Can vintage flashes with high trigger voltage damage wireless receivers?
Asked 3/9/2017
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Some older shoe-mount flashes are known to have high trigger voltages that can harm modern digital camera hot shoes. Does the same risk apply when using a wireless flash setup with a transmitter on the camera and a receiver/transceiver attached to a vintage flash by hot shoe or PC sync? I’m asking about older consumer electronic flashes from the 1980s that use AA batteries, not flashbulbs or flashcubes.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
5
Yes, there is the possibility that vintage strobes with high trigger voltages can damage wireless receivers/transceivers attached to them. The danger would only apply to the receiver/transceiver physically connected to the flash via either hot shoe connection or PC cord. There is no danger to the transmitter and camera connected to the receiver via wireless radio.
Each trigger design varies on a case-by-case basis. If you are concerned about using a particular flash you should probably contact the trigger manufacturer's customer support department for information about how much voltage the trigger is designed to tolerate. Then compare it to the trigger voltage of the flash in question. The user instructions with some triggers warn to not exceed a specified voltage. Others don't specify the designed voltage tolerance.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A vintage flash with a high trigger voltage can potentially damage the wireless receiver or transceiver that is physically connected to it, whether through the hot shoe or a PC sync cord.
The risk is to the device directly attached to the flash. The camera-mounted transmitter is generally not at risk through the radio link, so the danger does not extend wirelessly back to the camera.
Whether a specific flash and trigger are safe together depends on the trigger voltage of the flash and the maximum sync voltage the receiver/transceiver is designed to tolerate. This varies by model. Check the flash’s trigger voltage and compare it with the trigger manufacturer’s published limit or support guidance. If the trigger’s documentation does not state a safe voltage range, ask the manufacturer before connecting an older flash.
In short: old flashes can damage wireless receivers if their trigger voltage is too high, so verify compatibility before use.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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