RETRA Strobe Thread

Hello, wondering if anyone had similar issues - I have the first retras and occasionally they switch off. Thought it might be battery related but it happens with new batch completely new eneloop pros. Literally fully charged in the first 30 min of the dive. It happens with both my flashes at different times. It is really annoying as I often don’t realize and have half the shot lit and the other dark. They tend to Turn off occasionally when the pilot light is switched on on level 2, which according to retra is a known issue, unfortunately to fix it I have to send them in and on my expenses which means I better live when it. But if same things start to happen on regular use now it’s becoming a bigger problem…


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26 minutes ago, sbonev said:

Hello, wondering if anyone had similar issues - I have the first retras and occasionally they switch off. Thought it might be battery related but it happens with new batch completely new eneloop pros. Literally fully charged in the first 30 min of the dive. It happens with both my flashes at different times. It is really annoying as I often don’t realize and have half the shot lit and the other dark. They tend to Turn off occasionally when the pilot light is switched on on level 2, which according to retra is a known issue, unfortunately to fix it I have to send them in and on my expenses which means I better live when it. But if same things start to happen on regular use now it’s becoming a bigger problem…


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Not this type of problem (!) but I never use the pilot light as it would drain the battery which hardly makes 2 dives in cold waters.

However sometimes after fresh recharge it does not like the batteries and it will not turn on.  I have to take them off and put them on again ...  not sure why either.

Andrea

Not this type of problem (!) but I never use the pilot light as it would drain the battery which hardly makes 2 dives in cold waters.
However sometimes after fresh recharge it does not like the batteries and it will not turn on.  I have to take them off and put them on again ...  not sure why either.
Andrea

13 minutes ago, nudibranco said:

Not this type of problem (!) but I never use the pilot light as it would drain the battery which hardly makes 2 dives in cold waters.

That's where superchargers help! (Not on OG Retras though, I'm afraid)

6 minutes ago, sbonev said:

I also rarely use them, but they are quite useful on night dives.

They're especially useful on blackwater dives, when you get a subject that is attracted to light, and keeps going for your focus torch - turning it off and engaging the modeling light on one of the strobes makes it go across the frame, which is easy to follow by panning, rather than towards you, which makes you backpedal furiously to keep it in the lens.

13 minutes ago, sbonev said:

I also rarely use them, but they are quite useful on night dives. And it’s a real pity I can only use them on level 1. And the not turning after fresh recharge I have never experienced it. Could it be some of the batteries’ contacts?


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I always check for contacts problems, I tend to think it might be that after the fresh recharge the firmware does not like a voltage over 5.6 or 5.7V.  

Worth asking Oskar? Who might well chip-in.......

Hello

Some errors on the Original Retra Flash (produced until early 2018) were programmed to shut down the flashgun. The temperature management program on the pilot light was later changed but requires a firmware update which is not possible remotely.

Shortly we will release a firmware update (3.13) for the PRO and Prime models (produced until early 2021) which will probably solve the rare shut down issue on startup. It happens only with the 4 battery pack.

On 1/28/2022 at 10:46 PM, nudibranco said:

However sometimes after fresh recharge it does not like the batteries and it will not turn on.  I have to take them off and put them on again ...  not sure why either.

Yes, I have this problem with my original pair. It only started in late 2020 after they were not used for nine months due to lockdown. Changing the batteries sometimes works, fresh off the charger eneloops seem to be best but even those sometimes fail. No response from the strobes at all. 
 

it’s annoying and honestly I have stopped using them. Not worth the stress of both failing right before the dive even if they turned on at home. 
 

My contacts are fine and I don’t use the pilot light. 

Hello
Some errors on the Original Retra Flash (produced until early 2018) were programmed to shut down the flashgun. The temperature management program on the pilot light was later changed but requires a firmware update which is not possible remotely.
Shortly we will release a firmware update (3.13) for the PRO and Prime models (produced until early 2021) which will probably solve the rare shut down issue on startup. It happens only with the 4 battery pack.

I also had a similar problem with my original Retras and most occasions the pilot light was actually off. Turning the problem strobe OFF and then to M again solved the problem underwater but it was annoying that the problem could spoil some shots.  Anyway I don't use them anymore as I've upgraded to the Pro Xs. I would like to sell my originals but of course, I don't wish to pass on this issue onto someone else.

It probably means that the issue is known but I can not identify it through the provided description. We will need more details to diagnose the problem. I kindly ask you to write us an email so we can go through the specifics and find out what could be the solution. Please send a description of the issue to our email: info@retra-uwt.com

In general the Original Retra Flash (last produced in early 2018) are robust products and don't have any terminal failures. Since they were our first ever flashgun, that we built from the ground up, they have some quirks which need attention to keep them running smoothly. With an update and service they should all work without issues.

Since this thread is also watched by photographers who are looking to buy the new flashguns I must stress that the conversation above is about the Original Retra Flash which was produced until early 2018. With the later models we have naturally resolved all the quirks and significantly advanced with the technology. Here is just some of the technology that was not available on the Original Retra Flash and was introduced later: remote firmware updates and diagnostics, leakage detection, HSS, highly efficient charging and discharging, powerful pilot light, dual o-rings, fully circular flash tube, etc. The current Retra Flash Pro X and Prime X are the best underwater flashguns you can own today which is the result of our constant pursuit of improvement and innovation.

Finally got my Prime X in the water.  They go through batteries like crazy.  On manual, rarely over 50% power, no aiming light use, no snoot.   I get two dives usually, maybe 100 or so shots.  Fairly new eneloop pro batteries.  On one dive they both began blinking red about 45 minutes into dive.  Is the supercharger basically a mandatory option?

Not really thrilled at the moment.

I highly recommend getting a fresh set of eneloops. Note that all new NiMh batteries need about 1-2 cycles to get to full capacity and performance.

If your flashguns were not in use for a long time they may consume more battery during their first outing as the capacitors will be reformed.

9 hours ago, Draq said:

They go through batteries like crazy.  On manual, rarely over 50% power, no aiming light use, no snoot.   I get two dives usually, maybe 100 or so shots.  Fairly new eneloop pro batteries.

I'd say this is about par the course. I have Pro (non-X) with superchargers, and I generally swap the batteries after 3-4 dives, with an average of a hundred shots per dive.

Oskar:  I amnot sure exactly what you mean by first outing, but I did about 20 dives over 9 days with at least 3-4 battery recharge cycles on two sets of fairly new eneloop pro batteries.  Things did not improve over that time.  Are you saying it will take more dives than this for the capacitors to perform optimally?

I thought you did one dive, we can dismiss that.

Please note that all flashguns will consume power in stand-by mode, when they are turned on. With 4xAA batteries it’s about 10-20% of battery capacity per hour depending on the condition of your batteries and the temperature.

Also please note that the use of the battery indicator is best done by turning off the flashgun for 30 seconds and then going to batt/test position. This will give a better indication, especially if you repeat it a few times. 

8 battery exchanges during 20 dives sounds normal when using 4xAA. If you want to double your battery life the Supercharger is the way to go.

I probably did not state the battery cycles clearly.  Since I had two sets of batteries (16 batts), I did not need to charge them each night, but I learned to change out the batteries daily as they could not make it through two days (4 dives) despite only taking perhaps 20-30 shots per dive. I  think I need the superchargers.  

Also wondering if switching to powerex batteries might help.  i recently read a very favorable review of their performance in flash units

4 hours ago, Draq said:

Also wondering if switching to powerex batteries might help

I've got both Powerex on the recommendation of Reef Photo and Eneloop Pro. Can't see as I can tell any difference.

I forgot to add this earlier: When the battery indicator is showing fixed red you have approximately 25-50% battery remaining. This means you could have half of the battery remaining but of course you don't want to start the day like that and run out in the middle of the second dive or when something unique is happening in front of your camera.

1 hour ago, TimG said:

I've got both Powerex on the recommendation of Reef Photo and Eneloop Pro. Can't see as I can tell any difference.

Wow,  could not find anything that worked except the Eneloop Pro.   The powerex are also about 20% cheaper in Europe and maybe worthwhile a try then. (!).   Any other choice is welcome here.   I tried with no success Duracell Ultra and Amazon.  Lithium stil unsafe?