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blankgm
Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:00 am

My father just donated a Graflex Strobomatic 500 with AC pack and 2 heads to my photography learning.

Problem is he didn't have any manuals to go with it, so I'm at a loss.

I have test fired each of the two heads individually - but am unable to get them to fire together when hookec up to my camera (Nikon D70s DSLR with an AS-15 adapter).

Here is the link to my equipment and most of my cables. Any help would be appreciated.

http://www.gilsstills.com/portfolios/Graflex/index.html

Thanks
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:49 am

Connect the heads to the power supply and verify operation with test button. when working connect sync cable to one head, short the camera end connector with a piece of wire, Strobe should fire, if not turn sync cord plug at strobe end 180<sup>0</sup> and retry. Test the other head the same way. If neither head will fire with the cable try a different sync cable. When you have the head(s) firing with a sync cable jumped then try the camrea again.
What is a AS-15? Is it a hot shoe to pc sync adaptor? Is it good? An adaptor for mutiple Nikon strobes may not work for other strobes. Does the <S>N70</S> D70 have a PC sync connector? if so use it.
Charles

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2006-02-23 18:51 ]</font>
tsgrimm
Joined: 04 Apr 2004
Posts: 158
PostPosted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:52 am

STOP
Shouldn't you be using one of Wein's Safe Sync flash sync trigger voltage reducing adapters in your hot shoe instead of that plain piece of plastic with a paper clip inside AS-15 before you fry all of the electronics in that expensive D70s? The Wein HSHSB (that I have and use on my Coolpix 4500 with the Nikon AS-E900 cable lets me use all my twenty and thirty year old strobes http://www.e-zonesystem.com/990flash/ ) also has a standard PC connection on the front. "B" stands for ball detent on the bottom of the shoe. I can also slave these old strobes since the 4500 doesn't have a preflash.

If you can't find an answer and or a Wein SSHSHSB flash sync trigger voltage adapter (they come in several flavors) at your local camera store

http://www.bhphotovideo.com has all of Wein's stuff.

Paramount has cords with flash sync voltage reduction built in. http://www.paramountcords.com

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blankgm
Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:49 am

Thanks for the inputs. I have ceased operation of the camera and flash unit until I can get a step down adapter.

As for the first posting - both strobes did fire individually. I was just seeking information on how to turn one into the master and the other into the slave.

I think I will take the whole thing into the local pro shop and see what advice they can provide me. While I'm there I will look for the step down adapter.

Anybody have a link to the documentation by chance? If I don't get a response to that one, I guess I will start looking on e-bay for a manual.

Gil
45PSS
Joined: 28 Sep 2001
Posts: 4081
PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:05 am

Ok, to turn one into a "slave" go to the camera store and get a "slave adaptor". I have two of them and they come in many flavors from many companies. Get one that has a pc socket on it and will mount to a tripod 1/4-20 mount. Connect the flash to be slave into it and the other to the camera, the flash from the main camera strobe will trip the slave. Adjusting the the flash output of the slave with only one power supply will be difficult but flash to subject distance and difussers are some basic ways to accomplish this.

BHphotovideo.com search for Flash Adapter gets:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=38507&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=90055&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Sync Voltage regulator: BHphotovideo.com search for Wein, page 3 has:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=68605&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=245292&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Instruction manual:
#GRA-108 Instruction Manual
Graflex Strobomatic 500 Flash $15.00 @

http://www.craigcamera.com/default.htm

click on instruction manuals, then the section for G.
Charles

_________________
Graflex Corp.was a supporter of Rain Forest Devastation.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2006-02-24 21:12 ]</font>
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