Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Lighting => Topic started by: BobShaw on October 30, 2020, 06:54:57 pm

Title: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: BobShaw on October 30, 2020, 06:54:57 pm
Hi,
I have a Mobilite 2 flash head that clicks when triggered but does not fire a flash.
The flash pack sounds a long buzz then returns to normal display.
I have opened the plug and the head and there does not seem to be any arcing or carbon.
Before I send it off for repair are there thoughts please on whether it may be the tube or the trigger or something else?

PS, bad luck in a row.
A Pulso is now behaving the same (different pack), but this followed a huge bang. I expected to find debris inside but the tube looks alright and there are no exploded capacitors etc inside.

Bob
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: BobShaw on November 01, 2020, 10:42:47 pm
So this is the Pulso.
Burnt terminal certainly looks like a tube.
Was this clear or colour corrected please? Looks clear.
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: UlfKrentz on November 03, 2020, 08:06:18 am
Get a new socket (that female part in the head) to prevent damage to (a new) tube. On the good side, that old tube will probably be fine and could be repaired, just make sure it will have a solid electrical contact.
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: BobShaw on November 03, 2020, 04:00:55 pm
Get a new socket (that female part in the head) to prevent damage to (a new) tube. On the good side, that old tube will probably be fine and could be repaired, just make sure it will have a solid electrical contact.
Thanks as always Ulf.
You believe that the tube may be OK? Was the bang a failure in the socket then? Is there someone repairing tubes please?
Bob
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: UlfKrentz on November 03, 2020, 04:31:27 pm
That´s what I meant. The "wire" coming from the electrode had a bad connection to the brass pin. You may look for a TV / radio repair shop if you don´t have access to a "flash clinic".
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: BobShaw on November 04, 2020, 07:16:39 pm
That´s what I meant. The "wire" coming from the electrode had a bad connection to the brass pin. You may look for a TV / radio repair shop if you don´t have access to a "flash clinic".
Wow. thanks Ulf. You may have just saved me 300 Euro (again).
I will look for a socket or get one new first.
Bob
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: BobShaw on December 04, 2020, 08:19:21 pm
Progress report.

The Mobilite is now going. The problem was a faulty cable, which apparently is common. I checked the Blue and Red wires and the red was open circuit in the middle of the cable. I guess it must have fused. I bypassed it with another thicker red wire and taped it all together and it now works. The cable is now quite thick with one of those split spine covers and so it will probably be a studio unit now.

The Pulso is probably a write off. The socket at least requires replacing and probably the tube and possibly the board and fan. I will spend a little time on it to see if it can be used for anything.

Modified. Delete everything i said about the Pulso.
That was the repair shop's story. I just had a good look at it, cleaned it out and couldn't see any damage in the head.
I fixed the tube using copper wire and solder as shown. Pushed it in hard and tested it from a distance with the protective glass on. it all works perfectly. It may not last forever and will be a spare, but it didn't cost anything to fix.


Cheers.
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: Conner999 on December 06, 2020, 09:48:33 am
Nicely done. Looks like a bad connection w/an air gap that had an almighty arc at one point, vaporizing the brass vs. passing the current.

Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: SimonB on January 31, 2021, 07:18:34 am
What tube is that? It looks incorrect for Pulso and shouldn't be used on newer packs.
Title: Re: Mobilite head clicks but no flash
Post by: BobShaw on January 31, 2021, 05:44:55 pm
What tube is that? It looks incorrect for Pulso and shouldn't be used on newer packs.
I have a lot of old Pulso A4 packs and the latest is a Grafit. It may be a good idea not to use it with that.

I have several Pulso heads of various vintages. This is the only one that does not have a groove in the top between the electrodes where the retaining clip attaches.
I had the head in at Bron service and they did not say it was not genuine, so I can only assume that this was an identified problem of tubes working loose and they decided to retain the tube in the head to stop it working out.