Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

While vigorously searching for problem threads related my issue, I came up on this thread, thus my response.

This year I took delivery of 3 "great" products. An einstein 640, a cyber commander, and a CSXCV CyberSync Transceiver(all new from paul c buff). Last week during a street photo shoot(I was about 300 pictures into the shoot, about 1/4 of them with the strobe) the cyber commander RANDOMLY shuts off, turns back on with what seems like 2 1px wide purple colored lines criss crossing each other, after it turned on it shuts off and refuses to reboot.

I went about the fundamental troubleshooting steps like removing batteries, memory card, holding certain buttons, giving it time in between reboots, nothing worked. I switched to a fast lens to use available light and after about 30 minutes it randomly decides to turn back on and function. The first thought in my head is, "what if that happened during a wedding?" I have been shooting commercial and editorial for a while, but recently started to get into weddings, and I love it. So I was grateful it turned back on and continued on about my shoot.

Next day I give technical support a call and they were polite but not very helpful. I can appreciate this though, because what can they really do over the phone. They inform me I can send my unit in to "maybe" get repaired if there is something wrong with the unit. I explain I needed it for 2 shoots I had that weekend, sorry no type of quick exchange/repair program(sucks).

So moving forward I do the 2 shoots, and midway threw the second shoot this time the EINSTEIN decides to RANDOMLY stop working! It wasn't dropped, there wasn't rain, humidity, fire, kids, NOTHING. My assistant was holding it the entire time! It just randomly stops firing, I try firing it from the cyber commander and I can here the light recycling IMMEDIATELY after, but no strobe is firing. Regardless of the power setting, the light will play it's recovery sound immediately after being triggered, but no light emits. I try to trigger it from the test button on the back, NOTHING. I figure maybe its the bulb or fuse, although strange for it to die out so soon(and randomly). So I pack the strobe into the bag and switch to a faster lens once again(I was angry at this point).

I get home, replace the strobe bulb, modeling lamp, and fuse, nothing.. I have great hope in this gear but this is the second time in less then a week TWO pieces of your equipment failed during a shoot. I used to work in the IT field, and before that I was an electronics technician for over 4 years. I'm not here to trash the gear, in fact I appreciate it greatly and always try to promote it to my friends and online. These issues are really testing my faith in this affordable gear.

I just started to accept wedding contracts like the OP here and it simply isn't in my budget to have 3 cyber commanders, and 3 Einsteins on hand every time I do a shoot. I can understand backups and definitely think its a must, and when my budget can afford it, I will gladly abide!

Just posting this for others to read that might experience the same problems. Again, this post isn't to trash the gear, I've been in love with it since the day I bought it and the people at paulcbuff seem very warm. Customer support isn't open today(sunday) So I'll be calling tomorrow and probably be told once again, it needs to be shipped in. This leaves me without a strobe for 2 shoots and a wedding next weekend, and while I share the fault because I should have a backup I can't help but think this wouldn't happen with some of the other gear my friends always harp on me to buy. Hoping for a quick resolution, happy shooting!

First: update everything to the newest firmware on both the CC and the einstein. that will rule out software issues
Second: have a battery meter and test the batteries that you use with the cybercommander
Third: Are you using the einstein with the modeling lamps on full power? This will lead to overheating and will trigger the thermal shutdown for the einstein. (yes the einstein's bulbs do get to the temperature as hotlights when used in conjunction with the strobe at half or full power)

I suggest that if you are using modeling lamps with your einstein that you use the lower power bulbs 25 watts which (might) prevent the einstein's from tripping their thermal shutdown.

First: all firmware versions are up to date, I keep an eye on these things and double checked earlier while troubleshooting.

Second: the batteries were also tested, I used 2 sets of brand new Alkaline batteries, and 2 sets of nimh batteries that were fully charged.

Third: the modeling lamp is used very seldom. It wasn't in use when the unit failed and the outside temperature was about 74F. At the time of failure it was plugged into my vagabond mini that I JUST purchased. To double check the power issue it was also tested with my original vagabond 2 and a dedicated wall outlet, same results.

At no point did the unit shutdown, it simply operates as normal without actually firing the strobe. When triggered, the einstein unit immediately recycles and sounds it's "ready" noise.

I do appreciate your post in trying to help me.

Always have a Plan B if you don't have backups..speedlights, etc. on paying contracts.

Your Einstein sounds like it needs repair IMHO. If the test button doesn't fire it, something inside is dead.

Hi Joeysylvester,

I experienced the same issues last night:

1) Cyber commander reboots or randomly trigger the lights. Replacing the batteries solved this problem
2) Einstein won't fire, even when I try and fire it via the "test" button. Replaced both the flash tube and fuse without any success. Have you received any feedback on what caused this issue?

to both posters with problems firing the E640. If new tubes are not successful, then the unit will need to come in for repair.

As for the screen showing odd lines, I have never heard that symptom before. The only possible user resolution would be to reflash the firmware incase there is an glitch in the screen driver. Were you using the NiMH batteries at the time?