Idea to protect strobe in snow...

Anyone have any ideas of what I could do to protect my Einsteins in the snow? I am going to be shooting some snowboarding with them and I need to make sure, in case it snows, that the lights are protected.

I was thinking about using a plastic garbage bag and taping it to the reflector and put it over the light, but leave the front of the reflector open to dissipate the heat from the flash tube better. Should I be afraid of it melting?

Any other ideas?

Dave

Should be ok if you don't plan on using the modeling light, as that's what's really going to heat the reflector up.
I don't know if the Einsteins are fan-cooled; if they are, you probably want to allow free air flow to the vents, so I'd think about that as well.

I know Chase Jarvis took a bunch of Broncolors out in the snow for an ad campaign and did nothing to protect the actual strobe heads, themselves, so I think you'll be ok as long as you pay attention.

There is a difference in build between Broncolor and Einsteins, so I think I want to protect them somehow. They are fan cooled, so I am thinking of putting some holes in the bottom of the bag to allow some air flow, and I will not be using the modeling light, but I will be firing the strobe at very fast rates, 10FPS more than likely.

Dave

I don't know of any strobes that are actually considered "weather-sealed". I've read a few posts here that describe what happens when water gets spilled on a strobe's capacitors. ... Not good.

Also, I would be very concerned if you're going to have long periods between shots, where the flash tube may get very cold. ... A sudden pop at full power will generate a lot of heat, and I'd be afraid of what might happen. I don't have have Einsteins, but my BXRi500s are nearly as powerful, and the tube gets REALLY hot when I'm shooting at full power. Also, I don't know about how well sealed the Einsteins are, but my BXRis have lots of ways water & snow could get in. I doubt the Einsteins are any better.

Fortunately, it doesn't snow in Alexandria !

Muskydave22 wrote in post #11499294
....but I will be firing the strobe at very fast rates, 10FPS more than likely.

Dave, I don't know of ANY studio flash that will work at that recycling rate, especially at any setting near full power output. One shot at a time, well timed for the action, would be far superior to "machinegun mode" in my opinion. That way you could properly light the scene with a studio flash unit.

If you must use the 10FPS rate, you'll want continuous lighting. The problem I can envision, though, is that you'll virtually blind the folks who have the light aimed at them.

I would think your best defense will be an assistant standing there with your light and light stand, with an umbrella to hold over the top of it in case it's snowing. From what I have seen of the Einsteins, and certainly the B series lights from PCB.....these things were definitely not made for use in any kind of inclement weather. There are so many holes and slots on my B800's....about a half dozen snowflakes would probably get something in there wet !

I'm not going to need to use full power, I am going to use the Einstein in action mode at about 60- 80 w/s or about 1/8th power and I have only 1/3 stop difference in exposure from start to 15 frames in. I think that will work for my machine gun mode. I think my bag idea will work since the won't really be any heat build up from the tube. I only have to use the "weather shield" if it snows, which I don't know if it will.

Dave

Muskydave22 wrote in post #11499294
There is a difference in build between Broncolor and Einsteins, so I think I want to protect them somehow.

Water is water, electricity is electricity, no matter the brand name you're using. Water will flow where it wants to, electricity will happily follow along for the ride.

Simple solution: umbrella secured to the stand or head. If that's too much effort then also consider any kind of sturdy pole to jam into the snow and secure the umbrella to that. Personally if I were to shoot out there I'd probably use some kind of sealant everywhere or the umbrella. A bag has too many variables that would make things go bad.