Taping up everything except centre pin - safe?

Nass · 04-04-2016, 07:34 AM

Hello,

For various reasons I'm after a flash that has centre pin contact only. I don't have such a thing, but I do have an older flash (safe voltage) that I'd consider as expendable if this procedure cooked a flash.

Does anyone have experience covering everything except the centre pin with non conducting tape, and does doing this cook the camera or the flash? Ie is it safe to do??...

Thanks,

-Nass

stevebrot · 04-04-2016, 07:41 AM

It should be safe, how about just putting a "safe sync" in between. That will accomplish the same thing, but with less goo.

Steve

Nass · 04-04-2016, 07:48 AM

Good shout, thanks. I assume 3rd party rather than Wein is ok - the Wein ones cost £33 in the UK but £66 postage from US!!

FilmORbitz · 05-17-2017, 12:02 AM

Originally posted by Nass

Good shout, thanks. I assume 3rd party rather than Wein is ok - the Wein ones cost £33 in the UK but £66 postage from US!!

Be careful of flash voltage limiters other than Wein Safe-Sync, which is rated for 400V max. Some of the other limiters (Vello at B&H for example) only have 60V ratings. I have a Metz 45 CT-1 that measures 325V, and some of the old Vivitar 2xx-series are over 200V. What isn't clear is whether the lower-rated devices are fail-safe. You don't want to do that test....

Class A · 05-18-2017, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by Nass

Good shout, thanks. I assume 3rd party rather than Wein is ok - the Wein ones cost £33 in the UK but £66 postage from US!!

How much is a Cactus V5 in your area these days?
It also provides a Wein-safe functionality (as a side-effect) and is rated up to 300V.

Nass · 05-18-2017, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by Class A

How much is a Cactus V5 in your area these days?
It also provides a Wein-safe functionality (as a side-effect) and is rated up to 300V.

About £55/£60 ish

Not a Number · 05-19-2017, 12:55 AM

The spacing is different on the pins for Minolta flashes and only the center pin makes contact on a Pentax body. That's why "universal" off camera cables have so 6 or 7 contacts on them. No need to tape the pins off if that is the case.

I don't know about the spacing on flashes for Nikon, Canon or Olympus as I don't have any flashes for them.

SOldBear · 05-19-2017, 06:16 PM

I'm a "junk collector" when it comes to flash guns. I currently have no less than 2 dozens of them.

I've used my Pentax bodies (K10D, K-7, K-3) with flashes dedicated to Olympus, Minolta, Canon, Nikon, Leica, and of course Pentax without any problem.

No need to tape anything.

Of course the trigger voltage needs to be safe (to me, that means "under 24V").

Class A · 05-22-2017, 03:52 AM

Originally posted by Nass

About £55/£60 ish

Too bad, I was hoping the price would be nearer the Wein-safe.

Your price is probably for a Duo set and you'd only need one of them for your purposes.

I didn't question your initial request because you seemed to know what you are doing, but I support the view of SOldBear that maybe you won't need any tweaking at all. Normally, the extra pins don't cause any trouble.

Not a Number · 05-22-2017, 09:33 AM

There's a paper out there somewhere that reverse engineered the pin out of Minolta X cameras (X-700 etc.). As I recall the voltages where on the order of 3-5 volts. One of the signals originates from the camera body.

I tend to agree with SOldBear also and don't think it is a problem.

04-04-2016, 07:34 AM	#1
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Taping up everything except centre pin - safe? Hello, For various reasons I'm after a flash that has centre pin contact only. I don't have such a thing, but I do have an older flash (safe voltage) that I'd consider as expendable if this procedure cooked a flash. Does anyone have experience covering everything except the centre pin with non conducting tape, and does doing this cook the camera or the flash? Ie is it safe to do??... Thanks, -Nass

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04-04-2016, 07:41 AM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	It should be safe, how about just putting a "safe sync" in between. That will accomplish the same thing, but with less goo. Steve

04-04-2016, 07:48 AM	#3
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402 Original Poster	Good shout, thanks. I assume 3rd party rather than Wein is ok - the Wein ones cost £33 in the UK but £66 postage from US!!

05-17-2017, 12:02 AM	#4
FilmORbitz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 144	Originally posted by Nass Good shout, thanks. I assume 3rd party rather than Wein is ok - the Wein ones cost £33 in the UK but £66 postage from US!! Be careful of flash voltage limiters other than Wein Safe-Sync, which is rated for 400V max. Some of the other limiters (Vello at B&H for example) only have 60V ratings. I have a Metz 45 CT-1 that measures 325V, and some of the old Vivitar 2xx-series are over 200V. What isn't clear is whether the lower-rated devices are fail-safe. You don't want to do that test....

05-18-2017, 03:38 PM	#5
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by Nass Good shout, thanks. I assume 3rd party rather than Wein is ok - the Wein ones cost £33 in the UK but £66 postage from US!! How much is a Cactus V5 in your area these days? It also provides a Wein-safe functionality (as a side-effect) and is rated up to 300V.

05-18-2017, 11:22 PM	#6
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402 Original Poster	Originally posted by Class A How much is a Cactus V5 in your area these days? It also provides a Wein-safe functionality (as a side-effect) and is rated up to 300V. About £55/£60 ish

05-19-2017, 12:55 AM	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	The spacing is different on the pins for Minolta flashes and only the center pin makes contact on a Pentax body. That's why "universal" off camera cables have so 6 or 7 contacts on them. No need to tape the pins off if that is the case. I don't know about the spacing on flashes for Nikon, Canon or Olympus as I don't have any flashes for them.

05-19-2017, 06:16 PM	#8
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	I'm a "junk collector" when it comes to flash guns. I currently have no less than 2 dozens of them. I've used my Pentax bodies (K10D, K-7, K-3) with flashes dedicated to Olympus, Minolta, Canon, Nikon, Leica, and of course Pentax without any problem. No need to tape anything. Of course the trigger voltage needs to be safe (to me, that means "under 24V").

05-22-2017, 03:52 AM	#9
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by Nass About £55/£60 ish Too bad, I was hoping the price would be nearer the Wein-safe. Your price is probably for a Duo set and you'd only need one of them for your purposes. I didn't question your initial request because you seemed to know what you are doing, but I support the view of SOldBear that maybe you won't need any tweaking at all. Normally, the extra pins don't cause any trouble.

05-22-2017, 09:33 AM	#10
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	There's a paper out there somewhere that reverse engineered the pin out of Minolta X cameras (X-700 etc.). As I recall the voltages where on the order of 3-5 volts. One of the signals originates from the camera body. I tend to agree with SOldBear also and don't think it is a problem.