Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

WARNING to PocketWizard® PowerMC2 Customers:
We have identified a potentially hazardous issue with the PocketWizard® PowerMC2 receiver, made by PocketWizard® / LPA Design and designed for use with our Einstein™ flash units.

If the unit’s antenna cover is broken, removed, or in any way damaged, DISCONTINUE USE IMMEDIATELY and contact PocketWizard®. In rare circumstances, particularly if power line hot and neutral wiring is reversed, as is sometimes the case with old or incorrect house wiring, the uncovered antenna can become electrified, posing a very serious shock hazard.

Additionally, a similar potential shock hazard is present in the mini USB port located on the side of the unit. When the unit is connected to a flash and receiving power, DO NOT touch the port or insert any objects (including a USB cable) into the port.

As the PowerMC2 is a product created by PocketWizard® / LPA Design, they are working to correct the issue. Upon discovery of this issue, however, we have ceased sales of all PowerMC2 products until the problem can be resolved to our satisfaction. We greatly apologize for this inconvenience.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Pocket Wizard Technical Support at +1 802-735-1079. They can also be emailed at info@pocketwizard.com or reached through their inquiry page.

Greetings,

I've been in touch with LPA Design and the update on the problem narrows the focus to the Euro units only. US units connected to an Einstein where the power cord ground is not left floating do not represent a hazard, even if the antenna cover is damaged.

They go on to state clearly state PowerMC2-US units connected to an Einsteins running off a Vagabond Mini are fine as well (which is my case).

Is there a date for Paul C Buff to review LPA Design's data on the MC2-US so the US model can be released for sale again.

Best Regards,
Phil Agur (Intel Q&R Retired)
Crystal View Photography

This thread was intended to be locked, as it is only to serve as an announcement. From this post forward, it will be locked as originally intended.

We are not currently selling the MC2 for the reasons stated, and we are not discriminating between the US and CE versions, as we cannot control where these units will be used once purchased.

Furthermore, we cannot control the quality of the power supply of users in the U.S. which may present a similar problem.

We do not have a date for review, as a design change has not been presented to us by LPA.

Any further technical question need to be directed to LPA at the contact methods provided. At this point we have no information about or control over any changes made to the MC2 product.

The shock hazard exists only when the power line connections are incorrect. The Einstein™ internal ground and the MC2 antenna, when properly connected, are at power line neutral and the reflector mount is connected to the third wire ground, so no shock hazard is present.

It is poor safety engineering for the power line neutral to ever be touchable, so all our products follow this protocol. But if the MC2 (not our product) is missing the rubber cover, it's antenna is indeed connected to power line neutral.

With European Einstein™ use, there are many plug/socket arrangements that fairly easily allow neutral and live connections to be reversed. This is where the big problem can occur. If these power connections are reversed, the MC2 antenna can be 230V hot, relative to the reflector mount. Grabbing both under these conditions can be lethal.

This condition is possible in US/Canada operation, but rare. It occurs only in occasional old building or DYI house wiring, or when improper two wire extension cords are connected backwards.

Nevertheless, rare or not, we can't in good conscience sell a product even with a rare chance of lethal shock hazard. Since we neither designed, manufactured or control LPA's MC2, we have chosen not to sell it any longer. You all can understand we simply won't knowingly expose any customer to this.

Since it's LPA's product and issue, we have no choice but to refer all corrective issues and customer responsibility back to LPA, just as a B and H would do for any product they distribute.

We are making all known sales of the MC2 available to LPA, with the understanding they plan a recall/replacement program.