Latest Info From Innovatronix (soon to be announced on site)

I've got the latest info from Innovatronix from my 'source' and this information is going to be announced on site and product info inquiries will be addressed by Innovatronix shortly.

- After getting many complaints from customers about the fans running while the XT is charging, there is an update to older units and a change to the XT's in future production that disables the cooling fans during the charge cycle. The side effect of this change is that there is a slightly longer charge cycle which is now 4 to 5 hours rather than the approximate 3 hours it currently takes.

I believe it's a free upgrade but if you're a US customer I can't imagine it's worth the cost of shipping unless the noise from the cooling fan is completely intolerable.

- Regarding the use and compatibility of multi-voltage strobes... unfortunately Innovatronix made the decision not to upgrade the existing Explorer XT to support multi-voltage strobes but they are releasing a new version of the XT, which will be called the XT SE (special edition) and produced in limited quantities as they see the demand. The XT SE is said to support the following strobes:

Elinchrom BXRi 250 and 500
Elinchrom 400BX
Elinchrom D-Lite's
Hensel Integra Pro 500 Plus
Profoto Compact 600R
Calumet Genesis 200 and 400

The XT SE should be released sometime in early November, 2009.

I'm going to bump this because I know there are many people interested in using Elinchrom and some other multi-voltage strobes with the Innovatronix portable battery.

Thank you for the info

Elinchrom 400BX's.... ok... now you have my rapt attention
Thanks Robert, I'll definately be looking into one of the new versions when they come out as I can't wait to try out my strobes on battery power.

damn- so that means I either keep my existing and buy another one for $450, or sell my old and but the new, but still need some additional cash to make up the short.

Gee- thx Robert

Hi Robert and thanks for posting this information. I was just on the Innovatronix web page and did not see that the SE had been tested with the Calumet Genesis Series of strobes. Are we sure that the two will sing in harmony? Cause frankly, I want one.

Robert,

I quick google found this on the Innovatronix site. It does not mention the 400BX. Any idea if they will be added or just unofficially work ?

Ken

pops77 wrote in post #8840630
Hi Robert and thanks for posting this information. I was just on the Innovatronix web page and did not see that the SE had been tested with the Calumet Genesis Series of strobes. Are we sure that the two will sing in harmony? Cause frankly, I want one.

Based on what I was told and the specific questions I asked, the Calumet Genesis strobes should be completely compatible, as they are very similar in design to the BXRi's.

The compatibility chart shown on the Innovatronix site is only representing strobes that have been tested. The information I was given was based on the engineering and design on of the strobes, and knowing the design, it's easy to predict compatibility, knowing how other strobes of similar design will work.

They won't list a strobe as compatible if it hasn't physically been tested but they can safely predict compatibility.

Glen will be out of the office for about 30 days so I'm not sure if Gary or others at Innovatronix are told to give the stock answer and defer to the compatibility chart of if they'll give you undocumented information as I was given.

My guess is that the info I got was accurate and if the new SE is addressing the issue of multi-voltage strobes and are listing the brands and models that they are, then I think it's a very safe bet that other multi-voltage strobes will work as well.

I know that we'd all like to have a definitive answer and see it on the site but I can understand that they can't (or won't) run out and buy every strobe out there, so the focus is on key brands and models that can more or less tell them if other strobes of the same design will work.

H2OSkier wrote in post #8840726
Robert,

I quick google found this on the Innovatronix site. It does not mention the 400BX. Any idea if they will be added or just unofficially work ?

Ken

Hi Ken,

You hit the nail on the head. Based on other strobes of similar design's working, these others will 'unofficially work', and although it's not what any of use would like to hear, I'm sure that if you found it was not compatible they would take it back and more than likely cover the shipping.

Hi Robert, seeing as you have friends on the "inside" there maybe you can suggest a slight re-design for the output sockets on the Explorer XT.
Currently anyone using "UK Style" plugs or "Australian" plugs is risking cable damage unless the entire unit is raised off the ground. This could eventually lead to exposed wires/electrocution risk.
Options would be to invert the output socket or to put some stubby legs on the base.
Not sure if anyone else has noticed this.

I will come back with a pic soon ( 5am here and coffee has not taken hold yet)

Apologies for being off topic

thank you, robert, for info.
i am going to purchase explorer for next summer to use it with my dlites2 kit and its great to hear about upgrades

fivegallon wrote in post #8841038
Hi Robert, seeing as you have friends on the "inside" there maybe you can suggest a slight re-design for the output sockets on the Explorer XT.
Currently anyone using "UK Style" plugs or "Australian" plugs is risking cable damage unless the entire unit is raised off the ground. This could eventually lead to exposed wires/electrocution risk.
Options would be to invert the output socket or to put some stubby legs on the base.
Not sure if anyone else has noticed this.

I will come back with a pic soon ( 5am here and coffee has not taken hold yet)

Apologies for being off topic

Please post the picture so I can forward it to the engineering department and see if something can be done. It always depends on the complexity of the modification or upgrade as to whether they will implement it but they do take my feedback into consideration whenever possible.

I'll do what I can.

TMR Design wrote in post #8841302
Please post the picture so I can forward it to the engineering department and see if something can be done. It always depends on the complexity of the modification or upgrade as to whether they will implement it but they do take my feedback into consideration whenever possible.

I'll do what I can.

Pics are here: http://fivegallon.foto​pic.net/c1769441.html

fivegallon wrote in post #8841380
Pics are here: http://fivegallon.foto​pic.net/c1769441.html

Ahh, I see. Bad design. Are all the plugs at 90 degree angles or are there some that come straight out?

TMR Design wrote in post #8841460
Ahh, I see. Bad design. Are all the plugs at 90 degree angles or are there some that come straight out?

I have both the UK and Australian plugs and they both suffer the same issue. I'm positive all the UK plugs are at 90 but it may be possible to find some Australian plugs that are straight.
The UK ones were supplied with the FX400's i purchased in Singapore. The Oz cables were also purchased in Singapore.

A 180 degree turn around may see too much weight from the cable pull down on the plug causing it to come out slightly (also:the left one would nearly interfere with the on/off switch, the right one could obscure the indication lamps)

A 90 degree turn would be possible with both facing "outwards".

Not sure if its possible to raise the outlet position.

Some short legs would be the simplest.

I currently use a couple pieces of 4x2 to raise the whole unit off the deck.