How long does it take charge the sunpack 510 batt using the qbc-5
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 As such battery became obsolete, the Poverpak has been superseded with the NC510 and later the TR-II PAK, which utilizes 10 Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries as a power source, and a powerful (more capable than the one in the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.
