triggering strobes with PC terminal connection

[jimwong]

I will be using someone's strobes with my 10D, brand not known yet but likely are not certified to work with digital SLRs. I will use the PC terminal port and not the hotshoe to trigger the strobes.. any possibility of electrical risk to the 10D ? is using the PC terminal port better than the a hotshoe adapter to trigger the strobes..

thanks

[chris.bailey]

Most studio strobes have higher trigger voltages than the 10D is designed for (6v maximum). My Bowens units have a trigger voltage of 35v. I have seen reports of people having burnt out the contacts in the 10D by connecting direct. Now you may be lucky but for the sake of £25 for a Wein Safesync (I have the hotshoe version) I dont take the risk.

[scottbergerphoto]

The maximum voltage for the PC socket and the hot shoe are not the same. That being said, unless you can find what the max is for the PC circuit, the safest route is a Wein Safe Sync as mentioned by Chris, or rent/buy a wireless transmitter/receiver set up like Freewire or PocketWizard.