I NEED INFO FOR THE SUNPAK CL-3 NICD BATTERY CLUSTER FOR THE 622 SERIES:: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE: ARE THE BATTERIES REPLACABLE WITHOUT USING A TECHNICIAN:: HOW MANY FLASHES PER CHARGE:: AND

Hi,
Sunpak uses different power sources on their high-power handle mount (a.k.a. hammerhead) flash guns. The most common is the battery basket that holds 4 or 6 AA or C batteries depending on the type of the unit. One can insert Nickel-Cadmium or Nickel-Metal-Hydride rechargeable batteries instead of the primary cells, this way reducing the "consumables" costs at the expense of the smaller number of flashes per battery set. (Actually, NiCd or NiMH cells would probably give smaller number of flashes compared with the alkaline cells, but the recycle time between the flashes can be shorter. The reason is that at charging the flash capacitor inside the flash current counts more than voltage. Sunpak sells Ni-Cd battery packs named CL-2 for their flashes that utilize 6 AA-cells, and CL-3 for their 622 series (4 C-cells). The charger for these is the QBC-5. It recharges the exhausted batteries in 3 hours. As a solution assuring the shortest duration between flashes Sunpak offered the Powerpak, a shoulder holster that held a dry (non-rechargeable) battery of 510V, it charged the flash capacitor directly, omitting the transistor inverter in the flash body. As such battery became obsolete, the Poverpak has been superseded with the NC510 and later the TR-II PAK, which utilizes 10 Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries as a power source, and a powerful (more capable than the one in the flash) transistor inverter. NC510 and TR-II PAK use the same connection to the flash and the same outlook as the original Powerpak but, being rechargeable, are more economical. QBC-5 also serves a charger for the NC510 and TR-II PAK. You may ask, how the same charger can be used for 4, 6 and 10 cell NiCd packs. Well, the charger is specially designed for that, although charging time differs at the different battery packs. The NC510 and the TR-II PAK needs 10 hours to be recharged, when exhausted. The best way to avoid damages (overcharging degrades NiCd and NiMH cells) is to check temperature of the batteries. Charging must be cut off if the battery becomes hotter than 45 ?C (115 ?F). If after 10 hours of charge the NC510 does not power (the otherwise working) flash, then it must be serviced. Replacing the batteries is an easy job that can be done at home, with some soldering skills; NiMH cells with solder tabs are available at many web-based supplyers. Don't solder the cells directly, heat damages them. Avoid touching parts inside, when the pack is turned on: electrocuting is fully possible. Better find a professional, if you are not familiar with the electronics.

Sunpak uses different power sources on their high-power handle mount (a.k.a. hammerhead) flash guns. The most common is the battery basket that holds 4 or 6 AA or C batteries depending on the type of the unit. One can insert Nickel-Cadmium or Nickel-Metal-Hydride rechargeable batteries instead of the primary cells, this way reducing the "consumables" costs at the expense of the smaller number of flashes per battery set. (Actually, NiCd or NiMH cells would probably give smaller number of flashes compared with the alkaline cells, but the recycle time between the flashes can be shorter. The reason is that at charging the flash capacitor inside the flash current counts more than voltage. Sunpak sells Ni-Cd battery packs named CL-2 for their flashes that utilize 6 AA-cells, and CL-3 for their 622 series (4 C-cells). The charger for these is the QBC-5. It recharges the exhausted batteries in 3 hours. As a solution assuring the shortest duration between flashes Sunpak offered the Powerpak, a shoulder holster that held a dry (non-rechargeable) battery of 510V, it charged the flash capacitor directly, omitting the transistor inverter in the flash body. As such battery became obsolete, the Poverpak has been superseded with the NC510 and later the TR-II PAK, which utilizes 10 Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries as a power source, and a powerful (more capable than the one in the flash) transistor inverter. NC510 and TR-II PAK use the same connection to the flash and the same outlook as the original Powerpak but, being rechargeable, are more economical. QBC-5 also serves a charger for the NC510 and TR-II PAK. You may ask, how the same charger can be used for 4, 6 and 10 cell NiCd packs. Well, the charger is specially designed for that, although charging time differs at the different battery packs. The NC510 and the TR-II PAK needs 10 hours to be recharged, when exhausted. The best way to avoid damages (overcharging degrades NiCd and NiMH cells) is to check temperature of the batteries. Charging must be cut off if the battery becomes hotter than 45 ?C (115 ?F). If after 10 hours of charge the NC510 does not power (the otherwise working) flash, then it must be serviced. Replacing the batteries is an easy job that can be done at home, with some soldering skills; NiMH cells with solder tabs are available at many web-based supplyers. Don't solder the cells directly, heat damages them. Avoid touching parts inside, when the pack is turned on: electrocuting is fully possible. Better find a professional, if you are not familiar with the electronics.

No, the P110, 18V NiCad battery charger, will not charge a 18V lithium ion battery. You need one of the dual-chemistry chargers. If you have the Ryobi ONE+ batteries, you can get the P117 charger ($30) or a charger with an extra battery (P126) from a store like Home Depot. A 6 battery charger and a 12V in-car charger are also available.

I wish that I had better news for you.

Cindy Wells
(who has the Ryobi 12V drill and charger, a few of the 4V tools, and a number of the ONE+ 18V devices and chargers. The single chemistry battery charger is not used much any more.)

Tocad the Sunpak distributor in the US does still distribute one of the 622 series,so you might be able to get them repaired or get spare parts. Be aware the voltages and energies available in the flash capacitors are dangerous, so you have to have electronics knowledge/skills to work on them safely. There was an ebay seller who used to sell a scanned vewrsion of the service manual for the 622.

I have a lot of old 45-40 Series Metz 45 NiCd battery packs, that I will eventually rebuild with new NiCd batteries. I got them from Photographic Trader magazine and from ebay. I've heard that NiCd cells are going out of production, in favour of NiMH cells. I've found it's easier to put NiCd or NiMH cells in the alkaline battery holder, the flash recycle time is only slightly longer. I charge them separately out of the holder, or in the holder with a connector I made. NiMH cells need a suitable charger, with peak detection, as NiMH cells don't like being overcharged.

Sunpak 622 Auto Pro has 6.5 - 8.0 V trigger voltage.
It should be OK for Nikon D6

Strobe TriggerVoltages

Sunpak TR-Pak II a NiCad flash battery pack with charger and Quantam battery both has cords for 622.
Personally I have taken out wire pair from removable battery pack of 622 and connected to 4 cells of Nicd type D battery pack made at home.(I placed that in my belt bag).
want more details ,feel free to email at [email protected]

Use
AC / DC Power Adapter Replaces Ryobi One+ Batteryhttp://lcdpayless.com/ryobi_one_power_adapter.php

I had the same problem - 10-11 secs on 240VAC. My solution was to get the Quantum Turbo SC for $450. It yields ~3sec recycle times. This pack for $150 should play nicely as well: http://www.adorama.com/JTMBPN.html?searchinfo=jtl+lancer+battery+pck It was out of stock at the time. The Sunpak TR2000 is $250, but it's Ni-Cd while the others are NiMH. There are other HV packs capable of powering the 622 w/ the fitting cable like Lumedyne IIRC. The AD-26 is still useful for non-action photography. The fastest time I saw posted is 1.5 secs, but it's a DIY job (search 'sunpak 622' on flickr). HTH,
Szilard

I'm assuming you're using the NiCd batteries. NiCd batteries do not last forever and need to be replaced when they show a resistance to beign charged. To optimize the life of these batteries you need to let them fully discharge before attempting to charge them. This is impractical most of the time.

You have two choices:
1. Purchase a NiMH charger and AA batteries and use that INSTEAD of the CHARGER STAND and NiCd batteries. This type of battery can be recharged without the problems discussed earlier and will last longer... or
2. Purchase another NiCd battery pack.