Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

So after much excitement (and time spent setting up PLM), I was ready to take some photos with my brand new Einstein after plugging it in. I took a photo with my camera and I just hear a beep from the Einstein. I go up to the unit and push the Test button. Once again, just a beep and model light dimming. No flash. I've tried turning up and lowering the power. Same thing, no flash. I am starting to freak out because I was supposed to help someone take photos this coming week and I have no idea what is going on.

Try removing the flash tube w/ a paper towel and plugging it back in. If that doesn't work, it might be a bad tube or bad board. Call PCB customer support and explain it and they'll get a replacement to you in time...

Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately looks like I will have to be sending it in. Pretty disappointing that I won't be able to play around with the Einstein unit for another few weeks...

Won't be a few weeks...repairs like this generally are much faster as long as you mention you have a shoot next week...

If your modelling lamp has blown will the Einstein not turn on? Is this a safetly feature of some sort that I can't find in the documentation or owner's manual? I can see the modelling lamp bulb has a broken filament, but the unit itself will not power on.

I had bought two Einsteins. Tested one out of the box when they arrived and all was fine. Went to the studio today and happened to pull out the second head which I hadn't tested yet (I know this because it still had the protective film on the LCD display). Plugged it in to an AC outlet and the modelling lamp started crackling, buzzing and fizzing and a few seconds later without firing a single flash it just popped and went out, LCD went dead and will not power on anymore.

No, the model lamp is not part of a safety system. There is a fuse on the rear of the light that may be replaced. However, if the unit has blown one fuse, it very well could blow another. If it does blow the second fuse, the light will need to be repaired or replaced as there is evidently an internal error.