Quantum Turbo Battery Pack

[Richard Lee]

I'm looking for advice re. my recently purchased Quantum Turbo battery pack.

The yellow charge indicator lights follow the sequence as specified in the user manual, i.e :

'When the charger is connected, the charge indicator sequence is as follows:
Plug Indicator Light - A steady on light indicates the charger is properly connected.
Pyramid Indicator Light - Displays the charging status:
INITIAL CHARGE - A steady light followed by a blinking light, its rate varying as the battery is charging.
FULL CHARGE - After 12 hours a normal full charge will be assured.
At this time the pyramid light will go out or blink on once every 5 seconds or slower'.

All good, however, the green battery capacity lights do not illuminate incrementally as the charge capacity increases (as I had expected). The manual appears to suggest that the green lights only show when the Turbo is connected to the flashgun and not throughout the charging process. Again, the manual states:

The lights labeled BATTERY indicate the remaining capacity of the internal cells of the Turbo. The indication is
most accurate when the Turbo is connected to a flash which is on and idling (fully recycled and "ready" to be fired).
Here's how to interpret the BATTERY lights:


4 Lights on meaning up to 100% capacity remaining
3 Lights on meaning up to 75% capacity remaining
2 Lights on meaning up to 50% capacity remaining
1 Light on meaning up to 25% capacity remaining





I'm not entirely sure if I'm understanding the manual correctly, and would welcome any enlightenment. In a nutshell, should the green capacity lights illuminate in sequence as the charge capacity increases , or only when later connected to the flash?

Many thanks,

Richard

 

[wiltw]

It is likely that the lead acid cell in the battery needs to be replaced. The battery is a PS832, and is available thru Amazon.com for about $30-40. I have replaced the PS-832 in my own Quantum Turbo twice in the 4 decades I have owned it.
I once purchased a used unit at an auction, replaced the PS-832 in it and sold the refreshed unit on a photo forum.
Merely unscrew the visible screws on the side/bottom of the exterior case, and the electronics and battery can be slid out of the case...but it maybe be necessary to unstick the double sided tape along the wide side of the case for it all to come out.

As you yourself quoted:
The lights labeled BATTERY indicate the remaining capacity of the internal cells of the Turbo. The indication is
most accurate when the Turbo is connected to a flash which is on and idling (fully recycled and "ready" to be fired).

 

[Richard Lee]

It is likely that the lead acid cell in the battery needs to be replaced.

Many thanks for your reply. I presume then, that the green lights should illuminate one after the other as the battery charge increases..?


Richard

 

[Chan Tran]

Many thanks for your reply. I presume then, that the green lights should illuminate one after the other as the battery charge increases..?


Richard

I think the battery indicator only works when you turn the power switch on. You should not turn it on during charging. They should work if you turn the power switch on even if you do not connect to the flash but I think that is dangerous and the indicator is not accurate because they want to check the battery when there is an idle current draw not without any load.

 

[wiltw]

Quantum instructions CAUTION the user to never turn ON the Quantum Turbo unless BOTH a connecting cable AND a flash are plugged in.

The green lights ordinarily turn on only when the Turbo is turned ON, and indicate remaining power most accurately when the flash is ready for the next flash.

 

[Richard Lee]

Quantum instructions CAUTION the user to never turn ON the Quantum Turbo unless BOTH a connecting cable AND a flash are plugged in.

The green lights ordinarily turn on only when the Turbo is turned ON, and indicate remaining power most accurately when the flash is ready for the next flash.

Indeed, it seems that although the Turbo is switched off during charging, the yellow lights illuminate to indicate firstly, that Turbo and charger are connected correctly, followed by a second LED when fully charged.

Meanwhile, the green 'capacity' LED's only illuminate when the Turbo is switched on to show the remaining charge when connected to the flashgun.

This procedure is far from clear in the downloadable manual. Furthermore, I must confess to committing a schoolboy error by mistaking the two-position 'gate' in front of the Turbo's on/off switch (presumably there to prevent accidental switching); to be the switch itself.

The two certainly look integral... well, to my ageing eyes they do. (Take a look at the snap below).

Anyway, all's well that ends well. Many thanks as always, to those that kindly contributed to the thread.

Richard