Question on old Norman 200B flash set. [Archive] - Canon Digital Photography Forums

tiziano

11th of October 2007 (Thu), 07:26

I need the consultancy of an photographer with many years of experience, I guess...
I have an old Norman 200B flash set.
Now the battery is exausted. it delivers maximum 5 or 6 pops at full power. I don't need a portable unit, I use it as studio light. If I buy an R4152 Y cable, will I be able to use it for powering the flash, using the charger as an AC adapter?

Thanks!

Tiziano

nadtz

11th of October 2007 (Thu), 22:38

If Im reading the description right that cable allows 2 heads to be powered from 1 pack, not AC power.

FlashZebra

11th of October 2007 (Thu), 23:48

My best guess is that the charger will not be able to supply the current peaks required.

Charging a battery over time is not quite the same thing as directly connecting the charger to be used as an AC power supply.

You can try it but I suspect the charger will not be up to the task.

A head output splitter should work fine though.

Enjoy! Lon

tiziano

12th of October 2007 (Fri), 03:43

Thanks for your answers!

If Im reading the description right that cable allows 2 heads to be powered from 1 pack, not AC power.

Yes, the norman web site it does not say that you can use that cable to feed the flash, but you can do it. It is described in the Norman 200B the intruction manual.

My best guess is that the charger will not be able to supply the current peaks required.

Charging a battery over time is not quite the same thing as directly connecting the charger to be used as an AC power supply.

You can try it but I suspect the charger will not be up to the task.

A head output splitter should work fine though.

Enjoy! Lon

I am going to quote again the instruction manual, which clarifies that if you use the battery charger in fast mode, it delivers enough power to fire the flash on the fly. The battery charger should be up to task, but I am concerned that the exausted battery could be the bottle neck, or even go on short circuit.

Tiziano

FlashZebra

12th of October 2007 (Fri), 14:25

I am going to quote again the instruction manual, which clarifies that if you use the battery charger in fast mode, it delivers enough power to fire the flash on the fly. The battery charger should be up to task, but I am concerned that the exausted battery could be the bottle neck, or even go on short circuit.

Tiziano
Can you just remove the battery from the circuit and tape over the connecting terminals.

Also do you know the Voltage and type of the connected battery (lead acid etc.). You might be able to substitute an inexpensive lower capacity but same technology and Voltage battery.

It might even be a sealed lead acid in a common Voltage. If that is the case a suitable substitute might be available and inexpensive. If you are going to use the AC charger, a battery of much lower capacity might work fine, and smooth things out on the charging side anyway.

Enjoy! Lon

Wilt

12th of October 2007 (Fri), 16:21

Lead acid batteries fail, which is why every 5-6 years the lead acid battery in automobiles require replacement! Google 'Norman 200B' and 'battery' and you find this and other sites with replacments:

http://dasaga.com/200b.htm

FlashZebra

12th of October 2007 (Fri), 16:48

Hey, it is a 12 Volt lead acid.

Since it will be used in the studio it is likely that you could cut the connector off the old battery and solder this to one of the many readily available and inexpensive sealed 12Volt lead acid batteries in widespread use in burglar alarms, computer backup gear, emergency lighting, etc.

These sealed 12 Volt lead acids are all over ebay for a song. I have used them for various things including homebrew flash power.

Since the AC adapter is there, capacity is not a real issue, so a much smaller sealed lead acid could likely be used in place of the old unit.

Enjoy! Lon

breal101

13th of October 2007 (Sat), 09:21

You can buy a replacement battery for $75 from this place. I have a 200B, I found the electronics to be a bit finicky. Mine has been down for several years now, pretty expensive to repair.

http://powersource.org/powersource/files/psnorman.html

tiziano

14th of October 2007 (Sun), 18:27

Thanks to All for advices.

Lon, you were right. I was able to replace the battery with another 12 Volts lead battery. It has 2.3 Ampers, it is normally used used for alarms, and it fits just right in the Norman power box.
Now it's again a portable flash, and a powerfull one.
Total expense: 11 Euros at a local shop of electronic stuff.

Tiziano

FlashZebra

15th of October 2007 (Mon), 00:05

Thanks to All for advices.

Lon, you were right. I was able to replace the battery with another 12 Volts lead battery. It has 2 3 Ampers, it is normally used used for alarms, and it fits just right in the Norman power box.
Now it's again a portable flash, and a powerfull one.
Total expense: 11 Euros at a local shop of electronic stuff.

Tiziano
Well, sometimes the magic works.

Enjoy! Lon

dch0719

17th of October 2007 (Wed), 19:55

Hi All,
I just picked up a 200B today for $50 at a local camera shop and I have 2 questions.
1. Is is safe to use with the 20D? I measured the trigger voltage at 95 volts.
2. If the 200B is plugged into the pc terminal can I safely use the 550ex in the hotshoe?

Dan

breal101

17th of October 2007 (Wed), 20:03

I certainly wouldn't use a 200B plugged in to any modern camera. A slave would be the way to go, just make sure the preflash is turned off on the 580EX.

dch0719

17th of October 2007 (Wed), 20:29

I certainly wouldn't use a 200B plugged in to any modern camera. A slave would be the way to go, just make sure the preflash is turned off on the 580EX.

Thanks.
That sounds the like safest bet.

Dan

tiziano

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 02:36

Thanks.
That sounds the like safest bet.

Dan

That's how I use it.

Anyway, Congratulations. You got a really good deal. I'm jelous!

Tiziano

dch0719

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 10:55

Thanks Tiziano,
I pretty much got it at his price. He through in a extra head and 4 reflectors pretty much all the Norman stuff he had. All I need now is a manual. It's seems to work fine.

Dan

tiziano

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 11:15

Thanks Tiziano,
I pretty much got it at his price. He through in a extra head and 4 reflectors pretty much all the Norman stuff he had. All I need now is a manual. It's seems to work fine.

Dan

I have the manual. Send me your email through private message and I'll send it to you.

Tiziano

tiziano

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 12:12

Thanks Tiziano,
I pretty much got it at his price. He through in a extra head and 4 reflectors pretty much all the Norman stuff he had.

I am not really sure about this. The new version of this flash, the 200C that most rate as lesser of the old one 200B, goes for $1200 new...

Tiziano

breal101

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 14:11

FYI Lumedyne sells this gadget for $85

SUPER-SENSITIVE-CAMERA SYNC FILTER #088E. 1X1X2.1” - 0.08 lbs

I have one around here someplace, it didn't cost more than $45 when I bought it. I'm not sure how much it reduces trigger voltage. The Lumedyne site doesn't give any more info. Unfortunately the electronics were already fried on my camera before I got this so I've only used it with a radio slave on the 200B.

dch0719

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 14:45

SUPER-SENSITIVE-CAMERA SYNC FILTER #088E. 1X1X2.1” - 0.08 lbs

Thanks.
That's another option.
I see them running anywhere from $the low $50's to the low $60's online.

Dan

tiziano

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 18:21

dch0719

18th of October 2007 (Thu), 20:08

Thanks Tiziano

Received it. I think the Y cable sounds like the ticket but I have doubts your battery will be a very efficient buffer for the AC Operation. Maybe it will hold the 2.8 full flashes per min. it's worth a try.

Thanks again
Dan

http://cgi.ebay.com/Norman-R4152-Series-450-Y-cable-Splitter-First-Class_W0QQitemZ330027603756QQihZ014QQcategoryZ3008 4QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

izatt82

27th of April 2009 (Mon), 13:36

so i have been looking at a 200b, on a new canon you can't plug it into the sync plug? is that correct have to use a trigger of some sort? just want to make sure on the details

thanks

tiziano

27th of April 2009 (Mon), 15:19

so i have been looking at a 200b, on a new canon you can't plug it into the sync plug? is that correct have to use a trigger of some sort? just want to make sure on the details

thanks

Yes, I would not connect it directly to any electronic camera. It could fry it. You need either a remote trigger or a camera sync filter, like the one mentioned above, the Lumedyne
SUPER-SENSITIVE-CAMERA SYNC FILTER #088E.

nadtz

27th of April 2009 (Mon), 15:27

Supposedly the pc sync on newer canon DSLR's is 250V, but no harm in a sync voltage regulator. Canon has flip flopped on this in my limited reading, stating 250 on both PC and hotshoe, 250 on pc and 6 on hotshoe... Yeah.

Sync voltage should be in the manual for the particular camera if you are unsure, the 200B seems to be either 24v or 100v depending. They are pretty nice battery operated units if you don't mind the weight and 3 stop adjustment.