Installing '3M Dual Lock' Style Fiber Optic Sync Cables
| Created |
2008-05-21 |
| Modified |
2008-05-21 |
| Views |
6332 |
| Author |
Richard Perry
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If you purchased a lighting kit including a strobe that is triggered by a fiber optic cable, you may receive this cable set if
- No Inon AD Mount Base is available for your housing, or
- You elected not to purchase the Inon AD Mount for your housing
The kit typically includes:
- Fiber optic cable with termination block and strobe fitting
- 3M Dual Lock tab with a hole in the center
- Two 3M Dual Lock tabs without holes
- Black plastic flash blocking plate
- Hex wrench
Here is what a typical kit looks like:
Please bear in mind that this is a generic kit, and the one that you receive may not look exactly like the picture. Also bear in mind that each housing is unique and may require slightly different procedures for installation.
Some housing may require removal of the flash diffuser plate from the housing. This is generally accomplished by removing four (or less) screws from the diffuser. In this example we are installing the kit on a Canon WP-DC40 housing. As you can see, we have removed the flash diffuser from this housing. The flash diffuser has no application once you install a strobe, and will actually cause backscatter if left in place.
The Dual Lock kit will be installed directly in front of the camera flash, so make sure this area is clean and free from oils or other contaminants which might affect the adhesives of the Dual Lock tabs.
Step 1: Locate the Dual Lock tab with the hole through the center:
Step 2: Remove the protective film from the back of the tab and press into place on your housing, directly in front of the camera flash:
Step 3: Locate the termination block end of the fiber optic cable:
Step 4: Press the termination block onto the Dual Lock tab installed on the housing in step 2.
Step 5: Locate one of the remaining Dual Lock tabs.
Step 6: Remove the protective backing film, and adhere the tab to the front of the fiber optic termination block.
Step 7: Locate the last remaining Dual Lock tab and without removing the backing film, press it onto the tab installed in Step 6.
Step 8: Remove the protective backing film from the Dual Lock tab installed attached in Step 7.
Step 9: Locate the black plastic flash blocking panel.
Step 10: Based on the shape and configuration of your housing, center the flash blocking panel over the fiber optic termination block as nearly as possible, and press onto the adhesive side of the Dual Lock tab attached in Step 8.
To summarize, if you followed the above steps correctly, you should have created a 'Dagwood sandwich' consisting of:
- Housing
- Dual Lock tab with a hole (adhered to the housing)
- Another Dual Lock tab with a hole (pre-installed on the termination block)
- Termination block
- Dual Lock tab without a hole (adhered to the front of the termination block
- Another Dual Lock tab without a hole (adhered to the flash blocking panel)
- Flash blocking panel
Now any of the components can be removed from the housing and re-attached as needed, and will offer years of trouble free service.
Step 11: Mount your strobe to the housing and attach the free end of the fiber optic cable to the strobe. For Inon strobes, you will have a threaded cap. For Sea & Sea strobes you will have a press-in fitting.
Congratulations! You are done and ready to go shoot!
Note: Should you ever damage the fiber optic cable, it can easily be removed from the termination block using the included hex wrench.
Simply remove the cable, cut off the damaged portion of the cable, reinstall into the termination block and get back to shooting!
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