White Lightning: Older and Retired Units

Since 1982, we’ve offered several different lines of flash units that you may have heard about, or owned and loved yourself! While these lines are retired, we thought you might be looking for some information on the units. If you have further questions, please call us on our Toll Free Customer Service Line, 1-800-443-5542 (Monday – Friday, from 9:00am till 5:00pm, CST). Thanks!



The White Lightning WL 5,000 and WL 10,000 Flash Units

The WL Series (affectionately known as the “coffee cans”) were first introduced in 1983, offering enormous advancements to the photographic lighting industry. Housed in drawn aluminum with a white epoxy finish, these stunning “white lights” caught on quickly. Brought to the market directly from the manufacturer to the customer, the WL Series units introduced the power, the performance, and the outstanding level of service and support that build our company’s reputation.

specifications	WL 5,000	WL 10,000
power	115 to 125 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 amps	115 to 125 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 amps
dimensions	7" diameter x 6" (excluding bracket)	7" diameter x 6" (excluding bracket)
weight	2.5 pounds	3.25 pounds
power range	3 controls: Full Power, 2/3 Power and 1/3 Power
modeling lamp	100 watt bulb, indicated ready status
flashtube	WFT36R (5600°K, daylight-balanced flashtube) or WFT36RUV (5200° K, UV-coated flashtube)
true wattseconds	130 ws	250ws
lumenseconds	4,350 ls	8,700 ls
ISO 100 Guide Number	GN# 160	GN# 220
BCPS	5,000	10,000
sync voltage	24 volts	24 volts
recycle time (to1/2f)	Full Power: 1.5 seconds 2/3 Power: 1 second 1/3 Power: 0.5 second	Full Power: 3.0 seconds 2/3 Power: 2 second 1/3 Power: 1 second
standard reflector	built-in, silver reflector with 60° beam spread

click here for the complete 5000/10000 manual

The White Lightning WL Series units may be used with many of our current accessories, including the Vagabond Portable Power System, our light stands, our umbrellas and brolly boxes, our barndoors, and our gels and filters. The WLPA speedring is required to use any of our softboxes. The WL Series units can unfortunately not be used with our Octaboxes, LG4X Wired Remote, our Honeycomb Grids, our 22-inch, 11-inch, or 7-inch reflectors, or our LiteMod Unit Mainframe System. The WL Series units may be used with our RadioRemote One, but they require a different connection and can only be used as a firing mechanism, not adjusting the output settings. For information on compatibility with our RFT1 Radio Flash Trigger one, please read this important note on our RFT1 page.

The Ultra Series Units (Ultra 600, Ultra 1200, and Ultra 1800)

The Ultra Series units first arrived in 1987, offering the same dependability that White Lightning was known for, with enhanced features. The Ultra Series units offered an adjustable power range over 5 f-stops, with a removable 7” silver field reflector, quickly becoming the standard against which all other monolights were judged.

specifications	Ultra 1800	Ultra 1200	Ultra 600
power	115 to 125 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 amps	115 to 125 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 amps	115 to 125 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 amps
weight	7 pounds	5.5 pounds	4.3 pounds
dimensions	4.5" x 14.75"	4.5" x 13.75"	4.5" x 10.75"
power range	stepless 5 f-stop range (from full down to 1/32nd power)
modeling lamp	250 watt bulb	250 watt bulb	250 watt bulb
true wattseconds	900 ws	600 ws	300ws
lumenseconds	40,000 ls	26,000 ls	13,000 ls
Max. Guide Number (ISO 100, with 11-inch Reflector)	GN# 500	GN# 400	GN# 280
Max. BCPS	45,000	30,000	15,000
recycle to full	3 seconds	2 seconds	1 second
sync voltage	9.5 volts	9.5 volts	9.5 volts

click here for the complete Ultra manual

The Ultra Series units each used a pair of flashtubes. There are two styles of flashtubes available for the White Lightning Ultra Series Flash Units: the UFT2 old-style, straight wire tube for Ultra units purchased before January 1991, and the UFT2-B new-style banana plug tube for the Ultra units purchased after January 1991 (available in both daylight and UV coated temperatures).

The 3A version and 3B version (on the Ultra units purchased before January 1991) used copper spring clips to mount the flashtubes. These clips secured the plain wire leads on the tube. However, it was discovered that, over time, this connection would deteriorate. This would eventually result in the tube lead becoming welded to the clip, thereby making it impossible to remove the tube. The 3C version fixed the problem on inconsistent connection by replacing the wire lead/spring clip arrangement with durable, high current carrying connectors.

For more information on upgrading your Ultra Series Unit to the newer 3C Head with the new-style plugs, call our Sales department at 1-800-443-5542. The new head makes replacement easier, and provides a better connection between the flashtube and the light.

The Ultra Series units may be used with most current White Lightning accessories, including the Vagabond Portable Power System, our light stands, our umbrellas and brolly boxes, and our softboxes and octaboxes. With the removable reflector, the Ultra Series units may be used with our entire LiteMod System, and our different reflectors. The Ultra Series units did not come with standard built-in cooling fan, but we offer the UFAN, for adding a fan to the unit. Please note that some accessories may trap heat in units that do not have a cooling fan. When specifically using an Ultra unit with the background reflector, you will need the UBGR Background Reflector, arriving with the Ultra Light Blocker.

The Zap 1000 Flash Unit

The Zap 1000 unit first introduced the dual rear panel slide faders for both flashpower and modeling lamp adjustment. The ZAP 1000 unit may be used with many of our current accessories, including the Vagabond Portable Power System, our light stands, our umbrellas and brolly boxes, our softboxes and octaboxes, and our entire LiteMod System. Please note that the ZAP 1000 units did not have an internal cooling fan though, so you will want to use caution when working with accessories that may trap heat.

specifications	ZAP 1000
power	115 to 125 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 amps
weight	3.9 pounds
dimensions	3.9" x 4.5" x 10.5"
power range	5 f-stop range (from full down to 1/32nd power)
modeling lamp	100 watt bulb (250 watt max.)
true wattseconds	500 ws
lumenseconds	21,500 ls
Max. Guide Number (ISO 100, with 11-inch Reflector)	GN# 370
BCPS	5,000
recycle to full	1.5 seconds
sync voltage	12 volts

click here for the complete Zap 1000 manual

Retired X-Series and UltraZAP 2400 Flash Units

 

The X-Series X2400 Flash Unit was previously part of our X-Series line, offering many of the same features that our current line of X-Series units have.  The X2400 was internally fan-cooled, having the same Power Range Switch found on our X1600 and X3200 units, allowing the unit to switch between Full Power and Low Power (1/4 power) modes for a total range of 7 f-stops.  The X2400 had the same audible overheat and misfire alarms, the same built-in slave tripper, and the same rear control panel with the dual slide faders for flashpower and modeling adjustment.

 

The UltraZAP UZ2400 was additionally available, previously offered with our UltraZAP line.  Similarly, it has many of the same features that our currently retiring line of UltraZAP units have.   The UZ2400 had the same control panel with the dual slide faders, the same power range (5 f-stops) and the same built-in slave tripper.

 

 For replacement flashtubes, both units are compatible with the 14mm Paul C. Buff, Inc. Standard Flashtube. The X2400 and UZ2400 may be used with many of our current accessories, including the Vagabond Portable Power System, our light stands, our umbrellas and brolly boxes, our softboxes and octaboxes, and our entire LiteMod System. Please note that the UltraZAP 2400 units did not have an internal cooling fan though (as the current UltraZAP units do not), so you will want to use caution when working with accessories that may trap heat.

 

specifications	X-Series X2400		UltraZAP 2400
	Full Power	1/4 Power
true wattseconds	1000 Ws	250 Ws	1000 Ws
effective wattseconds	2400 Ws		2400 Ws
lumenseconds	42,000 Ls	10,500 Ls	42,000 Ls
power range	7 f-stops (full to 1/128 power)		5 f-stops (full to 1/32 power)
recycle to 100%	2.9 seconds	0.8 seconds	2.9 seconds
flash duration at full t.5 method)	1/1300	1/5000	1/1300
sync/trigger voltage	less than 6 volts
internal cooling fan	yes		no
warning alarms	yes – overheat and misfire		no
modeling lamp	250 Watt		150 Watt
standard reflector	7-inch Silver Field Reflector (80º beam spread)
weight	4.9 pounds		4.7 pounds
dimensions	4” x 4.5” x 12”

 

click here for the complete X-Series manual

click here for the complete UltraZAP manual