Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I bought 4 Einstein back in October, that were delivered only in January with the Faceplate problems, with awesome costumer service I had that replaced and was all excited to flash my Einstein in my studio.

After around 1900 shoots (according to Einstein Firmware menu) I noticed that one of the heads was not flashing. A close inspection revealed some ashes in the glass dome that I quickly assumed was from the flash tube connector. Now, when I turn one for the first time in the day, it works properly low power discharge, full power no problem, after a little bit with the modeling light on and a little more without it, it does not discharge anymore. The recycling beep sounds properly but does not flash. If I let cool down, it starts working again.

On all other Einstein, during a short photo shot they just turn off the flash and modeling lamp after a while, randomly although I turn them on all togeter, they stay on but not working for a minute or so and everything works fine, until it happens again.

Along with the same order I bought an ABR800, that simple refuse to work with an CSRB+ and gets bat-shit insane with CSR+. Just don't know what is happening.

I am pretty sure that with Paul world famous customer service I will have my lights substituted very fast right?

Not so sure, here is why: They don't ship overseas.

Not so fast, they don't ship overseas, not according to Barbara in the customer service, so Now, what I am going to do? Get another plane to US and have my unit exchanged?
Paul, I read the rationale in why you are not willing to sail through the ocean of international shipping, I fully understand why, but you should have some exceptions for this strict rule for cases like these. Photographer do travel with your gear and sometimes they are defective from factory, what now? Will I keep my broken Einstein forever until I have the chance to fly to US again?

As a long time user of the White Lighting gear, I found out, they are pretty dependable, so when I decide to move to Brazil, I said: "What a hell, let me load it up with some einsteins". Doing some tricks I managed to have my einsteins shipped to a friends home in Orlando and flew all the way from Brazil to pick them up. Now, when I arrive here, after a short week in production environment the flash is broken.

So far, review about the einsteins is:
Very high tech
Very cool
Fancy
Blazing fast Recycling speed

Poor ABS case (rather have white lighting finishing and size on it)
Lack of handle makes things difficult when you are dealing with big accessories.
Not dependable (so far, at least on the first 4 units and this unit that is broke)

So Paul, can you help? I would love hear from you.

Cheers

Marcelo Ribeiro

You will need to contact Customer Service for your options for warranty service.

However, a couple of points that can be made on the technical side:

The CSR+ going crazy is likely due to a grounding issue. I assume you are using a step down transformer to run the 120VAC light to 240VAC. If so, most tranformers' plugs can be rotated in the mains outlet. Doing this often resolves the grounding problem. You can also try removing any extension cords or power strips to eliminate any bad components.
More information would be needed to diagnose the CSRB+.

If the units work, then cease to work (but the control panel stays on) then work again, then cease to work; the likely cause is overheat cutoff (if no changes are made to the settings via CC or light head), or it is a CC setting if it cuts off, then you turn it back on via the light head.

I use pure 110V, no transformers, my power outlets are all grounded, the bad behavior only appears on the Ringflash, not in any other unit, either White Lighting nor cheap Chinese brand I have here.

There his some carbonization in the isolating material from the flash tube connectors.

Question: When connecting the CSRB+ or CSR+ (Have both) should I connect both Sync cable and RJ11 cable or just the RJ11?

The CSRB+ behave erratically by doing a very low power discharge.
The CSR+ behave erratically by going off like crazy, like a disco stroboscope.

Is there a sequence when connecting the units to the ABR800?
How the ABR800 configuration should be? (Full power, track, cycle, modeling lamp on/off)

Connect them with the RJ11 only, but be sure to put the sync cord or a dummy plug in the flash's sync port to disable the slave eye.

Turn power all the way up and turn all three Model lamp buttons on.

Make sure flash is turned on and set as above before plugging the RJ11 in. If it acts weird, sometimes it seems to help to unplug the RJ11 from the flash and then reinsert it.