Viv 285 refresh rate?

Hey all,

Okay I was all excited because I just got my SB-6 AC adaptor to go with my 285 (after buying the SB-4 only to find out it only goes to the 285HV, but that is another story)

Okay so I plug her in and wait for amazing refresh rates so I can do my cool photoshoot tomorrow with beautiful and scantily clad models... so far so good...

So I follow the instruction in the 285 manual... turn the flash on... blah blah blah and it take 21 - 30 seconds to refresh to full power (green light)... btw I'm using the M setting for these tests...

But here's the stumper - if I unplug the SB-4 and run in battery the refresh rate to full power (green light) is 14 seconds!!!

This sounds very very strange... am I doing something wrong here?

Thanks for all your very kind help

Moon

Refresh rate for my 283's and 285hv
Reg batteries about 6-7 seconds to full
2500mAh rechargables 4-5 seconds to full
SB-4 10 seconds to full.
My manuals say to pop off 5 full power blasts when you first turn them on to get the up to full.

As mentioned it may help to fire off the flash several times at full power. If the flash hasn't been used for a while the capacitor that stores the charge needs to have this done to "form" it. This aids in maintaining the makeup of chemicals in capacitor that hold the charge. It is possible that due to the age of the flash that the capacitor is degrading and simply has a harder time charging.

Found this in a Google newsgroup. This is probably what a good 285 is capable of.

"BUT, the SB-6 is the AC adapter for the 285. Batteries need not be
in place but the power switch should be OFF (or it will use
batteries)
I have a manual. The BCPS is 2500 (manual). Recycle time with
adapter is o.3-16 secs. 0.3-11sec with Alkalines. duration is .0001
to .0003 secs.
The ready light is somewhat alarming to the uninitiated...it glows
red at 1/2power, green when ready, and alternates in wait/save mode.
Theres a green confirmation light on the back, as well."

Also ran across this. Check the last paragraph on maintaining studio lighting.

http://www.ayton.id.au …to/photo_flash_​studio.htm

And look at the "Lighting Calculator" tab also. It's got a utility to download that looks interesting.

http://www.ayton.id.au​/gary/photo/photo_calc​.htm

great stuff mark_48...

thanks a bunch!

Moon