Hardware

Ask something
Question Locked

Photoflash tube replacement

0 helpful
5 replies

by pivif

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

i need to replace the broken photoflash tube unit in a similar camera. it is a simple replacement since just 3 lead wires are involved. can anyone tell me where i can scrounge around for this?

thanks.

5 replies

by thechas

First and foremost a WARNING!

Even after the camera has been off for days, there can still be several hundred volts stored in the flash capacitor. Unless you know how to safely work on high voltage circuits do NOT attempt this repair.

Also, how are you sure the problem is the flash tube and not the power supply circuit that charges the flash capacitor. Or, the discharge control circuit?
Flash tubes themselves are pretty rugged and don't fail often. In the 25 plus years I have been involved with photography, I have not had a single flash tube fail. The supporting electronics have given me problems, but not a single flash tube.

That said, there are too many different flash tubes used in cameras for there to be a universal replacement.

Start with auction sites like ebay and see if you can find the same model camera with something else broken. Use it for parts.

Or, try used camera sites such as
http://www.keh.com/onlinestore/home.aspx

They often have "as-is" deals on cameras.

You can also try places like Goodwill and Salvation Army outlet stores.

As a last resort, try surplus electronics sites like www.allelectronics.com and bgmicro.com both have flash tubes and even entire camera circuits from time to time. Although, as I stated earlier, finding your exact flash tube will be difficult.

Remember, safety first. Use a high value resistor to drain the flash capacitor before working on the circuit at all.

Chas

by older mycroft

Despite my best efforts ( even considering climbing further up my roof!) I still can't focus on this camera of yours.

Could you perhaps get higher up off the ground - hopefully if we both get high enough, I'll eventually be able to tell WHAT KIND OF CAMERA YOU ARE HOLDING.

By the way, what has your camera flashbulb got to do with a tech support forum for computers ???

by oh smeg

The Camera is Microprocessor controlled and turns on the Flash when required.

After all if you fix computers you should know everything that there is to know about Electronics shouldn't we? I get enough of this type of question all the time while I'm working on Computers. But having said that unless one of my Blads need repairs I do tend to do most of the Camera repairs myself. The Blads are a different story though.

Col

by older mycroft

Start wearing prescription glasses - old age induced.

I was appalled to discover the cost of prescription-dioptre add-ons so's I could use the Canons without my glasses.

I just had to accept that my semi-professional photography days were at an end.

I see nowadays the digital semi-pro SLRs have dioptre control built in to the viewfinder so I might start using cameras again.

This discussion is closed to new replies.