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August
Tinkerer
Username: August
Post Number: 28
Registered: 06-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009 - 07:04 am: | 
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I have a Kmart Focal M500T auto flash unit that I would like to use with an X-sync cable, but I have no cable for it and it doesn't take a standard cable. Since I figure Kmart wouldn't have made their own flashes nor developed a special cable interface just for itself, I'm assuming the connection is the same as that of some real flash manufacturer. The connection at the flash is for a 2-prong socket with circular cross-section prongs about 5mm apart, one prong hole being about 2mm in diameter and the other 1.5mm. Does anybody recognize this type of flash cable and, for bonus points, do you know of a source for them? Thanks as always. |
Donnie_strickland
Tinkerer
Username: Donnie_strickland
Post Number: 67
Registered: 09-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009 - 04:27 pm: |
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Will the flash work with a hotshoe? I think I would just use a hotshoe-to-PC adapter like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/95414-REG/General_Brand_SF941_PC_to_Hot_Sh oe.html
You might find one at your local camera store as well. |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 10, 2009 - 06:34 pm: |
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Those flashes were built by Maxwell electronics of Hong Kong. Not easy to find those cables. Best way is to get a regular PC cord, strip off the end you don't need, solder the wires to a few thin brads of the proper size to fit the holes and, then, mix up some of that PlayDoh type epoxy and form a "plug" around the brads while they are inserted in the holes. Works very nice. That it how I did mine until I found a cable. Works the same anyhow. |
August
Tinkerer
Username: August
Post Number: 29
Registered: 06-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 03:58 pm: |
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Donnie: Yes, that's plan B.
Tom: Good idea, but how do I know which wire goes to which hole on the flash? Anyway thanks very much for telling me who really made them. Nobody else has been able to tell me that. |
Tom_cheshire
Tinkerer
Username: Tom_cheshire
Post Number: 3
Registered: 04-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 12:54 pm: |
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Before you commit your action to forming the epoxy plug, test the cable. If it shoots the flash ok, fine. If not, flip the brads around or resolder the wires the other way. Actually, it should work in either orientation. |
August
Tinkerer
Username: August
Post Number: 32
Registered: 06-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 07:48 pm: |
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Thanks Tom. The pins need to be of different diameters and lengths, so I guess the thing to do would be to make the plug so it fits, then test the wiring both ways. I'm liking Donnie's solution better. |
