Operation
Instructions
The LG4X Wired Remote is
designed to provide wired remote control operation for photographic flash units
manufactured by Paul C. Buff, Inc., including all AlienBees units and White
Lightning UltraZAP, Ultras, and X-Series units.
Thank You
for purchasing the LG4X Remote Control!
Please call
us if you need any assistance.
The LG4X
Remote Control is a product of
LightGearUSA,
a division of Paul C. Buff, Inc.
2725 Bransford Ave. Nashville, TN
37204
Toll Free Customer Line
1-800-443-5542
Local (615) 383-3982 Fax (615) 383-0676
Thank you
for purchasing the LG4X Wired Remote Control!
The LG4X carries our 60-Day Absolute Satisfaction Guarantee and is covered under a 2-Year Factory Warranty.
The LG4X
Arrives With:
4 color-coded, 25-foot telephone cords (black, grey, beige and white
cords)
2 standard 1.5 volt AA alkaline batteries
8 blank “dummy” plugs
• 4 1/4-inch plugs for
use with White Lightning units
• 4 1/8-inch plugs for
use with AlienBees units
1 15-foot sync cord (1/8-inch mono plug to PC connection)
The
LG4X is designed to provide wired remote operation for up to four Paul C. Buff,
Inc. Flash Units. These flash units are
each equipped with a modular, four-conductor RJ11 telephone jack, located on
the back control panel. Each flash unit
in your setup may be connected from this jack to the corresponding modular
telephone jack on the front of the LG4X via the four 25-foot, color-coded
cables included with the remote. As each
unit is connected to the remote, the number underneath the jack on the remote
indicates which slider will be used to operate that light.
Note: The sync voltage from the LG4X is 5 volts, safe for digital
cameras.
•
individual, continuously variable slider control of flashpower over a 5 f-stop
range, from Full down to 1/32 power in whole f-stops and in between
•
common selection of modeling lamp mode with three setting options:
(1) Full (the modeling lamp in all connected lights
will remain on full brightness regardless of flashpower adjustment);
(2) Off (the modeling lamp in all connected lights
will remain off regardless of flashpower adjustment); or
(3) Track (each individual modeling lamp will track
the changes that are made with the slider control corresponding to that light)
•
flash testing of all connected lights with the fire button
•
common sync connection to all lights from a single mini-plug sync input located
on top of the LG4X, which connects directly to your camera, or your camera’s
hot shoe adaptor (the appropriate sync cord is the 15-foot sync cord provided
with each remote control)
The
LG4X is powered by two 1.5 volt AA alkaline batteries that are housed in a
snap-open compartment on the back of the unit.
In normal use, the batteries will last approximately 1000 hours before
requiring replacement. The LG4X does not
have an On/Off switch, but instead has a Sleep Mode which will power down the
unit after 3 hours of inactivity. When
the unit receives a sync command or a test command with the Fire button, the
Sleep Mode timer will reset. When in
Sleep Mode, the sliders will not control the flashpower or the modeling
lamp. To begin your shoot, push the fire
button once to “wake” your remote.
When
a flash unit is connected to the LG4X, control of the flashpower and the
modeling lamp mode becomes a function of the LG4X, regardless of the control
settings on the back panel of the flash unit.
When the LG4X is in Sleep Mode, or is disconnected from the flash unit,
control of these parameters reverts to the settings on the back panel of the
individual light. The flash unit’s
On/Off switch and Model/Ready switch are not remotely operable, and must be set
as desired on the units. Essentially,
the flash units must be individually powered on, and while the settings for
flashpower and modeling lamp mode are being controlled by the LG4X, the Ready
indicator light on the back panel of the flash unit will still serve as a
display for when the unit has recycled.
The
FIRE button serves as a convenient way to test fire all flash units connected
to the LG4X, as well as providing a simple test for battery condition and
general functioning of the remote unit.
Each time the FIRE button is pressed, the red LED indicator should
briefly light. This LED indicator is
located next to the number 4 under the telephone jack connections on the front
panel of the LG4X. The red light
indicates that the battery is still charged to an acceptable level. This also indicates that a diagnostic test of
the remote unit’s major internal components has been successfully
performed. The same diagnostic routine
is carried out when the remote unit has been fired via the built-in slave or
sync jack. The LG4X need not be
connected to the flash units to be tested.
To
begin using the LG4X, you will need to have your flash units and various
accessories in place, with the individual units connected to an AC power
source.
1.
In order to utilize the Modeling Lamp Switch on the LG4X, the Modeling Lamp
switch must first be engaged on the flash unit.
Ensure that each connected unit has the modeling lamp turned ON, then
turn each flash unit OFF.
2.
Move the LG4X Modeling Lamp switch (located on the top of the remote) to the
“TRACK” position. This will allow a
What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get preview, where the modeling lamp in each unit will
track the changes that you make in flashpower.
The lamp will dim as the flashpower is lowered, and brighten as the
flashpower is raised. Should you wish to
turn the modeling lamps off, or keep them on full power throughout the shoot,
you can move this switch to change the setting at any time once your remote is
in use.
3.
To connect the first flash unit to the remote control, you will plug one end of
the telephone cable into the telephone jack on the back panel of the flash
unit, and plug the other end into the telephone jack on the LG4X Remote that is
labeled with the number 1. The first
flash unit connected will be “Unit 1”.
The first slider control on the LG4X that is labeled with a 1 will now
control the flashpower and modeling lamp settings of Unit 1.
4.
Follow these same steps to connect up to three additional flash units (Unit 2,
Unit 3 and Unit 4). The color-coded
cables will visually indicate which flash unit in your setup is connected to
each labeled port.
5.
Once your flash units are connected to the remote, you will then connect the
remote to your camera with the provided sync cord. This connection will give the remote its cue
to fire the connected flash unit when your shutter is pressed.
While
the cue for your flash units to fire will come from your camera, any other
flashes of light in the area may still trip your units. If you will be working around other
photographers, use the provided “dummy” plugs to disengage the built-in slave
tripper on each connected unit. The
slave can be disengaged by inserting a dummy plug into the sync jack on the
back panel of the flash unit. With the
slaves disengaged, the units will only take their cue to fire from the
remote. We have provided dummy plugs for
you to disengage the slaves on your four connected flash units, if needed.
6.
With your flash units connected to the remote and the remote connected to your
camera, you are ready to turn on your flash units. You can then test fire the
units and begin shooting.
CONTROLS
When
a flash unit is connected to the LG4X Remote Control, control of the Flash
Power and Modeling Lamp Mode (Full, Off or Tracking) becomes a function of the
LG4X. The following flash unit controls
are not remotely operable, and must be set as desired on the individual flash
unit(s).
The
controls listed below each flash unit model must be set on the flash unit’s
control panel as they cannot be controlled with the LG4X remote.
White
Lightning X-Series Flash Units:
• the On/Off switch
• the Power Mode RANGE switch
• the white MODEL switch
• the Model = READY switch
Before
using the LG4X, these controls must be set to the desired positions. Once connected, the LG4X will control the
Flash Power and common Modeling Lamp Mode of each unit connected.
White
Lightning UltraZAP Flash Units:
• the On/Off switch
• the white MODEL switch
• the Model = READY switch
Before
using the LG4X, these controls must be set to the desired positions. Once connected, the LG4X will control the
Flash Power and common Modeling Lamp Mode of each unit connected.
White
Lightning Ultra Series Flash Units:
• the Power On/Off switch
• the MODEL (tracking / full / off) switch
• the white Model switch
• the Relative Model switch
Before
using the LG4X, these controls must be set to the desired positions. Once connected, the LG4X will control the
Flash Power and common Modeling Lamp Mode of each unit connected. If you wish to control the Modeling Lamp Mode
with the LG4X, the Model switch must be set to either Full or Tracking on the
flash unit.
>> Note on using the LG4X with the Ultra Series units:
If sync voltage is an issue with using your digital camera and the Ultra
Series units, the LG4X can be used as a safe sync between your digital cameras
and the Ultra Series flash units. While
the Ultra Series units have a sync voltage of 9.5 volts, the LG4X has a sync
voltage of only 5 volts.
AlienBees
Flash Units:
• the On/Off switch
• the white MODEL LAMP ON switch
• the dark grey MODEL LAMP TRACK switch
• the light grey MODEL LAMP CYCLE switch
Before
using the LG4X, these controls must be set to the desired positions. Once connected, the LG4X will control the
Flash Power and common Modeling Lamp Mode of each unit connected.
OPTIONS AND CUSTOM
CONFIGURATIONS
Please
contact our Technical Support Team if you have questions about different setup
options and/or custom configurations, and would like assistance.
If
you would like to have longer cables for operation at further distances:
If
you need to increase the distance between the flash units and the remote,
off-the-shelf modular telephone cables may be purchased at local hardware
stores and used. Make sure that these
cables have four internal wires, as cables with only two wires will not
work. You may also use two short cables
to make one long cable by using an In-Line Cord Coupler. The LG4X has been tested with wire runs up to
100 feet without problems.
If
you wish to control more than four flash units with your LG4X:
If
you would like to control more than four lights, an additional LG4X may be used
to control up to four more lights. Please note that multiple remotes may not be
wired to each other from one telephone jack on an LG4X to another telephone
jack on the additional LG4X. This will
present a short circuit condition, resulting in battery failure and possibly
causing damage to the unit itself. If
you are using multiple remotes, only one needs to be synced directly to your
camera. The second set of
remote-operated lights may then be adjusted using your additional remote, but
will be fired via their built-in slave trippers when your camera sync orders
the first set of lights to flash.
If
you wish to control multiple units from one channel:
Another
popular custom connection might be to mount several flash units in a large
overhead light bank, and configure them to function as a single unit from one
channel of the LG4X. This can be
achieved using modular adaptor that allows multiple cables to be connected to a
single phone jack (one IN, multiple OUT), and may be purchased at a local
hardware store. All flash units linked
to that channel will assume that channel’s slider setting.
In-Line
Cord Coupler:
A four-conductor In-Line Cord Coupler may be used to combine two line
cords. These couplers are available at
local hardware stores.
Modular
Adaptor:
Four-conductor Modular Adaptors are available at local hardware stores
as 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 adaptors, converting a single jack to either two or three
jacks.
If
you desire to fabricate your own custom cables, you should keep in mind that
standard modular telephone cables require a reversal of the wire order on
alternate ends of each male-to-male connecting cable. Failure to follow this orientation will not
harm the LG4X or the flash units, but will prevent proper operation of the
system. Regardless of the configuration,
your flash units should always be plugged into grounded, three-pronged power
outlets, for they will not function properly if they are connected to a
two-pronged, ungrounded outlet. We
advise against defeating the third-wire ground on AlienBees or White Lightning
units, or any other such equipment, for safety.
The
LED indicator on the LG4X lets you know the status of the remote. A diagnostic test of the remote’s internal
components is performed each time that the unit is first used, and this light
indicates successful results of this test.
This light additionally indicates that the batteries are appropriately charged. When test flashing from the LG4X Remote using
the Test button, if the LED indicator does not light red, first check the
batteries. The batteries that ship with
the remote should last for approximately 1000 hours before requiring
replacement. To replace the batteries,
you will need two standard 1.5 volt AA alkaline batteries. You can use rechargeable batteries, but they
must be AA alkaline rechargeable batteries.
Always use batteries from a reputable manufacturer. After replacing the batteries, if the LED
indicator still will not flash, an unlikely internal defect is indicated. If
this should occur, you will need to contact our Technical Support Team at
1-800-443-5542.
On the back side of the remote is the battery encasement. To replace the batteries, slide the cover off of the encasement, and remove the exhausted batteries.
To replace the batteries in your LG4X, you will need two standard 1.5
volt AA alkaline batteries or two AA alkaline rechargeable batteries. Always use batteries from a reputable
manufacturer.
If
the modeling lamp on your flash unit does not respond with the remote, first
ensure that your modeling lamp is turned ON on the flash unit’s back control
panel. On White Lightning flash units,
the white MODEL button must be depressed for the modeling lamp to be turned
on. On AlienBees flash units, the white
button labeled “ON” must be depressed.
With the modeling lamp on, you may still choose to set the lamps on full
brightness or set them to the tracking mode with the remote.
If
the modeling light is turned on and does not respond, and you hear a clicking
noise when you press the FIRE button, turn your flash unit off and disconnect
the remote. Ensure that the modeling
lamp button is depressed on the flash unit’s back panel, and move the Modeling
Lamp switch on the remote control to the “TRACK” position. Should you wish to turn the modeling lamps
off, or keep them on full throughout the shoot, you can move this switch to
change the setting at any time once your remote is in use. The remote control modeling lamp switch must
begin in this “TRACK” position before a flash unit is connected in order to
function properly.
Powering
your flash units on multiple circuits can create problems, as different
circuits from different power outlets may have different grounding or AC line
noise. If you have flash units in your
setup connected to more than one power outlet, you may see sporadic flashing
when you connect the units to the LG4X.
To prevent this, keep all of the units plugged in to one power outlet,
using a powerstrip. This will ensure
that the grounding for all connected units is the same.
The LG4X
Four-Channel Wired Remote Control
60-Day
Absolute Satisfaction Guarantee
2-Year
Factory Warranty
This equipment is covered
under a two year factory warranty. This
warranty is limited to the repair or replacement of the unit that fails during
the period stated. The warranty shall
exclude the replacement of batteries, as these will become exhausted over time
based on normal use.
Should warranty service be
required, you should first contact our Technical Support Team on our Toll Free
Customer Service Line, 1-800-443-5542.