I really don't want to know, what a professional flash with several times that power can do. If you have a weak heart, these things can short you out. Seriously. Don't touch anything electronic, unless you're 100% sure of what you're doing.
If you understand what they do, how they work and how to handle them it is possible to experiment with them and be perfectly safe.
This ain't black magic. Just be careful.
while I certainly agree that it is important to respect these devices, fear for lack of understanding isn't going to do anybody any good.
Yes, a hit from one of those caps will make your eyes light up like a pinball machine. Trust me. I know. I've been bit by them a time or two. It doesn't tickle.
However, we should not treat them like ticking time bombs. If you understand what they do, how they work and how to handle them it is possible to experiment with them and be perfectly safe.
While I do not advocate that people take apart their flash guns and root around inside there with their fingers, I would certainly encourage somebody who has the will to learn and who has respect for what he's dealing with to investigate the inner workings of a flash that no longer works or is no longer needed. Just learn what the components are and how to identify them. Just about any good book on electronics that you can find in the library will teach you what you need to know.
This ain't black magic. Just be careful.
Apparently not many of them blithely tale their cameras apart which is fortunately not dangerous, but they only recount their successes, never their failures.Yes, but don't you think that somebody who has the wherewithal to study and learn the technical aspects of photography and who can handle equipment and chemicals safely also has the presence of mind to study up on basic electronics before forging ahead and taking apart a camera flash?
I do agree, however, that a warning is in order. Those babies can and will bite if you don't watch out!
If enough people are dying from opening up flash cases maybe the manufacturers will put in an interlock system so if the case is opened a bleeder resister is automatically put across the capacitor.
Cool! I've got a 2 in. dia. neodymium magnet. Grade N-45. I'll have to give that a try!
No, they generate about 300 volts.This is no joke, even small electronic flashes are capable of delivering 10,000 Volts and a fatal shock.
No, they generate about 300 volts.
The circuitry is not capable of handling even 1,000 volts, much less 10,000.
- Leigh
I've repaired both my canon 540ez and 550ex multiple times. guess im lucky
Probably,I've repaired both my canon 540ez and 550ex multiple times. guess im lucky
Something to note is that some of the older caps can still retain a hefty charge even after being 'drained'. After a few minutes, or hours, the residual charge can appear at the terminals, making for nasty surprises.
As to the voltage rating on the capacitors...
The voltage rating is always higher than the actual voltage during operation, as a safety measure.
Good engineering practice requires a factor of 2 for most applications, i.e. a 400-volt rating for 200 volts applied.
- Leigh
Having serviced many studio flash systems, and I concur in the use of a bleeder resistor in all cases. Better bled than dead. (SorryI've done a number of repairs and modifications of flash units. Yes, those caps are dangerous! I always put a large bleeder resistor across them before doing anything to a flash unit.
The operating environment of a battery-powered flash is very different from that found in an AC-powered flash.Anyway, that 2x safety factor is *not* followed inside most flash units. If the cap is rated at 330V, then that's probably what the flash will charge it to with fresh batteries.
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