Broncolor Nano a4 User manual

1
Operating instructions
Nano 2 / Nano A4
www.broncolor.com

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Operating Instructions b r o n c o l o r
Nano 2 / Nano A4
Before use
Please read all the information contained in these operating instructions carefully. They contain
important details on the use, safety and maintenance of the appliance. Keep these operating
instructions in a safe place and pass them on to further users if necessary.
Observe the safety instructions.
Contents Page
Important safety instructions 3
Attention: Read before starting up the power pack 3
Controls and displays 4
1. Application Nano 6
2. Start up 6
3. Energy control 6
4. Lamp base outlets 7
5. Modelling light 7
6. Release 9
7. Ready signals visual / audible 10
8. Additional functions with settings 11
9. Basic settings Ex works 12
10. Protective facilities / Fault indication 13
11. Maintenance / Repairs 14
12. Battery-powered operation 14
13. Lamp bases 14
14. Technical data 17

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Important safety instructions
When using your studio flash equipment, basic safety precautions should always be followed,
including the following:
1. Read and understand all instructions before using.
2. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children. Do not
leave appliance unattended while in use.
3. Care must be taken as burns can occur from touching hot parts.
4. Do not operate appliance with a damaged cable or if the appliance has been dropped or
damaged - until it has been examined by a qualified serviceperson.
5. Position the cable so that it will not be tripped over, pulled, or contact hot surfaces.
6. If an extension cable is necessary, a cable with a current rating at least equal to that of the
appliance should be used. Cables rated for less amperage than the appliance may
overheat. When using a cable reel, it has to be unrolled before operating to avoid
overheating of the cable.
7. Always turn off the power pack before connecting or disconnecting any lamp bases.
8. Always unplug appliance from electrical socket before cleaning and servicing and when
not in use. Never jerk cable to pull plug from socket. Grasp plug and pull to disconnect.
9. Let appliance cool completely before putting away. Loop cable loosely around appliance
when storing.
10. When putting away or winding up cables, take care they do not get in contact with hot
parts of the appliance or lamp bases.
11. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not immerse this appliance in water or other
liquids.
12. To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this appliance, but take it to a
qualified serviceman when service or repair work is required. Incorrect reassembly can
cause electric shock when the appliance is used subsequently.
13. The use of an accessory attachment not recommended by the manufacturer may cause a
risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons.
14. Connect this appliance to an earthed socket.

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Attention:
Read before starting up the power pack
- Prior to replacing fuses, modelling lamps or flash tubes, discharge the power pac
k
and disconnect from power supply. Disconnect the lamp base from the powe
r
pack.
- These units are designed for use in dry conditions. Protect them from water and
from excessive exposure to dust.
- The units are not suitable for use in an environment where there is a risk o
f
explosion.
- The accessories mounted onto the lamp bases may heat up to high temperatures
under specific conditions. Handle with care!
- With due allowance for heat radiation, lamp bases with more than 100 W modelling
light may be directed against inflammable surfaces only at a minimum distance o
f
1 m.
- For safety reasons, never operate the lamps without the protecting glass
in place.
- Flash light contains, similar to sunlight, a specific portion of UV light. The
undesirable side effects on skin and eyes are considerably reduced by using flash
tubes and glass covers with a UV coating. Without these or other protective filters,
use with extreme care when shooting.
- Even when disconnected from the power supply, dangerous voltages may remain
inside the unit. For this reason units should be opened by trained personnel only.
- Do not block the cooling louvers on the unit.
- broncolor power packs and lamp bases meet an extremely high safety standard.
When connecting broncolor products to other manufacturers' products, integrated
safety measures may become ineffective. Due to different design features and
contact assignment of the lamp plugs of other makes, the user himself/herself may
even be at risk. We offer no guarantee and accept no liability for damages which
may be caused by this type of usage.

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Controls and displays
1. Mains switch
2. Modelling light on / off
3. Test key, ready display green
4. Photocell and IR receiver on / off
5. Buzzer on / off
6. Slow charge on / off
7. Charging dimmer on / off
8. Operating mode modelling light
9. IR receiver cell
10. LED display for flash energy
11. Photocell
12. Energy control up / down
13. Sync socket
14.1 Lamp base outlet 1
14.2 Lamp base outlet 2
15. Connection socket for mains cable
16. Fuse

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1
30%
70% / 100%
2
16A T
on
off
sync
modcell/ir
prop buzdim slow test
9
8765 342
10
11
1
12
13
14.1
14.2
15
16

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1. Application Nano
We are very pleased you have chosen the broncolor power pack Nano 2 respectively
Nano A4 which are high-quality products in every respect. If used properly, they will
render you many years of good service.
This mains supplied (AC-line) studio flash unit is designed for professional photography.
For your own safety, use a three-wire extension cable when required.
2. Startup
2.1 Mains (AC-line) voltage
Nano 2 and Nano A4 are available in two different versions:
a) As a bi-voltage unit, of which the technical data are optimized for a mains voltage of
200 - 240 V. If this version is operated with a mains voltage of 100 - 120V, a
doubling of the charging time results.
b) As a unit which is exclusively designed for a mains voltage of 100 - 120 V.
Please check, if the local mains voltage corresponds with the indications on the label of
the unit. Make also sure that the halogen lamps (modelling light) of the connected lamp
bases correspond with the indicated mains voltage.
2.2 Earthed Mains (AC-line)
Connect unit to current supply always using earthed mains plug.
2.3 Start up
Use the mains (AC-line) switch (1) to power-up unit. During the charging process the
digital power display (10) flashes, after which, it becomes continuous. Addionally the
green ready light (3) is lit.
3. Energy control
Use the „up / down“ keys (12) to control the flash energy (flash intensity) within a range
of 4 f-stops. A value of 10 in the display indicates maximum intensity, 6 minimum. It is
possible to extend the control range to 5 f-stops (see chapter 9).

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Furthermore, by selecting the corresponding outlet, the control range of variation can be
extended by one f-stop (Nano 2), respectively 1,7 f-stop (Nano A4). Whole numbers
correspond to whole f-stop intervals, decimal places to tenth f-stop steps. Brief pressure
on the "up / down" keys changes the setting by a 1/10 interval, prolonged pressure by
1/1 f-stop interval. The energy display (10) then flashes until charging or discharging
has stabilized the new level.
4. Lamp base outlets
With Nano 2 and Nano A4 the whole broncolor lamp base assortment is applicable
without restriction. The lamp base outlets (14.1 resp. 14.2) of the Nano units are marked
with the numbers 1 and 2. Nano 2 is designed for symmetrical energy distribution, Nano
A4 has an asymmetrical (individual) energy distribution. The lamp base outlet 1 allows
the triggering of 100% of the selected flash energy.
The flash capacitors of the Nano units are divided in two groups: 50% to 50%
symmetrically for Nano 2 and in the ratio 70% to 30% for Nano A4. If the power packs
are in use with only one lamp base, this type of design presents the advantage that up
to a maximum of 50% (Nano 2) or 30% (Nano A4) of the selected total energy can be
triggered over the lamp base outlet 2 (14.2) without needing to discharge the
superfluous energy over the outlet 1 (14.1). The fine adjustment is made by the flash
voltage. In this way the colour temperature with Nano 2 can be maintained constant
within a range of 3 f-stops and +/- 100 K without overcharging the flash capacitors. With
Nano A4 this range amounts to 3,7 f-stops.
5. Modelling light
5.1 General
The modelling light is switched on by the key "mod" (2) for all connected lamp bases.
When switched on, the green diode lights up. The lamp bases also have an additional
modelling light switch.
In chapter 8 you can find the instructions how to select the different operating modes
(modelling light proportionality).
5.2 Proportionality
The brightness of the modelling light can be set proportionally to the flash intensity. To
assure proportionality when operating units with different power output ratings, the units
have various proportionality levels. Proportionality is guaranteed if the identical prop
level has been set for all power packs. The higher the digit, the brighter the modelling
light. With the Nano power packs the proportionality refers to one single lamp base,
connected to outlet 1.

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If the power pack Nano 2 is operated with two lamp bases, the proportionality of the
modelling light can be ensured by setting its proportionality level one digit lower in
relation to the other power packs in use (e.g.: level 2 instead of level 3).
The following operating modes are possible:
"P" Proportional modelling light with an output level up to 1200 J (with Nano 2)
respectively 2400 J (with Nano A4). This operating mode (highest
proportionality level) is recommended, when exclusively Nano power packs with
the same output level are in use in one working session.
"P1" Proportional modelling light with broncolor power packs up to 6400 J
"P2" Proportional modelling light with broncolor power packs up to 3200 J
(= ex works setting for Nano A4)
"P3" Proportional modelling light with broncolor power packs up to 1600 J
(= ex works setting for Nano 2)
"P4/5" If a power pack is operated at a relatively low output level, the halogen
modelling light will be relatively weak and yellowish. To counteract this problem,
the Nano power packs are equipped with two additional modelling light
proportionality levels: "P4" for 800 J or less and "P5" for 400 J or less. Thus the
brightness of the modelling light can be increased.
"HI" All lamp bases operate at full modelling light power independent of flash output.
This setting will allow video recordings using the modelling lamps.
"LO" Lighting level is reduced for all lamps independent of the flash output to reduce
power consumption and extend the burning life of the halogen lamps.
Pressing the “mod” key (2) for 1 second when the modelling light is on will give direct
access to the "HI" mode. To return to the previous mode briefly press the "mod" key.
Highest possible proportionality settings when combining power packs of different
output:
Nano 2
Topas A2
Grafit 2, A2
Mobil
Nano A4
Topas A4
Grafit A4
Topas A8 Evolution
Nano 2
Topas A2
Grafit 2, A2
Mobil
P3
(or „P“ when only
Nano 2 are in use)
P2 P1
Nano A4
Topas A4
Grafit A4
P2 P2 (or „P“ when only
Nano A4 are in
use)
P1
Topas A8 Evolution P1 P1 P1
Example 1: A power pack Nano 2 is operated together with a power pack Topas A8
Evolution. The modelling light is proportional when both are set to level
"prop1".

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Example 2: A power pack Nano A4 is operated together with a power pack Grafit A2.
The modelling light is proportional and highest possible when both are set
to level "prop2".
5.3 Modelling light switch on lamp base
The switch on the lamp base permits selective lighting control with the modelling light.
To avoid damage to the lamp filament, always switch off the modelling light before
moving the lamp bases.
6. Release
The flash release is enabled when 75 % of the selected energy is available. Please
note, however, that the ready indicator is activated only at 100 % charge (chapter 7).
6.1 Photocell (cell) and infrared receiver (IR)
The photocell and the IR receiver can be switched on or off by using the "cell/IR" key
(4). If they are activated the green LED lights up.
6.2 Infrared flash release channel
You can trigger the Nano power packs from broncolor infrared transmitters. If the power
pack is triggered via infrared, the flash is released after a transmission delay of
1/1000 s.
6.3 Sync socket (13)
Synchronous cables art. no. 34.111.00 or 34.112.00 may be plugged into the socket to
release flashes via cable.
6.4 "Test" key (3)
This key (3) allows manual release of the power pack.