Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/03/30

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Subject: [Leica] Flash trigger voltages (was: Metz 40-Mz on R8)
From: David Young <youngs@islandnet.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 18:37:56 -0800
References: <E16rQPj-0001DS-00@mail.islandnet.com> <E16rOmP-000KT7-00@mail.islandnet.com> <E16rQPj-0001DS-00@mail.islandnet.com>

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.
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In reply to: Message from David Young <youngs@islandnet.com> ([Leica] RE: Vivitar (was: Metz 40-Mz on R8))
Message from David Young <youngs@islandnet.com> ([Leica] Vivitar (was: Metz 40-Mz on R8))
Message from David Young <youngs@islandnet.com> ([Leica] RE: Vivitar (was: Metz 40-Mz on R8))