SB-28's (external power)

[Daryl Dean]

What does everyone use for external power to get your SB-28's to last longer while in the feild? From what I have heard the cameras themselves are not the limiting factor it is more so the flashes. Was curious as to what everyone does to make the flashes have a longer duration in the field.... thanks

[Maurizio]

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=8010673


https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=525726



HELLO TO SUPPLY MY SB28 AND SB 24 NIKON I USE THESE VERY EFFECTIVE METHODS THAT EXTEND THE LIFE OF MY FLASH FOR WEEKS AND ADDITURE MONTHS IN SOME CASES.
I PUT YOU LINKS BECAUSE ON THE TOPIC THERE IS REALLY ON THE NET JUST TYPE DIY EXTERNAL BATTERY FLASH SB28 NIKON.

[-jeff]

My favorite method to extend life of the Nikon SB flash is to use two dowels and a couple brass wood screws. Then run the wires to two or three banks of AA battery holders.

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Cheap, but works very well.

[Daryl Dean]

Ok ..... I did similar and used plastic pipe that a fellow camera trapper, Tim Torell, told me he does. The pipe allows the wires to run up through the plastic pipe. Very similar idea to the doweling. He mentioned to me to get the plastic pipe from Home Depot which you can actually get two sizes if you want. AA size and AAA size if necessary for your project or projects. Just cut the plastic pipe the length of the AA or AAA batteries you are using. I also just used normal screws and soldered the wires to them as shown. I also used 5.5*2.1mm DC pigtails for ease connecting and disconnecting. I plan on using these throughout the builds and flashes. I wanna do up a few builds if possible. You can reference the pictures ..........

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[Daryl Dean]

Here is a couple more pics as well .... I used a dremel to open up a small hole for the wires to run out of the flash ..

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[-jeff]

Looks good!

[Kamalawarna]

.... Then run the wires to two or three banks of AA battery holders..
Can I see how the battery holder arrangement is made to keep the power last long

[-jeff]

Two of these AA battery holders in parallel would double your capacity.

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[Kamalawarna]

Thank you Jeff. Some folks say this method can fry the flashes. Is there a big risk?

[-jeff]

If you have the flash set to full power, the batteries are fresh and the flash interval is set too short and too many activations happen, the flash can over heat. So, it is important to have a camera controller that you can set a delay between flashes and set the maximum number of activations per motion event. This gives the flash time to recharge the flash capacitor and not over heat. Typically you don't need to run the flashes at full power. With the newer DSLR cameras able to shoot at a little higher ISO without noise, you don't need as much flash lighting.

[Kamalawarna]

Thank you Jeff. Fortunately I can manage with 1/128 or 1/64. Sometimes I might want flash multi mode.

[Kamalawarna]

I used a 6V4.5A external battery to power up my Yongnuo 568 EX III flash using above technique. Flash started heating up within seconds that it nearly melted the plastic adapters. But didnt fry the flash. What could have gone wrong 215

[Kamalawarna]

216 the battery I used.

[-jeff]

When did you notice the heating of the plastic? Was it while activating the flash? What part of the plastic was getting hot?

[Kamalawarna]

When did you notice the heating of the plastic? Was it while activating the flash? What part of the plastic was getting hot?

It was while I was turning the flash on. Actually the flash didn't turn on.Parts along the positive terminal were heating up. Specially those connectors (1and 2 in figure) were nearly melted.red wire is the positive.217

[-jeff]

Looks like someplace in the circuit was drawing a lot of current. Check the placement of your plastic inserts in the flash. Make sure the polarity is correct and that the inserts are in the right holes.

[Kamalawarna]

Thanks Jeff. However yesterday I could turn on the flash for a little while with newly bought battery. Then I fully charged the battery today and tried and then this happened. How to decide whether inserts are in right holes properly? Here is a clear figure shiwing the holes.218

[-jeff]

Without seeing the bottom of the battery compartment it's hard to tell which slots your plastic tubes should be in.

[Kamalawarna]

Yes I understand it. However I could determine them. Also I manged the heating issue by putting following connections. Now the problem is the flash time again. After 8 hours of charging flash battery drains in 5-6 hours:( . Is it the nature of Yongnuo flashes?219

[jedtrently]

Thanks Jeff. However yesterday I could turn on the flash for a little while with newly bought battery. Then I fully charged the battery today and tried and then this happened. How to decide whether inserts are in right holes properly? Here is a clear figure shiwing the holes.218

Hey buddy,
Yongnuo 560 flashes you have to mount the batteries in the lower 2 terminals only so I'm pretty sure if you find the 2 correct terminals your problem will go away :)

[NielsK]

Did anyone consider using a Nikon SD-8 or SD-8A Battery Pack together with a SB-28? (A=European market, with different power plug) According to the SB-28 manual the recycling time will thus be shortened from 4 to 2.5 seconds, full power recovery. The pack holds 6 AA batteries wich looks like some xtra power although the remaining 4 in the flash get a different function: 'The Speedlight itself should be fitted with four batteries as per normal as these will power the Speedlights electronics - LCD, zoom head etc'. So, not the dreamed power extender but the short recycling time nevertheless is appealing. What do you think, is it worth buying one?

[Awanawanga]

My favorite method to extend life of the Nikon SB flash is to use two dowels and a couple brass wood screws. Then run the wires to two or three banks of AA battery holders.

204

205

Cheap, but works very well.


Hello.

I have never used SB28 before, especially with external battery supply.

My idea is to use two Double D Holders with two AA adapters each from Camtraptions (this way each Double D holder will take six AA batteries), connect them in a row and then plug them with dummy batteries into the flash unit. This way, I will have 12 AA batteries and overall voltage of 6V (or 4.8V with NiMH rechargeable).

Usually, all battery holders of this kind use battery clip connectors for 9V batteries.

Unfortunately, the 9V connectors come with pre-soldered wires that are 26AWG (this gauge is not very thick). I can see that the wires in your pictures look similar gauge.

My question is: Is there any chance the 26AWG wires of the connectors can overheat during charging the flash unit?

[-jeff]

Hello.

I have never used SB28 before, especially with external battery supply.

My idea is to use two Double D Holders with two AA adapters each from Camtraptions (this way each Double D holder will take six AA batteries), connect them in a row and then plug them with dummy batteries into the flash unit. This way, I will have 12 AA batteries and overall voltage of 6V (or 4.8V with NiMH rechargeable).

Usually, all battery holders of this kind use battery clip connectors for 9V batteries.

Unfortunately, the 9V connectors come with pre-soldered wires that are 26AWG (this gauge is not very thick). I can see that the wires in your pictures look similar gauge.

My question is: Is there any chance the 26AWG wires of the connectors can overheat during charging the flash unit?

The wire in the picture is 22ga and works fine for a short run.

[Awanawanga]

Thank you for your answer.