Calibrating Wein (Honeywell) WP1000 Flash Meter

- J
- John Robertson
  
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posted
12 years ago

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 9:20 PM

Anyone have info on adjusting this device? I have the owners manual, but that does not cover the multiple adjustments inside the meter.

Using it to test a bunch of flash tube operated rifles and pistols for my light beam rifle range...

Thanks,

John :-#)#

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- W
- William Sommerwerck
  
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posted
12 years ago

Wed, Nov 30, 2011 10:06 PM

A couple of questions...

The Wein displays an f-stop when you fire the flash. How does the f-stop correlate with what you need to know about the flash-tube rifles and pistols? To put it the other way around, if the "guns" work correctly at the maximum distance, then it doesn't really matter /what/ the Wein reads -- that reading can become your reference.

Why do you think the Wein needs calibration?

- J
- John Robertson
  
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posted
12 years ago

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 2:54 AM

I don't care what the display reads relative to the F-Stop, what I am using it for is a relative brightness meter. If some rifles are brighter than others or their controller boxes give a brighter flash that info is useful for getting the guns working at their best (customers are happier).

The problem with the Wein is when turned on the meter pulls below the scale to the left, and when I use a camera flash (testing) the ten times scale doesn't move enough to be useful. The 1Xscale gives me about 1/2 scale when the camera flash is a couple of feet away and the F-stop is set to maximum sensitivity.

John :-#)#

--
    (Please post followups or tech enquiries to the newsgroup)
  John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
  Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
                     www.flippers.com
       "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

- W
- William Sommerwerck
  
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Vote on answer
posted
12 years ago

Sat, Dec 3, 2011 12:02 PM

If I recall correctly, that's normal. (But it's been many years.)

I'm assuming this is an "old" unit -- the Wein has been around 40+ years. The apparent insensitivity is probably due to the unit being "broken", rather than miscalibrated. For example, the FET might be leaky.

You said you used "a camera flash" to test it. You need to find a conventional separate flash whose manual guide number you know, and fire it in manual mode. You can then see whether the Wein displays the correct f-stop. If it's not within a half-stop or so, you can be reasonably certain the problem is with the meter.