Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

The first session I went on after getting some einsteins and cc I was just getting started with my session and I got a low battery indicator and then my lights went haywire flashing like crazy. I replaced the batteries and when it came back up the lights went crazy again and wouldnt stop until I removed the batteries and went wired for the remainder of that session.
I called customer service the next day at which point the cc would not boot up and they replaced it.

Since then about every other session, I get a low battery indicator and the lights go crazy and then I either just wait a second and all is good or it happens again and I replace the batteries. The lights flash pop, pop, pop rapidly about 10 or 12 times and I think the cc reboots or sometimes reboots and sometimes just recovers. I am usually in the middle of a team photo session so I just act like no big deal and move on or say need to replace the batteries as that seems to usually fix it for the remainder of the session.

I am replacing the batteries like every 5th shoot which I think is a problem since I use the CST and only use the cc a few times...I do use cheap costco kirkland brand batteries and thought that was my problem but have tried energizer and duracells as well but to be honest those may not have been fully charged. I am going to go get some better batteries but dont think that is my problem or my only problem.

Last night, I got a little scared and need to get this resolved. In the middle of a shoot right as I had an entire team set for a team photo, I pulled up the cc to program the lights and got the low battery, then lights went crazy. I ran to replace the batteries and then the cc wouldnt start back up again. I pulled the batteries and put them back in and on the 4th or 5th time it came up and all was well for remainder of that session.

I have not had time to call into support and do not want to have to ship them back or get another replacement if I am doing something wrong. I feel like only one light flickers but I usually have on my sensor on the other lights to help with misfires (which has been another problem) Not sure if this is a strobe or another cc issue.

thoughts? anyone experienced similar issues or have any suggestions?

What firmware are you on? Make sure you are up to date, and that may help. Also, if you remove the memory card, does the problem persist? There may have been a corruption on the card, and that may be the root cause of either or both problems (battery drain and rapid firing). For good measure, press the test button on the CST and see how many times the CST LED blinks red. If it is not once, the battery in that may be an issue.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/fw-cc.php

It is version 40. CST doesnt have a problem and that is not what causes the problem...it is always the cc, shows low battery and then it has issues. Should I remove the memory card and leave it out? I actually don't use it, I have two base configs and only use the two internal memory slots so if I don't need it I can take it out and leave it out if that is what you are recommending to try.

Yes, try that first and see how it acts. If it acts fine, a new card can be used, or the orginal card can be reformatted, if card usage is desired.

4th session after using the CC without the card...had the same issue. low battery, then lights go crazy, cc keep rebooting itself. Replaced batteries and all was fine. what next?

Do you mean alkaline that have been used prior, or rechargeable batteries? Rechargable batteries should not be used, as they are a lower voltage even fully charged, and drop below the useable threshold very quickly.

Is the Cyber Commander stored in a way that it could be turned on during transport or storage?

The behavior is not surprising given the batteries are low. It is now a matter of why the batteries are draining.

Assuming you are using fresh alkaline batteries, and you are sure the unit is not coming on inadvertently, then we should take a look at the unit.

I have not used rechargeable batteries. I use Kirklan alkalines almost exclusively, simply because we always have them stocked. The only problem I have is you guys have already replaced the unit once. Now it was a little different issue but the initial symptom was the same. The first time it happened the lights went crazy and wouldn't stop until I took the batteries out and when I tried to turn it on again the day after with tech support it wouldn't boot at all.

Is it possible that an Einstein or csxcv could be the problem? I find it hard to believe that I have had two with the same issue if this is not a common issue...but I guess we should try a new one to be sure.

The batteries should not be draining that fast, especially if you have tried premium branded batteries and/or batteries from a different batch with similar results.

You will need to contact customer service for your warranty resolution options.

Say, was this problem ever resolved? I'm having similar problems... my cc just re-boot on it's on and fire the Einstein's in rapid successions. The original batteries shipped with the cc last just long enough to set-up the cc with the Einstein's. I would love to know what worked in this situation because I have a important shoot coming up and I plan to use this setup.

HELP>>>>

I too am having the same issues and I use Powermax rechargeable batteries. Fresh pair and it has the same issue. Is it the einstein? Is it the CC?

I also have a friend who has the same issues.

Hope this is solved soon.