[pure-silver] Re: Speedotron 2401A
- From: Bob Randall <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 08:14:31 -0500
On 10/1/06 8:08 PM, "Jim Brick" <jim@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> At 04:00 PM 10/1/2006 -0700, you wrote:
>
>> I think the capacitors are formed when you fire them - not just letting them
>> sit there with the power on.
>
>
>
> Capacitors are formed when voltage is applied and they take on a
> charge. When turned on for the first time after a long idle time
> (weeks/months/years) the power should be left on for several minutes
> before firing for the first time. This will allow the capacitors to
> form completely. They are de-formed when fired, that is, all
> electrons rapidly leave, or leave slowly over time.
>
> Strobes should never be turned off with de-formed capacitors. One
> should ALWAYS charge the capacitors and when they are ready to fire,
> then turn the power off and store the unit. Those folks who fire
> their strobes just before turning off the power are ruining their
> capacitors. The useful life of the unit will be noticeably shortened.
>
> I used to repair strobes as a business.
>
> Jim
>
> ==============================================================================
> ===============================
> To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your
> account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,)
> and unsubscribe from there.
I have a 2401A pack that I bought used at an auction in 1974. It is my habit
to turn the power off and hit the dump/open flash button every single time I
turn a pack off. I've been doing this since 1971 due to a grounding I
suffered when I didn't do it just before disconnecting a head from a pack. I
can't begin to count the number of times I've done this. I've never had a
pack fail. I would guess that some of my packs have been fired over a
million times and the only thing I've ever had to deal with are burned out
ready lights and the occasional toggle switch. I'm not suggesting you are
wrong so much as I'm wondering when you think my packs are likely to fail.
Bob
=============================================================================================================
To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your
account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,)
and unsubscribe from there.
Other related posts:
