Elinchrom 400BX Sanity check...

[m3rdpwr]

Since I can't call support right now, I figure I'd ask to make sure I'm not having a duh moment...

So, I went to my 4 400BX's this weekend and all was good.

One of my 400BX's the modeling light would not come on, so I figure it may be a fuse. Pull the fuse and throw a meter across it, all good.

Hmmm, swap the bulb with another 400BX and that didn't work, but the bulb worked in another unit so I figure that's good.

So, I'm wondering if I'm doing something awfully stupid, or perhaps a bad modeling lamp socket or worse.

I have tried setting the modeling lamp manual and turning it up.

Anything I may have missed before placing a call?

To be honest, I don't know if I ever checked the modeling lamp in this one as it is one of my newer ones. I would assume I checked out all functions when I got it from BH, but I can't be 100%.

Thanks...

-Mario

[TMR Design]

Hi Mario,

If you know the modeling light is good and have swapped it with another bulb that works fine, AND you checked the fuse then there's not much else you can do or check. If you know how to operate the strobes and others are working fine then your best bet is to put in a call to BogenImaging.

If the strobe is under warranty then you just need to send it in with a copy of your sales receipt and they'll repair it. BogenImaging is very good and turnaround time is very good. Repairs are surprisingly inexpensive if it's not a major problem.

[m3rdpwr]

Hi Mario,

If you know the modeling light is good and have swapped it with another bulb that works fine, AND you checked the fuse then there's not much else you can do or check. If you know how to operate the strobes and others are working fine then your best bet is to put in a call to BogenImaging.

If the strobe is under warranty then you just need to send it in with a copy of your sales receipt and they'll repair it. BogenImaging is very good and turnaround time is very good. Repairs are surprisingly inexpensive if it's not a major problem.

Thanks.

It's in warranty and the strobe works fine except for the modeling light.
Sometimes you need someone to look over what you did to make sure you didn't miss anything obvious...

-Mario

[Vad]

I do not know what kind of bulb the modeling light takes but try to inspect the connectors in the socket. Sometimes you need to pull them a bit up, make sure the light is unplugged before doing that. If you are very careful with electric tools you can try to measure if there is electric potential on the contacts. But you do need to be careful. Shorting contacts can produce a lot of sparkles and can be dangerous. If there is no potential it is amost guaranteed sign of a serious problem than must be fixed by the manufacturer.

[[godfather]]

I believe one should not open any electric item to check, the matter may go worse than the current situation.

[m3rdpwr]

I do not know what kind of bulb the modeling light takes but try to inspect the connectors in the socket. Sometimes you need to pull them a bit up, make sure the light is unplugged before doing that. If you are very careful with electric tools you can try to measure if there is electric potential on the contacts. But you do need to be careful. Shorting contacts can produce a lot of sparkles and can be dangerous. If there is no potential it is amost guaranteed sign of a serious problem than must be fixed by the manufacturer.

I was actually thinking of throwing a meter across it just for curiosity sakes.
Might be something I do today.
If I see voltage, I was thinking of pulling the center tab pin forward.
I'm aware of the voltages. Got the stuff to test it the right way, thanks...

;8472694']I believe one should not open any electric item to check, the matter may go worse than the current situation.

I wasn't planning on opening it since it was in warranty.
Since it isn't a cheap item, I hadn't planned on opening it regarless... :)

[TMR Design]

Mario,

If you've done the basic troubleshooting then putting a meter across the contacts or doing anything else doesn't even make sense unless you want to void warranty and are confident you know what you're doing.

It's a no-brainer if it's under warranty. You pay to ship it to BogenImaging with a description of the problem and your sales receipt and they will repair it and ship it back on their dime. Turnaround is fast and they stock most of the common parts.

[m3rdpwr]

Mario,

If you've done the basic troubleshooting then putting a meter across the contacts or doing anything else doesn't even make sense unless you want to void warranty and are confident you know what you're doing.

It's a no-brainer if it's under warranty. You pay to ship it to BogenImaging with a description of the problem and your sales receipt and they will repair it and ship it back on their dime. Turnaround is fast and they stock most of the common parts.

That's what I ended up doing.

Called and talked to Bogen, the woman was very pleasant. Zero hold time.
(Thank goodness for free call's with my phone plan...:))

Even though I tried a new lamp, they wanted my tube and lamp with it.
I'll have to dig up the original package's to pull the lamps and package seperate. Otherwise the lamps go installed.

Hopefully I won't need it between now and the time I get it back.

Thanks...

-Mario