HiViz - Flash-to-PC Adapter Instructions

Assembly and Operating Instructions for HiViz Kits

Instructions for Flash-to-PC Adapter Assembly (Build 1)

Overview

These instructions are for attaching a Flash-to-PC adapter to the end of your trigger output cable. This will allow your trigger circuit to actuate the flash directly. One end of the flash adapter cord will be cut, and its wires wrapped tightly around the appropriate ones from the trigger output cable. These connections will be tested with a HiViz trigger to ensure proper connections before soldering. The solder joints will then be covered with pieces of heat shrink tubing and/or electrical tape for electrical insulation.

Before you begin, gather the parts and tools below. It's not essential to have a soldering iron or heat shrink tubing; however, you do need your HiViz trigger circuit or delay unit for testing.

Parts:
2-conductor cable, 3-foot length
Flash-to-PC adapter
2-inch length heat shrink tubing (HST), 3/32-inch diameter

Note: As of September 1, 2010, we are supplying an additional length of heat shrink tubing of this size: 4 inches of 3/16-inch diameter tubing. Changes to the instructions related to this extra piece of tubing are given in yellow boxes.

Helpful tools and supplies:
Wire stripper
15- or 30-watt soldering iron and solder
Wet sponge or towel
Lighter or matches to shrink HST

Electrical tape


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First, gather your 2-conductor trigger output cable as well as the flash foot adapter (left).

With a pair of wire strippers, cut the flash adapter cord about 3" (8 cm) from the plug end (right). Set the 3" plug end aside but save it as you may want to use it for a future project, which may require making connections to its wires.


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Flash-to-PC Adapter: You'll be working with the flash shoe end of the adapter. Gently strip back 2” (5 cm) of the outer black insulation. This will reveal two wires, red and white. Strip back 1” (2.5 cm) of insulation over each wire, which will reveal the multi-stranded conductors (left).

Note: If your flash adapter has a white wire with a copper sheath wrapped around it, see build 2 of these instructions.

Trigger Output Cable: If you have previously assembled a HiViz trigger or delay kit, you will have a 2-conductor cable already prepared, and you may skip the rest of this step. If not, follow these directions. At one end of the cable, strip the outer gray insulation back by 2" (5 cm). This will reveal the red and black wires inside. (see photo above right) Strip the individual wires back ¼" (¾ cm). This short length makes the multiple-stranded conductors easier to push into the breadboard.

The other end of the cable will be for connecting to the flash adapter cord. Strip the outer insulation back by 2" (5 cm), and the individual wires back 1" (2.5 cm). The output cable wires are stripped back farther to allow for easier wrapping over the flash adapter wires.


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If you don't have heat shrink tubing, skip to the next paragraph.

If you do have tubing, cut the 3/32-inch diameter piece into two 1-inch lengths. Place one length over each of the output cable wires (left), and slide it backward onto each wire. Be on the lookout for pieces falling off if wires are held upside down.

Now it's time to make connections by wrapping the output cable wires around those from the flash adapter cord. When wrapping, try to get at least two complete turns; more are better. These are the connections to make. See below and the photo to the right.

Twist the red wire of the flash adapter cord around the black wire from the output cable.
Twist the white wire of the flash adapter cord around the red wire from the output cable.

Next, you'll test your connections using your HiViz trigger or delay circuit. Connect the gray output cable to one of the outputs of your circuit. The connection points are indicated in the instructions for assembling the circuit. We don't give them here, because they may be different for different circuits.

Seat your flash on the flash adapter and turn on the flash. Trigger the circuit. The flash should discharge.


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Soldering the connections is optional. If you're not going to solder, skip to the next section, Completing the electrical insulation.

Now that all your connections are good, it’s time to solder. Trim any stray pieces on the connections so the heat shrink tubing will slip over them. If you're new to soldering, see the Soldering Tips below.

Plan to solder in an well-lit, well-ventilated, open area. Avoid contact with all metal surfaces on the iron.

Keep the tip of the soldering iron clean by wiping it against a wet sponge or towel before and after each use. A clean tip should look shiny and silvery; any yellow or black material on the tip will get into the solder and may weaken your solder joint.

Once the tip of your soldering iron is clean, touch a bit of solder to the tip just before use. This is called tinning, and helps the solder run more evenly.

Heat the connection to be soldered by holding the soldering iron to it, until solder applied at the junction between the two melts and flows freely. This ensures the connection and the solder are both hot enough to yield a good solder joint. This should take no more than 10-15 seconds. After the connection is heated, try to get solder along the entire length of the connection by briskly moving the solder and iron along.

Avoid touching only the solder to the connection, and then the soldering iron to the solder to melt it onto the connection. The connection will be cooler than the melted solder and won’t form a good solder joint.

Let new solder joints cool for several seconds before examining them. There should be solder all the way around the connection, forming a rigid joint. When done, unplug your soldering iron and let it cool.


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If you're not using heat shrink tubing, wrap the wire connections individually with electrical tape.

If you are using heat shrink tubing, slide the tubing over each of the solder joints so that the wires are completely insulated from each other. Using a lighter or a match, move the flame smoothly back and forth along the entire length of the tubing, with the tip of the flame just beneath it. If you hold the flame too long in one spot or too closely to the tubing, you will notice smoke. If this happens, lower your flame and continue moving it back and forth. The tubing will visibly shrink, and will be acceptably tight-fitting after only 10-15 seconds of heating.

If you don't have heat-shrink tubing, wrap the red and black wires together with electrical tape, as shown at right.

If you do have heat-shrink tubing, slip the 3/16-inch diameter piece onto the gray 2-conductor cable and completely cover the spliced connections. Then use a heat source to shrink the tubing into place.


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Here's the completed cable. Connect it to your trigger as you did in the Testing Connections section.

Assembly instructions for other kits