Bonica XP Strobe on Canon S1

[E/C-Diver]

Trying to get my Bonica XP strobe to faithfully fire with my Canon S1 in it's WP-DC20 housing. I've had the setup for a while now and just want to get the thing to strobe right. I've thought about running a sync cord from the flash window on the housing to one of the optical sensors on the strobe; something along the lines of 10Bar Fiber Optic Cable for Sea&Sea Strobes #OF-SS
Does anybody think this is do-able or should I be putting more energy into convincing myself of getting another set up? It's a shame because other than the infrequent strobe, the set up does everything I need/want it to do.
Is there a universal cord with ends on it that are similar to the "light pick ups" for the flash on the link I posted, preferably on both ends? I am asking too much?

:11:

Thanks,
Steve G

 

[cicopo]

I'm not familiar with your flash but did use 2 Sea & Sea YS 15's on my recently sold S1 in the WP-DC20 case. I built my own adaptor for the fiber optic cables to mount in front of the built in flash while blocking off it's output. The cables came with each flash & plugged into a small hole on the front of them plus into metal or aluminum parts that came in the kit. Since I don't know how you would connect a cable at your flash I can't really give advice but the Sea & Sea cables used an O ring on the small fitting that plugs into the hole at either end which is about 5/16 inch in diameter (8 mm). Take a look at my photos here, and if needed use the magnifying glass icon to enlarge them (very lage files of the housing) to try to understand what I am talking about.
Picasa Web Albums - Larry - Underwater ca...

 

[Puffer Fish]

I'm not familiar with your flash but did use 2 Sea & Sea YS 15's on my recently sold S1 in the WP-DC20 case. I built my own adaptor for the fiber optic cables to mount in front of the built in flash while blocking off it's output. The cables came with each flash & plugged into a small hole on the front of them plus into metal or aluminum parts that came in the kit. Since I don't know how you would connect a cable at your flash I can't really give advice but the Sea & Sea cables used an O ring on the small fitting that plugs into the hole at either end which is about 5/16 inch in diameter (8 mm). Take a look at my photos here, and if needed use the magnifying glass icon to enlarge them (very lage files of the housing) to try to understand what I am talking about.
Picasa Web Albums - Larry - Underwater ca...

Nicely done... you have addressed the issue with fiber optics... you need a good cable (the S&S are nice, larger diameter ones), with some way to firmly attach the (in this case a plug) at both ends.

There is another way, where you cut the end that goes over the strobe... strip away some the covering and firmly attache over the strobe... I found that also works really well. I used some double sided, thick, black foam tape and taped in over the strobe, then attached the other end with the plug... it has worked well for two years, but I am going to the connector mounting on my new case - drilling an 8mm hole thru the mounted defuser, then thru a block of 1/8 inch black plastic cut to attach to the inside of the defuser. You then just plug in - seems to also work well.

 

[E/C-Diver]

Thanks for the valuable info; looks like that setup on your housing is what I'm trying to achieve. Is that sync cord anything special? What I mean is... Is it a fiber optic cable with a single pin source (not like the multi-pin set ups for other cords)? I'm assuming that is a fiber optic wire with just a single connector on each end.

Thanks again,
~Steve G~

 

[cicopo]

It's just a fiber optic cable like any other. The plastic ends with the O rings just give something to grip while the O ring has to be compressed to fit into the hole it is plugged into. Compressing the O ring a bit is all that really retains it into the fitting at the housing or into the small hole at the front of the Sea & Sea strobes. Think of a fiber optic cable as a bunch of strands of glass running side by side with an outer wrapper to contain & protect them. Light goes in one end & transmits to the other through the strands. In my case I don't think I ever had a missfire re the strobes so it seemed very reliable.

 

[E/C-Diver]

I work with fiber optics in the aircraft industry; before I was gonna buy a cable and "make it fit" I figured that I'd ask what the simplest (read: "done right the first time") cable to modify would be. I'll try that cord that was previously mentioned (also saw a Sea & Sea Fiber Optic Cable (L-type) that I might try.

:camera: :thumbs_up:

Awesome assistance, folks. I appreciate the quick and accurate replies.

~Steve G~

 

[cicopo]

Sounds like you won't have any trouble solving the how & why. I also have worked with a bit of fiber optic stuff but in old Corvettes which I restore for a living, and was why I was able to build my own part to mount on my housing to do the job my way. Sea & Sea supplied 2 sided tape & velcro cloth to hole the fittings, which to me didn't cut it. If I can supply any more info just ask. Meanwhile I'll wait for the housing for my G 9 & other stuff I ordered to arrive, then do it all again. Larry