tabeteh

<p>Thank you all so very much for the responses. Peter's mail frightened me a little, as he talks of a major repair. Craig, those packs do not have a switch that changes the voltage from one to the other. Maybe US manufacturers should start considering making that standard, since so many other countries use 240V. Bernard, I live in Cameroon, after having studied in Germany, spending quite some time there. I have spoken with some technicians here and they say I should bring the pack over to their workshops for them to take a look at it. Henry, the pack although bought used, still looked very clean and new. And it was working perfectly, IMHO. At least, I was very happy with its performance. Could surges in current and/or the lack of an earth terminal just cause a sudden death of the capacitors? Also, could someone tell me if capacitors are voltage-sensitive i.e. could one use capacitors found here in a country with 240V electricity on a piece of equipment built for 120V? That way, it could be easy to have replacement units here. I'm sure I should ask a specialist technician, but I'm just curious. I guess I'll just haul the unit to a local technician. If as Henry says, I would have to consider other options, then I don't have much to lose by letting a technician look at it. Just too bad its happening to someone on a budget like myself, and it was quite an effort getting it from the US here.<br> Once more, thanks to you all. Again, if anyone still has some ideas, I'll appreciate them.<br> Gerald.</p>

<p>Hello all,<br> after reading the great reviews about the durability of Speedotron equipment, I went ahead and got myself a fairly used D402 Powerpack kit. I have been pretty impressed with it. I have to say I live in a country having 220/240V as the electrical voltage, as opposed to the 110/120V used in the US. I therefore have to use a step-down transformer in order to put the set to use. Last week, I was doing some experimental shooting. The power-pack was connected via an adapter to a transformer with a two prong connector without an earth terminal. After a while, there was some flickering of the modelling lights. There was then crackle in the power-pack, and the room was filled with a smell reminiscent of paint. No loud explosive noise, no smoke, just the smell. The Ready light went off, and would not come on again. I turned the unit off, and then on again after a while. But the Ready light would still not come on. I was using a Quantum wireless trigger, and on releasing the shutter, the flash would flash but with much much reduced power. I unfortunately did not meter how strong it was.<br> My question is if anyone knows whether it is a capacitor or capacitors that could be blown or it is just something in the switching circuitry. I live in a country far from the US, and it would be good to know if something like this could be shipped for repairs, or I could venture giving it to a local technician to try and fix it, without any guarantee that it would come back whole. Maybe it would be more economical just trying to get a replacement from the US if the damage is grave.<br> I'd appreciate any feedback from those who have ideas.<br> Tabeteh.</p>