used the 1600A on the R3, R5 & R6 (though rarely) with no apparent problems (though if my R5 was damaged by it, I'll never know now!). I have not used it on the R8 and don't think I will! :) I can find nothing about the maximum allowable trigger voltage in any of my instruction manuals; but I am given to understand that anything 12 Volts and under is fine with the R8. But if you've got an older flash, **of any make** , you may want to check it out - FIRST! BTW: My measurements were made using a Fluke 79, but any decent multimeter should do. - ---------- David Young | Experience gained varies directly Victoria, CANADA | with equipment ruined. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html