[photo-3d] capacitor grenades

[ers <ers@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I know what David is talking about re the ability of a flash circuit to be 
dangerous. If anyone wants proof, just use an insulated screwdriver and short 
a charged flash unit capaticor. It will look like some small metal eating bug 
took a bite out of it (after the bang). Whenever I work on a flash, I always 
discharge the capacitors-- several times. This is one of the key reasons 
inexperienced people should never take an integral flash camera apart-- 
touching the wrong place can potentially kill you if you have heart problems, 
and hurt like hell if you don't. Those capacitors can hold a charge a long 
time. (Although some of us may have fond memories of charging up a cap and 
poking some hated enemy in the butt with it during lab.) But I've never seen 
data relating to how much you can crank one, still remaining within a 
reasonable safety zone. The reason is that I would like to up the output of a 
ring flash, as opposed to constructing a multiple flash array. Looks like I'll 
have to try it myself? The fact that a single capacitor can generate multiple 
values for a flash is proven by the Vivitar 283 Varipower module, which seems 
to limit the amount of charge. By backing off the setting, you can get a 283 
down to about 1/20,000 of a second-- at the cost of light, of course.

Elliott