Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site sjuvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!psuvax1!burdvax!sjuvax!rose From: rose@sjuvax.UUCP (rose) Newsgroups: net.rec.photo Subject: Re: Vivitar 285 power pack wanted Message-ID: <569@sjuvax.UUCP> Date: Sat, 20-Oct-84 14:29:30 EDT Article-I.D.: sjuvax.569 Posted: Sat Oct 20 14:29:30 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 21-Oct-84 15:48:41 EDT References: <504@watdcsu.UUCP> Organization: Saint Josephs Univ. Phila., Pa. Lines: 30 Herb- I've had a lot of success with a variety of power sources for my 285. The best seems to be the bogen power handle I got in N.Y. for $30. It has batteries in the handle and the 285 mounts on top. I believe I bought it at olden. Previous to that I used a battery pack from a 'Book-Light' someone bought me. You know - one of those tiny lamps that clip on the back cover of a book so you can read in bed. The light had a separate power pack that connected with a 4 foot cord. The battery pack held 4 C cells, not as good as the Bogen's handle but providing 4 or 5 times as many flashes as AA cells in the flash. There are two ways to connect a homemade power source to the 285. One is to find an old electric shaver cord and splice the plug onto the battery pack cord (the plug must be shaved down a mite and a groove cut into one side so it will fit in the 285's socket) the second is to buy an alkaline holder, splice the battery packs leads onto the back of the connectors where it meets the contacts inside the flash, and file a small groove into the edge of the door so the leads can stick out. I've seen this done a few times but thought it a bit drastic. If you use the socket for connecting the battery pack it will charge the flash when the power switch is OFF (same as an AC adapter), if you use the alkaline holder it will operate the same as if you had batteries in the flash. Battery holders can be purchased at Radio Shack. Also, consider renting a Quantum Battery pack for the weekend. That is the best power source I've seen for the 285 (though a bit rich for my blood). Let me know how you make out. Jon Rose. !sjuvax!rose