>Huh.  The disposable flash units I was talking about typically
>have the flash tube soldered directly to the small PCB.  I've
>seen inductors mentioned as a way to get shorter flashes, but
>not really as a current limitting device.  An interesting
>concept (but inductors don't limit
>current, they limit di/dt, right?)

Yeah OK, but limiting that is what stops the tube from going bang in a
blinding flash with glass going everywhere. It may be that modern tubes have
improved to a point where this is no longer a problem, or it may just be
that the smaller tubes used now are, relatively, more robust.

OTOH it may be that the capacitor used has a higher ESR than the paper and
oil or high quality electrolytics used back then. There was definitely an
almighty amount of energy being released in a real short time judging by the
audible noise from the flash gun.

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body