Lumedyne 244 system

<p>Have a Lumedyne 244 system with 2 mini batteries and one medium. Used it for photographing medium and large horse shows in the 80's. Been out of the business for a while and worked for PCA (Photo Corporation of America) for six years using their equipment. Now after cancer and other illnesses I am looking to do some studio work and outside portrait work again. The system 244 does not work which I'm sure the batteries are gone and not sure the power pack works. The charger looks a little burnt out. Is it worth fixing or should I look for something else? Does anyone use these anymore? Haven't seem much on them recently? Please be nice with your suggestions....LOL. Have to learn most of it all over due to loss of memory with an operation but trying. Things are starting to come back and wish to trigger some of those old memories with this forum. Thanks.</p>

<p>I have Lumedyne's version of the Quantum Turbo, and it died on me a couple of years ago because I had let it sit without using it for a few years. I sent it to Lumedyne and they re-celled it, checked everything inside and basically made it like new again for around $100 plus or minus. Turnaround was maybe 2-3 weeks including shipping both ways. If you check on their website I think there' information about this service, or at least a number you can call. BTW, Quantum does the same thing with their batteries for a comparable price. </p>

<p>Thank you for responding Craig,<br>

I live not too far from New Port Richie and visited the Lumedyne factory years ago. Looks like I need to do that again. I actually bought the original 244 from them. Looks like I had better call and see if I can take it directly to them and get an estimate of what it might cost to repair. With money tight right now even the repair may be a little out of reach for me right now. They will probably charge me for the estimate so I will have to ask them how much to take a look to see if it can be fixed. When I visited them back in the 80's they were working out of what looked like an old auto repair place and warehouse space. It will be interesting to see what the place looks like today. Wish I had taken a picture of it at the time then I could get a before and after shot to see the difference. Are you using your Quantum unit now?</p>

<p>If it's just the battery, there should be nothing to do an estimate on. They charge a flat fee to re-cell and reburbish and it's either on their website or they can tell you over the phone. At least that's what I recall, can't say whether things have changed, but I'm sure they can tell you up front. If you think it's a problem with the head, that could be a different story. Also always a possibility that the charger has died, but those are relatively cheap, basically just a wall wart.<br /><br />I have two high-voltage flash batteries, my Lumedyne Minimegacycler and a Quantum Turbo. The Lumedyne I bought new. The Turbo I got used from a friend. He had it for probably 20 years and had it re-celled along the way. I used it for a while, let it set (along with the Lumedyne) and then re-celled it two or three years ago. Both are still going strong. I don't use them every day so I have to remember to plug them in for a few hours every couple of months. I use them both for run-and-gun news/event type shoots and for on-location portrait setups.<br /><br />What I have discovered is that you can pay something like $500 for a new Turbo. Or you take an old one like I had and get it recelled for around $100. I think Quantum even updates the circuit boards if need be. I wouldn't mind having a couple more, and I'm tempted to buy dead ones online for $30 or $40 and send them in to be recelled. Or there are people selling them already recelled for around $125 to $150. (In that case, the individuals selling them are doing the work rather than the factory, so it's probably just a straight new cell rather than a more comprehensive refurbishing).</p>

<p>Hi Marva,</p>

<p>Sorry to hear about your personal battles, but once working Lumedyne are pretty easy to use with limited output parameters which should be easy enough to handle and will provide a low cost immediate solution to your needs.</p>

<p>I use a lot of Lumedyne gear and its rare that a pack dies, but batteries do tend to.. especially if you expect them to work for ever - or for over 36 years like yours :-)</p>

<p>Your batteries are not like Turbo batteries or like Minimegacyclers.. They're just batteries. Turbo's and Minimegacyclers are battery and capacitor charge storage which discharge the battery energy fast into a suitable flash. Your 244's won't work with these.</p>

<p>You will need to try a new battery first. If I were you, I would put one of the Mini batteries into an independent battery receller.. Batteries Plus might be a good start point for you. I say this because the mini batteries are quite small to use and now with newer battery technology you can increase their capacitance from 1800mAh to 3600mAh quite easily giving a useful duration.</p>

<p>If you can borrow or hire a Lumedyne battery before you do get the battery recelled, it would be prudent to do so.</p>

<p>I tend to but the "Large" batteries and fit 3.6Ah Lead Acid batteries to them.. About $15 a unit, but I have mini's as well at 3600mAh.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>