Vivitar 285HV Flash - Page 2 - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

This means Battery is low to charge the capacitor.
I suggest you test this with unused new Duracell.

Yes, insert 285's cord into PC of camera.

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Do you have a DVM?

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Hello,

You can't repair the capacitor, only replacement.
Are you sure it's the capacitor or just guessing?

If you know how to put a bicycle together without using a manual, then it's not hard.

Just needs:
Phillip Screwdriver
Very thin blade to remover the round plate
Flat Blade Screwdriver
Solder and Soldering Gun.

Be very careful on the HV discharge fromm the cap.

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I don't know how to send images on this site.

problem in capacitor so change it

Hi Larry,

Change all four batteries, I think one or more were not 1.25 or more voltages.

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No, don't junk them.

Check the On & Off Switch.
These babies are over 30 years old, but they are better than new flashes.

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If the tube is burned out, then you may be better off if you trash that unit and find a new flash. the electronics involved are high voltage and dangerous. So 1- if the part is available, 2- you can find somebody to replace it, and 3- that is the problem, not something else. The age of the flash is going to hinder you.

Hi Dave,
Try shorting out Center Pin to Outside Metal Contact after the light turned green. This must fire the flash.
If not, could be the flashtube /or trigger are defective.
Do you have a DVM?
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The flash was never designed for that camera and there is an incompatibility in the automatic modes since the camera cannot TTL control the flash. Some will look good and some bad since the camera is unware of the flash. Using the camera in M - fully manual mode will help, but you will need to set the aperture in the lens to control how bright the flash will appear in the final photo.

Not compatible.
Get slave triggers and use them as remote flashes, or buy another film camera.
It seems Vivitar no longer is in the flash business. Get a Sigma or Sunpak digital flash for your SX10

3600mA Be careful of shorting wires together. [email protected]

Are you still having problems? [email protected]

Most probably find a Vivitar service manual here. Just send them a search request.

Hello,

Check dirty contacts.

Do this test:
Fresh 4 batteries
Turn on and wait until flashing Green Light.
With insulated wire, both ends stripped to 1/4" of bare wire, short one end to Center of flash shoe and the other to metal outside contact.
Make sure flash is not facing at eyes.
Shorting it should fire the flash.
Or connect the PC Cord to flash and short Center Pin to outside.

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It is the HV version, yes you can just put it in a color mode so the sensor on the front guesses the out put- it isn't ttl so it won't know what the camera is thinking

The red wire connects to the center contact and the black connects to the outside/ground connector. The other wires are to be isolated and insulated from everything else, tape those up and put them out of the way.

Are you serious...you don't know how to turn it on? Ever wonder what the on/off switch is for?
Slide the switch from left to right and wait for the 'ready' light to change from red to green...then it's ready to shoot.

if you're talking about the plug in knob on the front of the unit... without the knob, the unit will only deliver full power and not try to control the amount of light based on the color coding. there is no way around this. you can, order a new plug in module either from vivitar, on line stores like B&H or probably find one on e-bay.

easiest way to get these is search for them on Ebay. they are usually very plentiful. If that fails, most on-line camera stores (B&H Photo is a good one) have them on line to order