Bowens ESPRIT 250 Operations Instructions download pdf (Page 7)

Modelling Lamp Ready Indicator

The modelling lamp can be used as an indicator of when the unit has flashed, and also when it has

charged and is ready to fire again. All modelling lamp options are only available when the unit is

operating from mains power. The available options for the modelling lamp ready indicator are:

Off (OFF) - No lamp ready indication; the modelling lamp remains on or off during operation

depending on ʻLampʼ settings.

Intermittent (INT) - Modelling lamp goes off after unit has fired and comes back on when fully

recharged. Intermittent indication is only available if the lamp setting is ʻonʼ.

Pulse (PUL) - Lamp pulses once fully recharged after firing. The pulse ready indicator

option is available whether the ʻLampʼ settings are on or off.

Photocell

The Photocell is a light sensitive trigger which allows the photographer a way of triggering their stand

alone flash heads that are not syncʼd by a cable. The photocell (when on) triggers the unit when another

flash or light source is detected (i.e. when another flash head is fired and the photocell detects this it

will fire the unit in synchronisation with the original light source).

The Photocell on the Gemini Digital has an option to enable camera pre-exposure flashes to be

ignored. These are used for exposure measurement and/or red eye reduction. This allows the flash unit

to be synchronised to the camera shutter on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th flash selected by the user. (this

option is for those who wish to trigger theIr flash heads without a radio or IR triggering system or without

a sync cable). 1st is the normal ʻinstantʼ trigger where only one flash is used coincident with the shutter.

Where two or more flashes are to be detected a ʻtime windowʼ is started on detection of the first flash

in the sequence. If the required number of flashes are detected within the ʻtime windowʼ then the unit

is triggered on the last flash and the system is reset to wait for the next flash. If fewer than the required

flashes are detected then the system is reset at the end of the time window. The ʻtime windowʼ can be

set by the user from 10mS to 990mS for 2, 3 or 4 flashes. For obvious reasons there is no actual time

window for a single flash since the unit triggers as soon as the flash is detected. As well as being able

to select the number of flashes manually, the unit can also ʻlearnʼ the number of required pre-exposure

flashes produced by any camera. This is done by setting the number of flashes to 1st. This provides

the maximum detection window of 990mS when in ʻlearnʼ mode.

While carrying out the following procedure ensure that no other flash is likely to be used in the vicinity

until the settings have been saved. To allow the flash unit to learn the camera characteristics first set

up the camera in the required mode (i.e. flash, pre-flash, red-eye reduction etc). Now press ʻMENUʼ on

the flash head and rotate the dial to select the ʻPhoʼ function and press ʻMENUʼ again, the current ʻPhoʼ

option will now be shown; set the unit to 1st flash.

Now press the shutter release fully with the camera facing the unit. The number of pre-flashes detected

will be shown on the display. N.B. if more than 4 flashes are detected within the time window then the

photocell will be turned off. Press the ʻMENUʼ button and the flash detection timeout period will now be

shown (2,3 and 4 only). Rotate the dial to obtain the required value - typically the default of 300mS

should be adequate for most cases.

Photocell

Now press ʻMENUʼ again to go back to displaying ʻPhoʼ. Press ʻTESTʼ to save the settings. If the camera

or camera settings are ever changed just repeat the procedure to check and/or set the flash unit again.

This system may require some experimentation by the user to get the correct flash in the sequence and

the timeout sensitivity right for a give camera and flash situation.

E.G. The Canon EOS10D gives an exposure measuring pre-flash first, followed 75mS later by the main

flash. This means that if the unit is set to trigger on the first flash then the unit will always trigger but the

Canon shutter will not open until 75mS later resulting in an incorrect exposure. If the unit is set to 2nd

flash then the exposure will be correct. Setting it to 3rd or 4th means that the unit will never trigger and

any exposure will again be incorrect.

Audible Ready Beep

There is an Audible Ready Beep signal which is available to provide either a short beep to indicate

when the unit is charged and ready to fire at the desired power output or sound continuously when

charging. The Audible Ready Beep options are available through the Normal Functions on the unit.

Information & Error Codes .

Display Description

X-X

XX-

Power display in either digital f-stops or Joules (Ws), in Lamp User setup mode this shows the

equivalent power setting of the modelling lamp but always in digital f-stops. If this display is steady

then this indicates the unit is READY and can be flashed. If this display is flashing quickly then this

indicates that the unit is charging to the required setting. If this display is flashing slowly then this

indicates the flash power needs to be dumped.(this can be done automatically by setting ʻFldʼ to

ʻonʼ or manually by pressing the ʻTESTʼ button).

ʻChrʼ Displayed after a successful flash whilst charging.

ʻHotʼ Unit is in overheat and will automatically reset when cooled.

ʻEr1ʼ Failure to charge correctly at ʻswitch-onʼ. Long sounder if on. This could be due to low mains input

or leaky capacitors. After retrying and rechecking a number of times the unit will automatically lock

out with the display showing ʻEr1ʼ but with the sounder silenced.

ʻEr2ʼ Failure to charge correctly after a flash (sound if on). The most likely cause here is that the tube

glowed on. After retrying for a number of times and each time applying a longer glow stop period

the unit will automatically lock out with the display showing ʻEr2ʼ but with the sounder silenced.

ʻEr3ʼ Failure of the tube to fire (sound if on).

The following normal displays and error codes are displayed together with a sound if appropriate and if

ʻSoundʼ & ʻAudioʼ are switched ʻonʼ.

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Bowens ESPRIT 250 Operations Instructions Page 7

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