Minolta MFC-1000 DC in

On the Minolta Macro Flash Controller there is a 6V DC inlet. Does anyone here know how much current it need? In the manual there is no reference to this inlet other than it is mentioned as "DC Terminal" in the Names of Parts.

On page 6 of the instructions manual:

The AC Adapter for this Macro Flash Controller is available only in
Japan.

No data on this adapter but its part No would be 8843-410 found in an old parts list ) and it was specific to the MFC-1000 so good luck trying to find an equivalent without destroying the unit

Most AC adapters i know used on flash require recycle times of 10-12 secs if used alone.

What use would you have for it ?

I can´t se what the problem is. It say 6V and polarity is clearly shown beside the DC terinal on the MFC-1000. Question is only if I need an adapter of 2amp or if it should be bigger or if a smaller is OK. The easiest is to bring the MFC and Twin Flash to an electronic shop and try with a small one and see what happens. Maybe on Tuesday.

There is a swich in the DC terminal that shut off the internal batteries when an external DC adapter is connected. Looks quite straight forward to me.

In case this data can help you, i have AC Adapters for older Minolta flashes that show input/output info

AC Adapter 3 ( for 320/320X Auto electroflahes )
AC Adapter 4 ( for 360PX 280PX and it may even work with 80PX ringlight )

Input: 115 V 5W (or 10W i have 3 of those and one says 10W)
Output: DC 19V 10mA / 7V 30mA


AC Adapter AC-1000 ( for 4000 AF Flash and may even work with 1200AF ringlight)

Input: 115 V 8W
Output: DC 230V 10mA / 6V 50mA

I am no expert in electricity/electronics but this data may prevent you from burning something

Another option would be if you use a ring light ( 1200AF) in manual mode it would fire at full power all the time and the original Minolta unit could be used with Power Grip CG-1000 that could provide a lot of flashes from the extra batteries in the Power Grip.


If it works out, let us know, i could use it on occasion too

michelb wrote: On page 6 of the instructions manual: The AC Adapter for this Macro Flash Controller is available only in Japan. No data on this adapter but its part No would be 8843-410 found in an old parts list ) and it was specific to the MFC-1000 so good luck trying to find an equivalent without destroying the unit

According to this post http://www.mi-fo.de/forum/index.php?showtopic=13034&view=findpost&p=163583, the part name of this specific Minolta AC Adapter was AC-10, and (8843-410) was the part number of the Japanese 100V AC input version of it.

The 6V DC plug carries Plus on its inner pole, GND outside. Do not reverse polarity, it will damage the MFC-1000.

DC plugs are available in many different combinations of inner and outer diameter, unfortunately, I don't know the exact specs of the DC terminal in the MFC-1000.

Regarding electrical characteristics, the 6V DC should be stabilized (so don't choose one of the cheap AC adapters without internal voltage stabilization), because even if nominally 6V, they would provide voltages higher than 6V in idle mode. Since the adapter will replace a battery pack, which will never have more than 6V, the MFC-1000 may not be designed to cope with that. Using a stabilized adapter will keep you on the safe side.

Since the current drawn from the batteries can be quite high in flashes, I would choose an AC adapter which is able to deliver at least 3A at 6V DC, more current cannot harm, but is better. So, if available and not extra-ordinarily expensive, choose a 4A, 5A or 6A adapter. At this rate you will most likely find adapters with switching regulator, which is fine because they will most probably also ofter a wide input range 100V-240V / 50-60Hz AC, so that you can use the adapter anywhere.

Lower DC currents will not harm the MFC-1000 either, but may harm the AC adapter (overheating), if the MFC-1000 constantly forces them into constant current condition, and it would cause longer than necessary flash recharge times.

A 6V/2A DC adapter (like the Minolta AC-2L) is known to allow recharge times of about 8 seconds in the MFC-1000.

Greetings,

Matthias

Edited by matthiaspaul - 16 February 2013 at 07:42

Carl wrote: Do you know if the EBP-100 is a stabilised supply, Matthias? I assume it would be, but nothing in Minolta's documentation states as much.

No, I don't know, but I would doubt it. I cannot rule it out, but it would be wasting efficiancy given that the EBP-100 is an external battery pack for a number of specific Minolta Dimage cameras, which are designed to cope with the voltages provided by LiIon battery packs.

Someone, who owns a EBP-100, will have to measure the output voltage to find out...

The MFC-1000 does not need a stabilized voltage "per se", it will cope with any input voltage from, say, 3V to 6V. However, it was designed for AA cells (Alkaline, NiCd, or NiMH) and the maximum voltage 4 AA cells can provide is 6.0V. It is possible that the circuit in the MFC-1000 will cope with somewhat higher voltages (as with unstabilized power supplies, which can in reality provide voltages up to 8.4V when offering 6.0V nominally), but since we don't know the circuit, it's better to play it safe and do not use voltages higher than 6.0V. Hence my recommendation for stabilized power supplies only (which also has other advantages).

The NP-100's used in the EBP-100 are 7.4V nominally. It is possible that the MFC-1000 would cope with this higher voltage without any problems, but it is also possible that the higher voltage would damage the MFC-1000 in the short or long term.

While it could work in theory (assuming a proper voltage conversion), using LiIon batteries isn't a particularly good idea for flashes, anyway, as LiIon batteries typically have a higher resistance than NiCd or NiMH batteries. This causes them to become hot (which reduces their life-time) and they typically give slower flash recycle times.

If you are searching for an external battery pack (rather than an AC adapter) for the MFC-1000, any battery pack for 4x AA, C or D batteries will do assuming the connector is wired with the correct polarity for the MFC-1000 and fits mechanically.

Greetings,

Matthias

Edited by matthiaspaul - 16 February 2013 at 13:50

That is also my thoughts. As the DC terminal has a cecuit breaker disconnecting the internal AA-cells it is only replacing them. Can hardly be so very high tech.

Thanks for the info that the adapter can be small, 1Amp or even less. That makes for a rather low cost item.