DIY Pocket Wizard Mount (2 versions)

[TMR Design]

This is about as simple as DIY's can get. I just got 2 Pocket Wizard's and although they come with straps that can be hung on light stands I didn't like having it dangling like that. It is loose and knocks into the stand as it is moved around. It just wasn't working for me so I decided to make a very simple DIY, and in the process I created a second, equally simple version.

I looked at Super Clamps but they are bulky, require additional components to attach anything to it and I couldn't see spending ~$20 to mount my Pocket Wizard to my strobes. The Pocket Wizards come with velcro to attach it to the light but that also didn't agree with me (yes I can be very compulsive about this stuff).

Before I explain the DIY I should mention that these mounts use the hole and thumbscrew intended for mounting an umbrella to the strobe. Since I am not using an umbrella on the strobe with the Pocket Wizard I wasn't concerned with using the umbrella mount.

Anyway, since the Pocket Wizard has a hot foot and can sit on a shoe (hot or cold) I decided to take one of the shoe mounts from a standard umbrella bracket and sit it on top of a 1/4" diameter threaded rod bent at a right angle, and the rod then goes into the umbrella mount on the Alien Bees strobes. I added a 1/4" coupler (a nut would have done fine) and this allows the shoe to tighten down on to the coupler in the exact position I want and lock it in place. This can be seen in the version 2 images.

Version 1 was actually the afterthought even though the images are in reverse order. When I saw that there was a 1/4" thread on the back of the Pocket Wizard it occured to me that I could take the same idea and screw the 1/4" rod with the coupler into the Pocket Wizard and attach it to the light in the same way I decided to make a second mount.

Now if I want to move my light or put in on another light stand, the light and Pocket Wizard move together with no hassle.

I think this is pretty self explanatory but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

[TMR Design]

Well, for about $5 I thought it was pretty cool. :D

[suyenfung]

haha it is pretty cool. unfortunately i really enjoy umbrellas so it doesn't seem practical for me. however i imagine someone will find it useful. nice work robert!

[TMR Design]

I use umbrellas as well but the idea is that there is usually at least one light that does not have the umbrella and it doesn't matter which one the PW is connected to.

It's not the most brilliant DIY but to me serves a purpose and typically the main light (either behind a diffusion panel or in a softbox) can be used. Obviously if you have one light with an umbrella it can't be used this way.

[StealthLude]

Thats the coolest freakin thing ever.

The fact the radio is raised above is very smart. Higher the radio is, more range you can get. Even PW will tell you to do this in order to get your full 1600 foot range.

[awad]

can you walk me through part by part on how to do this? i am not the least bit handy so all your terms are foreign to me. but i just got my pocketwizards today.

[PacAce]

Thats the coolest freakin thing ever.

The fact the radio is raised above is very smart. Higher the radio is, more range you can get. Even PW will tell you to do this in order to get your full 1600 foot range.

You must have a pretty BIG studio, StealthLude! :shock:

:lol: ;) :lol:

Robert, that's pretty ingenious. But I'm the lazy type so I just hang my PW on the light stand or the strobe itself. :)

[StealthLude]

You must have a pretty BIG studio, StealthLude! :shock:

:lol: ;) :lol:

. :)

I wish, try my home Garage...

the 1600 foot was refering to outdoor shooting over a distance.

[TMR Design]

Hi awad,

Which one (version 1 or 2) do you want to make?

[awad]

i think number 1. im never comfortable using the plastic hot shoes for anything.

[Converge]

what additional cable do you need to connect the pocket wizard to the White Lightning strobe?

[TMR Design]

Hi awad,

After using these mounts for 2 days I am going with version 1 as well. Although version 2 looks cool, there is no reason to have it rased up the extra few inches. I also agree about the plastic hot foot on devices like this not being very strong and can easily break.

Version 1 is cleaner and a piece of cake to make. Here's how.

Stores like Home Depot have raw steel and threaded steel rods, usually in 3 ft. sections and sometimes they'll have a 1 ft. piece. You want to get a piece of 1/4" diameter threaded rod. If you get the 1 ft. piece you don't really even need to cut it down. I used an 8" piece for mine but it could be whatever length you want as long as it is long enough to reach the umbrella mount thumbscrew as well as leaving you the ability to view and adjust settings on the back of the strobe. If you need to cut the rod you can use either a hacksaw or a bolt cutter. You'll want to file the end after you cut it to remove any burrs or sharp edges.

You'll also need either a 1/4" nut or coupler. I chose to use a coupler because it's easy to hand tighten and untighten without needing a wrench or pliers to grab it. Technically the coupler is a 1/4-20 thread. There is a difference between a standard 1/4" thread and 1/4-20. The 20 refers to the spacing of the threads and is the same thread used on tripods and lightstands. If you ask for a 'one quarter dash twenty' they will know what you're talking about.

Now you just screw the steel rod into the 1/4-20 tripod mount on the back of the Pocket Wizard and then tighten down the coupler and it locks it in place nicely.

[TMR Design]

what additional cable do you need to connect the pocket wizard to the White Lightning strobe?

Hi Converge,

Does the White Lightning use the same sync jack as the Alien Bees?
If it uses the same 1/8" (3.5mm) mono jack then you can use any 1/8" plug to 1/8" plug cable.
It is uses the larger 1/4" jack then you need a cable that goes from 1/8" plug on the Pocket Wizard to 1/4" on the strobe.
Those cables are easy to make or you can find them at Radio Shack and almost any audio or electronics strore.

[suyenfung]

well if it's that easy i may as well make some

[Converge]

Hi Converge,

Does the White Lightning use the same sync jack as the Alien Bees?
If it uses the same 1/8" (3.5mm) mono jack then you can use any 1/8" plug to 1/8" plug cable.
It is uses the larger 1/4" jack then you need a cable that goes from 1/8" plug on the Pocket Wizard to 1/4" on the strobe.
Those cables are easy to make or you can find them at Radio Shack and almost any audio or electronics strore.

Hey TMR,
the WL uses a PC on one end and a 1/4 Stereo plug on the other.

The PW's comes with this cable:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/131298.jpg
Im assiming the PC end connects to the PW and the "miniphone" end is the same as the 1/8" jack? If so, then i can just get a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter from radio shack? Am i correct in this?

[TMR Design]

The White Lightning is using a 1/4" mono, not stereo.

Yes, you can just get a 1/8" mono jack to 1/4" mono plug adapter.

[Converge]

The White Lightning is using a 1/4" mono, not stereo.

Yes, you can just get a 1/8" mono jack to 1/4" mono plug adapter.

What is the difference between a 1/4" mono and 1/4" stereo? Because the WL page says its stereo

The Sync Cord
Our heavy-duty 15-foot Sync Cord arrives with each unit, so that you may connect the light to your camera. This sync cord has a 1/4-inch stereo plug on one end to connect on the back panel of your flash unit, with a PC-connection on the other end to connect to your camera. If your camera does not have an outlet for PC-connection, the sync cord can connect through your hot shoe with an adaptor (see the Hardware Page (http://www.white-lightning.com/hardware.html) to find our Hot Shoe Adaptor). With the sync cord, your flash unit will only take its cue to fire from you, firing only when your camera shutter is pressed.

also, is "miniphone" the same at 1/8" jack?

Im not sure i get the "Stereo" vs. "mono" thing.

WL has this jack on their site, its a 1/8" stereo to 1/4" stereo
http://www.white-lightning.com/images/hardwarethumbs/sca.gif

[Converge]

WL has this chart on their site
http://www.white-lightning.com/images/hardwarethumbs/scadiagram.gif
The SCA adaptor fits on the end of a 1/8-inch sync cord, adapting the cord to fit a larger 1/4-inch jack.
The SCA3.5 adaptor fits on the end of a 1/4-inch sync cord, adapting the cord to fit a smaller 1/8-inch jack.

Im just not sure if this stereo or mono business matters on what jack i get.

Thanks for your help TMR, i appreciate your time in answering these questions

[TMR Design]

What is the difference between a 1/4" mono and 1/4" stereo? Because the WL page says its stereo

The Sync Cord
Our heavy-duty 15-foot Sync Cord arrives with each unit, so that you may connect the light to your camera. This sync cord has a 1/4-inch stereo plug on one end to connect on the back panel of your flash unit, with a PC-connection on the other end to connect to your camera. If your camera does not have an outlet for PC-connection, the sync cord can connect through your hot shoe with an adaptor (see the Hardware Page (http://www.white-lightning.com/hardware.html) to find our Hot Shoe Adaptor). With the sync cord, your flash unit will only take its cue to fire from you, firing only when your camera shutter is pressed.

also, is "miniphone" the same at 1/8" jack?

Im not sure i get the "Stereo" vs. "mono" thing.

WL has this jack on their site, its a 1/8" stereo to 1/4" stereo
http://www.white-lightning.com/images/hardwarethumbs/sca.gif

OK I just looked at the white lightning pages and it is using a 1/4" stereo plug but I'm not sure why. In all of their cables they're showing a 2 conductor circuit, which is what sync is... it's a hot (+) and a cold (ground) that are shorted together like a switch to complete a circuit. So I don't exactly understand why they use a 3 conductor plug because I'm fairly sure there is no third conductor in use on the strobe. All sync cords (AB's for instance), hot shoe adapters, camera PC sockets, etc. are 2 conductor.

I would call them or check with Paul Buff for the technical side of that.

A mono plug or jack has 2 conductors and mentioned above. A stereo connector has 3 conductors. There is a hot (+), a cold (-) and a common ground. This can be seen on the barrel or the plugs. When you look at a mono plug there are 2 sections. The small end above the black band is the tip (+) and the lower section is the sleeve (ground). On a stereo plug you have the tip (+), the middle ring (-) and the sleeve below (ground).

[TMR Design]

Although the original idea is still a good one I kept thinking about the inability to use an umbrella with the Pocket Wizard attached and how the antenna was above the top of the strobe, preventing me from using it on a main light or hair light that is all the way up and nearly touching the ceiling. The antenna got in the way of doing that so after doing quite a bit of testing I've determined that at least in my space with close proximity and no interference, I can have the PocketWizard's below the strobe head without any problem.

Since I already had a couple of Impact Superclamps I've decided that this is the best way to attach the Pocket Wizard to the light stand. it is not hanging by a strap. I can see the LED's and switch positions. The Superclamps go for $20 so I'm not sure it's the best idea if you don't already have them but it's another good solid solution if you don't want your Pocket Wizards hanging or hot shoe mounted.

[Eric DeCastro]

just curious, are you having problems with just hanging it by the lanyard? that's what I do and don't have a single problem.

[TMR Design]

Hi Eric,

No, I was not having any trouble. The main reasons why I was looking for another way to hang or mount the Pocket Wizard are that I didn't like how it knocked around when I moved the light stand and how when it hangs I couldn't always see the blinking LEDs or the switch settings.
The way I have it now I can see the lights and switches and the red LED and I also don't accidentally leave it on.

I'm sure hanging it from the supplied lanyard works for most people. I was just looking for a neater, more secure method.