SB 800 Battery Question

[richpilot35]

Indeed, I do have the battery set to quick recycle and have been using the strobe on auto, not full power. I will get some NiMH batteries and try them and also think about slowing the recycle time...but when the bridal party moves down the aisle, I really need the fast recycle times.

Thanks for the replies....most appreciated.

[Bonner]

I use lithiums and have had occasions when the flash shuts down when it overheats.

[richpilot35]

Hello Everyone! Once again, thanks for all the advice.

This is what I did: I purchased 12 NiMH AA batteries and chargers. The batteries were Powrex 2700s and the chargers were also Powerex. After charging 5 of them, I used them in my SB800. In 20 minutes, I shot 288 flashes using my D-100 with the flash on TTL. The longest recyle time was less than 2 seconds shooting into pitch dark about 25 feet away. This recycle time came after about 150 flashes.

The usual recycle time for most of the shots was less than 1 second. BTW, the batteries were given their initial charge, so I expect even better performance after they have been conditioned.

The strobe became warm and the batteries hot after shooting the equivalent of 8 rolls of 36 exposure film. Flash output was consistant throughout and the images looked perfectly exposed.

I am certain that during a job, I won't shoot so fast. When I shot at my usual wedding frequency to test recycle times, the strobe remained cool and the batteries got slightly warm.

I would recommend NiMH batteries to anyone in my situation.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and thanks again for the help!

[Bevan]

Originally Posted by CharlesM

My understanding is that in that configuration (Quantum turbo plugged into the high voltage connector on the front of the SB800.), the AAs only power the "logic circuity", and the Quantum Turbo provides the power for the capacitors. (AAs are required, if they die it won't operate.) I was warned by my local camera shop that it was possible to fire it too fast and overheat it. Did you have the turbo switch to 'rapid'? Maybe open up to 5.6 so you're not using full power? I easily get a whole wedding with a fresh set of 4 AA alkaline (500+ shots).

Charles - not an expert, will be 'taking the temperature of my AAs" next wedding...

The aa's may be getting hot from the heat in side the flash unit rather than from the current draw. a Quantum Turbo can indeed recharge the caps faster than the caps can dissapate the heat there is no internal cooling or vents on an 800 .

If you are changing the aa's to get faster recycle time and using a turbo to recycle the caps and you see a faster recycle after doing so, then the turbo is not working properly
as the aa's should never decrease the cycle time with a trubo in use.

I would use a Qflash T5d at the wedding hall and the 800 at the reseption LOL