Homebrewed flash ?

[Wilm]

Hi all,
did anybody of you have tried to build a homebrewed flash ?

I know, many of us are pro- or amateur photogs but I believe that some technicans are here too?!?

My first flash-projects loads the capacitors in 18 sec's to 750 Ws out of a 12V battery.
The first version will have nothing, just die power-unit, a button the fire the flash and a wired x-contact version to synchronize with the camera.

Did anybody had experiance building a flash here too ???

:cheers:
Wilm

[HulaMike]

A buddy of mine in Oregon who's known pretty well as an underwater photographer now uses his UW strobes for studio lighting. First time I saw it I laughed till he said, Mike, light's light.

[deMille]

Wilm,

Never built one flat from scratch. Wired together lots of spare parts though, for some interesting results. Used to do a lot of adapting ring-light flash heads to other dedicated camera flash systems. (True ring-lights, not that Nikon foolishness that has two flash heads mounted on the lens!)

Dale

[Wilm]

Thanks all for your comments.

So finally I have build my first flashlight myself. A tiny one, 400 Wsec, 14 seconds to load, build into a drainage pipe. Why that ??? This one is watertight, build for mines. The battery can handle about 100 flashes which is with less than 5 kilos a good result.

My plan was to build a flash which would give me the chance to shoot huge rooms with one shot at a good F-setting.

More details to follow soon, we are still optimizing the printed circuit.
By the way, costs for a homebrewed one are less than 200 Euros.

:cheers:
Wilm

Attached picture taken with the D70, Nikon Fisheye 10.5mm, F18 1sec ( to give me time to press the flash-button )

[deMille]

Looks like it works! A bare bulb or reflector? Any problems with a possible arc in a mine area causing explosion/fire?

Dale

[Wilm]

Looks like it works! A bare bulb or reflector? Any problems with a possible arc in a mine area causing explosion/fire?

Dale

Yes Dale it works.
The reflector is really tiny, only 5" in diameter, the buld itself is a ring with a diameter 1.5". So, there is no focussing. Concerning the explosion. As said, this flash is watertight. Nothing for divers, but I have tested the flash under my shower and I am alive :dunce: In our old iron-mines we usually don't expect explosive gas like in coal or saltmines. It would be fun to use this baby in a saltmine, but on the other hand I'm not looking forward to have one flah with some Mega-Watt-Seconds when methane will explode too.

:cheers:
Wilm

[Benison]

A buddy of mine in Oregon who's known pretty well as an underwater photographer now uses his UW strobes for studio lighting. First time I saw it I laughed till he said, Mike, light's light.
Along those lines, I use a Ikelite Substrobe S (slaved dive strobe) I've had for 20 years; I use it sometimes to illuminate portions of backgrounds, hair, dark corners, hallways, shoot through, etc. My SB26 also has a built-in slave and I put peanut-type slaves on my SB16 and my old Vivitar 265, so I have four slaved portable strobes at my disposal that can be set up anywhere -- without need for AC power.

[Wilm]

After a couple of weeks playing around in the flash-circuit the unit is allmost ready. The flash charges 400Ws in 4-5 seconds out of a 12V battery. Battery-power is good for 180 - 190 flashes, enought for my "shootings".

Here is the first picture of my "naked" homebrewed flash. I am starting now to write down a complete turtorial how to build that flash.

:cheers:
Wilm

PS.: 28 cm long ( 11" ), 12cm (4") in diameter

[deMille]

Wilm,

Great project! I look forward to the details on "building your own".

Dale

[Wilm]

Here's a testshot:

S2, JPEG, 1/60 F9.5 SB-800 as master, settings 1/128th strobo-flash, drainage-flash ( at the left side ) fireing backwards in the room.

:cheers:
Wilm


PS.: I have realigned my mirror after looking at that shot.

[Wilm]

Wilm,

Great project! I look forward to the details on "building your own".

Dale

Thanks Dale !

The printed circuit board is designed, the standard-components are selected, even the transformer should need some time to find in the U.S. But don't worry it is a typical one also.

The costs ( I can't calculate my sparetime ) are:

50$ for the batteries
30$ for transistors, resistors, cabels, ...
44$ at Ebay for the 11 flash capacitors
7$ for the housing ( drainage pipe )
20$ for the flash-tube with 500Ws at radio-shack ( in Germany Conrad )
-----
151$ in total and a feeling like a little child when the first flash fires :cool:


:cheers:
Wilm

[big_ben_blue]

Almost missed this thread;

Wilm - how does your DIY pipe-flash come along? Sounds like an intriguing concept.
How does it perform (I could have needed a rugged el-cheapo flash with lotsa powa for outdoor work many times in the past and could probably use one in the future).

BTW, I know a guy here in Ottawa who specialized in repairing flash units (both studio and portable) for a living. He even designed his own 2400WS studio powerpacks some years back (heavy duty and highly advanced stuff). PM me if you want his email address/phone number). Maybe he ca give you some advice/hints.

Cheers,
Chris

[Wilm]

Chris,
thanks for your interest in my homebrewed flash.
As far as I could remeber your mothertongue is German, so you can follow the attached link to some data without any problem.

http://www.harzergruben.de/Blitz/startseite.htm

By now the flash produces bright light with a field of view which is good for indirect light ( approx. 160°). I am hoping that Iwill receive some fresnel-lenses until the weekend. Then I can doublecheck the focussing in some mines which are scheduled to be visited this Sunday.

If you know how to handle a soldering iron and got a "flash-guru" in background its your turn to create a cheap flashlight. If there are problems with special components like the transformer drop me an email and I will ship these components to Canada.

:cheers:
Wilm

[PortageBay]

Wilm

Your flash gun looks like it works pretty good. Thats thinking "outside of the box" for you. Post some more of your test shots as they happen.

Don

[Wilm]

Thanks Don,

attached ist a testshot from last week. I was testing the slave-sync units with 2 flashes at 450 WS. The swimmingpool is 12 ft x 24 ft, distance to the fence in the background approx 55 ft.
Taken with D70 at ISO200, Nikon 18-70mm@18mm F 10 (ten ) :righton: 1/60th second. As far as I can see the results, both flashes are working.

:cheers:
Wilm

[PortageBay]

Thats looking pretty good. With the addition of the freznels it will become more concentrated. The distance that the covers is great. Another thought might be some tissue to take some of the contrast out, and spread the light a bit more evenly.

Don

[Wilm]

Don,
thanks for your additional ideas !
I have tried the good old tissue trick to soften the light from the flashes. Funny result is that a single layer of tissue will burn :eek: The angel of light is now approx 160° which also works with my 10.5mm fisheye.

The fresnel-lens is planned to concentrate the beam to 10°. I have calculated that and it might work. I need a new semi-omni reflektor for that, otherwise I will lose too much generated light.

By now this flash-concept has been finished from the electrical side but starts with the optical side. I need something which is able to lighten a room, to create a perfect light-source for bride shots and to flood long tiny tunnels with that amount of light I am looking for.
A problem by now is to control the amount of light for 100% I tend to modify the final circuit that there is a cut-off-system for the flash bulb. The advantage of cutting-off the power from the tube itself is that the duration will decrease. 1/10000th of a second might be no problem with the power of 200 Ws. Enough to "freeze" a bat.


:cheers:
Wilm

[Wilm]

OK folks,
here is another update:

My first really workings flash gun, shown in this thread is exploded :throwup:
The flashlight was in the back of my car for a couple of hours, then I have taken it out to make some shots from the mine-entrance into it. The batteries have produced an extreme sum of explosive gas, so the first flash was the last. The front glass, as well the reflector has left the housing, the control-panel has hit my face ! Damn, that hurts ! Some scratches in my face, some sounds in my ears for days !
I took the challenge to build a complete new concept for a flash gun. 500 Ws, recycle time less than 20 seconds, by now not watertight but gas-free :dunce:

Now I have focussed my work more on the optics. Maximal GN was my key !
Here is a testshot taken today, F8, ISO200, 1/60th, S2, tree in 20m (60ft) distance @12mm

:cheers:
Wilm

[deMille]

Wilm,

Glad you're ok! I've had on occasional "oversight" go wrong as well.

What kind of cells were you using? You said the mines were safe from explosive gas but the flash exploding sounds pretty bad.

Dale

[Wilm]

Thanks Dale !

The explosion has been caused by overcharging 10 NiMH 2600 mAH batteries. The flash was gas-tight, so there might be up to 100 liters (25 galons ?) of gas blasting the complete flash away.

By now I am using Hawker Cyclon 2V/2.5Ah cells, which are the best I could find all over the world. No gas, no memory-effect, simply great !

I'll stress the flash gun during the weekend, even the ambient temperature will be set to 60°C, more than I could ever expect using this flash.

When everything will be OK, I will start posting the PCB and all the other details.

:cheers:
Wilm

PS.: Brewing an own flash seems to be more dangerous than I have ever expected.

[big_ben_blue]

Hmmm, maybe I should wait for the revised version before diving into an explosive DIY project. Something tells me, that blowing-up bride and groom isn't going to be good for the business :D .

Cheers,
Chris

[Wilm]

Headline : Explosive wedding party :goldcup:

Chris,

I have to agree, the first version was, let's say, a good approach to see that a DIY-flashgun is a possible project.

I have attached some project photos:

1st photo: Comparsion between the old pipe ( 125mm ) and the new one ( 160mm). The new flashghun is exactly 20cm long, 16cm in diameter.

2nd photo: A look inside the flash with the capacitors and the power-transformer-PCB on top. The hole between the capacitors ( the black ones ) is filled up with Hawker Cyclon Lead-Acid cells.


3rd photo: A view to the backside of the flash. You can see the PCB with the homebrewed transformer. Left switch is for the remote sensor, Cinch-socket is for cable remote. Right switch is for power on/off. There is no power regulation or anything else inside the flashgun. Full power or nothing ( true 500 Ws in 1/2000th second )

4th photo: A view into the reflektor with the flashtube mounted. The black area near the tube is burned dust.

:cheers:
Wilm

[MikePL]

Wait for me... I've been working on a DIY flash too. Currently my father is renovating his vintage Toyota Landcruiser, so my workshop is filled with all his car parts (seats, cables, bumpers... all the interior and more). When he picks his stuff up in a couple of weeks, I will finally have my workshop ready to finish the flash. I expect nice results.

[proberts]

I missed this thread too, but you're not the only one who's had problems venting strobe batteries:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml00/00016b.html

Paul

[Wilm]

Paul,

as the first DIY-flash has blasted around my head I am simply trusting in Hawker Cylclon lead-acid batteries. They are designed for submarines, cost a fortune, but they are save.

@Mike,

as soon your dad has removed his car-parts I am looking forward to see the first results !

:cheers:
Wilm

[photoworks]

Wilm check here http://www.kouzis.com/ to see what this guy builts. I know a few colleagues who ordered custom units for their needs.

Billy

[Wilm]

Billy,

that's really cool studio-equipment ! The 1kWs-Monoblock was very interesting for me, but 5 Amps. at 230 volts means a huge power-converter down in the mines. My flashes are comparable to a wild horse. Try to manage it :tongue2: :tongue2:

Press the button and all the energy will go to the flash-tube. Not very much electronics in it. No need for it as the rooms I am shooting are large, dark and wet.

Would you put such a flash in your backpack, and go thru tiny tunnels. I need 4-5 backpacks per year as they are totally damaged. The oldest flash got now his 3rd housing. It's rough down there.

:cheers:
Wilm

( A lovley day for an Ouzo )

[photoworks]

Billy,

that's really cool studio-equipment ! The 1kWs-Monoblock was very interesting for me, but 5 Amps. at 230 volts means a huge power-converter down in the mines. My flashes are comparable to a wild horse. Try to manage it :tongue2: :tongue2:

Press the button and all the energy will go to the flash-tube. Not very much electronics in it. No need for it as the rooms I am shooting are large, dark and wet.

Would you put such a flash in your backpack, and go thru tiny tunnels. I need 4-5 backpacks per year as they are totally damaged. The oldest flash got now his 3rd housing. It's rough down there.

:cheers:
Wilm

( A lovley day for an Ouzo )



I know it's very interesting (and a big temptation) to shoot in mines/caves.
And I dare to say your approach is unique.
No I should never carry such a heavy equipment in the mines :bigb: (or minefields :getdown: ) as I always try to be as light as possible.
Walkin and trekking on mountains demands only the necessary ;)

:cheers:
Billy

[Wilm]

.... as I always try to be as light as possible.
Walkin and trekking on mountains demands only the necessary ;)

:cheers:
Billy

Billy, that is the key, why I am carrying 2 flashlights with me. 2 flashlights mean 6 kilos and 150 shots/burst each. Before flashlights I have used bulbs for long-exposures. 48Ah of battery means 12 kilos. Exposures with 2 minutes mean noise and time.
I am usually entering very old mines which are in maximum 300-500 meters long. Nothing spectacular, but the objects to shoot are nice ( from my point of view).

Walking in trekking in the mountains was a favor for me in the past. Then, caused of my accident, my dish has smashed and now the mountains are very far away for me.

Good to know, that I can still travel thru abandoned mines, bad to know, that some mountains are out of my reach.

As times goes by, things will be better !

:cheers:
Wilm

[photoworks]

Billy, that is the key, why I am carrying 2 flashlights with me. 2 flashlights mean 6 kilos and 150 shots/burst each. Before flashlights I have used bulbs for long-exposures. 48Ah of battery means 12 kilos. Exposures with 2 minutes mean noise and time.
I am usually entering very old mines which are in maximum 300-500 meters long. Nothing spectacular, but the objects to shoot are nice ( from my point of view).

Walking in trekking in the mountains was a favor for me in the past. Then, caused of my accident, my dish has smashed and now the mountains are very far away for me.

Good to know, that I can still travel thru abandoned mines, bad to know, that some mountains are out of my reach.

As times goes by, things will be better !

:cheers:
Wilm


Yeah I had a problem with my knee (miniscus?) two years ago.
Very painful indeed, I hated the doctor that told me to relax for a long time. :mad2: (Luckily no surgery, phewwww!!!)
Now I'm ok, I started again since last summer.
You know Wilm we pay hard the cost of our love to nature, photography and everything related :(

Billy

[Wilm]

.....we pay hard the cost of our love to nature, photography and everything related :(

Billy

Vassilis,
I am pretty shure that 99.9% of all people are hiking to enjoy the nature. And I am shure that only 0.1% are hiking to reach the point to shoot the best landscape.

In mines that's a different thing.
I would guess 10% of all people down in mines are doing it for beeing there. The other 85% are doing point'n'shoot shots to show that they were there. The last 5% are trying to get the maximum out of their shots. A friend of mine is doing this "leasure" shots with 20 coleman-lamps.

Finally, We DO pay hard for our love to mother nature. It would be fun to enter a mine with nothing than a good lamp, but on the other way, why should I do it ? Imagine, a helmet light has approx. 1,5 watts. Enough to walk around for 24 hours, but less, to see the environment. It is exiting to "develop" the shots back home and to start understanding where you were.

:cheers:
Wilm

(Who is going out to clean the pedestrians-walk from 10cm of new snow)

I HATE WINTER END OF FEBRUARY