Cactus V5 User manual

User Manual
Wireless
Flash
Transceiver
V5 Duo

2
Table of Contents
1. Main Features of Cactus V5 03
2. Caution and Warning 04
3.MajorSpecications05
4. Package Contents 06
5. Nomenclature 07
6. Compatibility 08
7. Operation 10
8. LED Signal Outline 13
9. Multi-Channel Triggering 14
10. Frequency Self-Tune (FST) 15
11. Troubleshooting 16
12. Notices 19
13. Wa r r a nty 21

3
1. Main Features of Cactus V5
Thank you for purchasing Cactus Wireless
Flash Transceiver V5 Duo. Cactus V5 is a
powerful yet stable device that allows you
to command your light off camera, with no
wires. You can position your lights at any
angle, direction and distance – the
possibilities are endless!
1. EXCLUSIVE! Frequency Self-Tune (FST)
Cactus V5 intelligently and
automatically adjusts its frequency to
ensure reliable operation under extreme
conditions.
2. NEW! Support for maximum sync speed
Cactus V5 is designed and tested to
obtain any sync speed, so long as it is
supported by the camera (e.g. 1/1000s for
Nikon, 1/250 for Canon).
3. NEW! Multi-channel triggering
T r i g g e r u p t o 4 s e ts of  a s h e s 
separately or all at once.
4. Solid performance
Maximum range of 100m (328 ft) and
operating temperature of -20°C to 50°C
(-4°F to 122°F).
5. Transceiver design
Cactus V5 can be used both as a
transmitter or receiver. Operating mode
is changed through a convenient Mode
Switch.

4
6. Multi-functional
Cactus V5 can operate as either a
wirelessashtransceiverorawireless
camera shutter release (requires
optional shutter release cable).
7. Two hot shoe ports
A p a r t f r o m tr i g g e r i n g w i r e le ss  a s h e s, 
a n o n - c a m e r a  a s h c a n b e m o u n t e d o n t o p 
of t h e t r a n s m itt e r fo r o n - a x i s  l l s.
2. Caution and Warning
Before using your product, read the
following safety precautions to ensure
correct and safe use and to help prevent
damage of Cactus V5.
1. Turn OFF all your equipment (e.g. Cactus
u n it s,  a s h u n its a n d c a m e r a s, et c.) 
before changing batteries or making
connection. Observe the correct polarity
when changing batteries. There is
danger of explosion if battery is
installed incorrectly.
2. Remove batteries and switch off the
transceiver during storage.
3. Do not permanently store the product in
a high temperature environment (i.e.
under strong direct sunlight, near
cooking stoves/oven).

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4. Cactus V5 should never be submerged in
liquid or exposed to heavy rain unless
it is properly protected.
5. Do not operate the device in the
presenceofammablegasesorfumes.
6.Donotretheashdirectlyintothe
eyes of someone at close range.
3. Major Specifications
• Working radio frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Number of channels: 16
• Supported sync speed: Up to 1/1000s
(subject to camera’s sync speed
limitation)
• Effective distance:
0.3m – 100m (1 ft - 328 ft)
• Operating temperature:
-20°C to +50°C (-4°F to 122°F)
• Flash voltage handling: 0V - 300V
• Camera voltage handling: 0V - 6V
• Power input: 2 x AAA 1.5V batteries
• Dimensions:
82mm (L) x 70mm (W) x 37mm (H)
• Weight (per transceiver): 58g

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4. Package Contents
Album &
User Manual
Cable & 6.35mm Plug
Adapter
Flash Stand x2V5 Transceiver x2

7
5. Nomenclature
TEST BUTTON
HOT SHOE
(F EM A LE)
BATTERY
COMPARTMENT
MODE SWITCH
X-SYNC PORT
STATUS LED
TRIPOD MOUNT
HOT SHOE
(M A LE)
CHANNEL DIAL

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6. Compatibility
Portable Flashes and Studio Strobe Lights
C a ct u s V 5 w o r k s w it h a l l p o r t a ble  a s h e s 
and strobes with triggering voltage
between 0V - 300V, and equipped with any of
the following connection interfaces:
• Hot shoe
• 3.5 m m p o r t
• PC sync female
• 6.35 m m p o r t
Cactus V5 is not compatible with reverse
p ola r it y a s h e s a n d s o m e d e d ic at e d  a s h 
models, as indicated in Notes on Dedicated
Flash below.
6.1
Notes on Dedicated Flash:
1. Cactus V5 does not transmit TTL
information.
2. Connecting Cactus V5 transceiver to a
 a s h w it h a S o n y A l p h a s tyle h o t s h o e 
requires an optional hot shoe adapter
(i.e. the “FS-1200 hot shoe adapter”).
3.Somededicatedashes(e.g.Nissin
Di-622 and Di-466, Sunpak PZ42x and
PZ30, Sigma EF-530/500 DG ST for Canon,
et c.) a r e tr i g g e r e d v i a s y s t e m - s p e ci  c 
pins instead of the central hot shoe
contact. Cactus V5 does not work with
t h e se  a s h m o d els. T o c h e ck w h e th e r 

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Cameras
Cactus V5 works with practically all SLR
and DSLR cameras. This includes all
cameras that come with (1) a standard ISO
hot shoe, and/or (2) a female sync port
connection.
Other Flash Triggers
Each Cactus V5 unit is designed to work
exclusively with other Cactus V5 units. It
is
NOTc o m p a ti ble w it h a n y ot h e r  a s h 
trigger, including Cactus V2, V2s and V4.
6.2
6.3
y o u r d e d ic at e d  a s h u n it i s c o m p a ti ble 
w it h C a ct u s V 5, tr y a tt a c h i n g t h e  a s h 
unit to a camera of another brand (e.g.
att a c h i n g a N i k o n T T L  a s h t o a C a n o n 
DSLRcamera).Iftheashcanbe
triggered, it will work with Cactus V5.

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7. Operation
As Wireless Flash Transceiver
1. Install two AAA batteries into each
Cactus V5 transceiver. Ensure that all
plastic battery wrapping is removed and
batteries are installed in the correct
p ol a r it y.
2. Set the V5 transceivers to the correct
mode (Transmitter to ”TX”, Receiver to
”RX”). This will automatically power on
the transceivers.
3. Connect the receiver (RX) to the light
source:
• Portable Flash
Connect the hot shoe of the external
 a s h t o f e m a l e h ot s h o e slot of R X, o r 
use the PC sync cable to connect RX to
t h e  a s h’s P C s y n c p o r t. 
• Studio Strobe
Connect RX to your strobe using a
3.5mm plug cable (CA-350) or with a
6.35mm adapter (PA-635), according to
your strobe’s port size.
7.1
Notes:
Alkaline batteries are recommended.
Rechargeable batteries also work but
operation time may be reduced.

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4. Set both TX and RX to the same channel
using the Channel Dial.
5. On TX, press the Test button. The status
LED of both TX and RX should blink in
G R E E N si m u lt a n e o u sl y.
6. Attach TX to the camera’s hot shoe. If
your camera does not have a hot shoe,
connect TX to the camera using a PC sync
c a b l e (C A -10 0).
7. Press the camera’s shutter release
button.
As Wireless Shutter Release
(requires optional shutter release cable)
A minimum of two Cactus V5 transceivers are
required to operate Cactus V5 as a wireless
shutter release.
1. Install two AAA batteries into each
Cactus V5 transceiver. Ensure that all
plastic battery wrapping is removed and
Notes:
This function requires the use of a
separately purchased shutter release
cable for connection between the
transceiver and camera. This cable is
NOT included.
7.2

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batteries are installed in the correct
p ol a r it y.
2. Set the V5 transceivers to the correct
mode (Transmitter to ”TX”, Receiver to
”RX”). This will automatically power on
the transceivers.
3. Connect RX to your camera using an
appropriate shutter release cable.
4. Set both TX and RX to the same channel
using the Channel Dial. Ensure the
channel set on the wireless shutter
release transceivers is different from
t h a t s et o n t h e w i r ele s s  a s h 
transceivers (if any).
5. Half press the Test button on TX to auto
focus. The status LED on both TX and RX
will turn ORANGE to indicate auto focus.
6. Full press the Test button on TX for
shutter release. The status LED on both
transceivers will turn GREEN to indicate
shutter release.
As Wireless Shutter Release in Bulb Mode
(requires optional shutter release cable)
1. Setup V5 transceivers as Wireless
Shutter Release.
2. Full press and hold the Test button on
7.3

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TX. The status LED on TX will turn GREEN
at  r st a n d g o of f a f t e r a p p r o x i m a t el y 
2 seconds. The camera’s shutter is now
in a continually opened state. Note that
the RX transceiver’s status LED remains
on in GREEN while the camera’s shutter
is still opened.
3. Release the Test button on TX.
4. To close the camera shutter, full press
and release the Test button on TX once
more. The GREEN status LED on both TX
and RX will blink simultaneously.
8. LED Signal Outline
TRANSCEIVER STATUS INDICATOR ON TX INDICATOR ON RX
Flash transceiver
mode
Green
Shutter release mode Green
Half-press auto
focus
Orange
Bulb mode activation Green
(for 2 seconds)
Green
(c on ti n u ou sl y
after
activation)
Bulb mode closed Green
Low battery on TX Red
(every 3 seconds)
None
Low battery on RX None Red
(every 3 seconds)

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9. Multi-Channel Triggering
Multi-channel triggering is a new feature
of Cactus V5. With this new function, you
can now trigger up to four (4) sets of
 a s h e s a n d s tr o b e s s e p a r a t el y o r a l l at 
once.
On the side of each V5 transceiver is a
rotary Channel Dial with the numbers 1 to
16 printed, 1 to 5 in blue color, and 6 to
16 in white. The Channel Dial is used to
change the transceiver channel – either in
TX or RX mode – from one to another.
To make use of the multi-
channel triggering feature,
ensure that the TX
transceiver is set to
Channel 1, while RX
transceiversforashesand
strobes to be triggered by
this TX transceiver is set
to a ”channel in blue” (i.e.
Channels 1 to 5).

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10. Frequency Self-Tune (FST)
A c o m m o n i s s u e w it h  a s h t r i g g e r i n g 
systems is the unintentional frequency
shift in relation to temperature change.
This results in high failure rate when
exposed to extreme weather conditions.
Frequency Self-Tune (FST) is a new
exclusive feature of V5 that minimizes the
li k el i h o o d of m i s  r e s t o e n s u r e r e li a ble 
perfor ma nce.
The concept behind FST is simple – every V5
transceiver is equipped with a chipset that
records the last functioning frequency
(i.e. the frequency level at which V5 works)
at different temperature levels. When
the V5 transceiver is exposed to extreme
conditions, it will self-calibrate to this
l a s t w o r k i n g f r e q u e n c y a f t e r e a c h  r i n g.
To take full advantage of this new feature,
it i s a d v i s e d t h at a “t e st  r i n g ” b e d o n e 
before taking the actual shot. This will
ensure that the V5 transceiver in either
Transmitter or Receiver mode will be
calibrated to a functioning frequency, and
that important and stunning photographs
will not be missed!

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FST is especially useful when V5 is exposed
to the following extreme conditions:
1. when operating temperature is <-5°C or
>+30°C (<23°F or >86°F);
2. when there is a sudden temperature
change of larger than 20°C(68°F) or more.
For sudden temperature changes larger than
20°C (68°F), it is strongly advised that a
s e r i e s of t e s t  r i n g s b e d o n e t o e n s u r e 
that V5 is tuned to a functioning
f r e q u e n c y. It i s s u g g e s t e d t h at a  v e -
m i n u t e i nt e r v a l or a b o ut 5-10 t e st  r i n g s 
be allowed for V5 to adjust to the new
temperature.
11. Troubleshooting
Before reading this section, ensure that
Cactus V5 transceivers have been set up
correctly (follow the instructions in the
Operation section of this manual).
If the problem persists after conducting
the troubleshooting steps, contact your
seller directly for further assistance.

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1. Fl a s h M is  r e (U n e x p e ct e d F la s h F i r i n g)
LED BLINKS? POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
TX: No
RX: No
Poor hot shoe
connection
- Adjust tightness of hot
shoe contact
- Remove hot shoe metal
plate
- Clean hot shoe contact
of V 5 a n d  a s h w it h c l e a n 
cloth
TX: No
RX: Yes
(GR E EN)
1. B ack gr ou n d
radio
interference
- Set both transceivers to
another channel
- Change setup location as
interference may come
from other equipment in
the surrounding area
2. TX and RX
transceivers
are placed
too close to
each other
- Place the TX and RX
transceivers at least
one meter apart and
retry
2. Slow Synchronization (Delayed Flash)
LED BLINKS? POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
TX: Yes
(GR E EN)
RX: Yes
(GR E EN)
1. Shutter
speed is
faster than
t he ca m e r a’s
x-sync
limitation
- Adjust the camera’s
shutter speed to the
maximum supported x-sync
speed
2. Radio
interference
with wireless
shutter
release
- E n s u r e  a s h t r i g g e r 
transceivers are set to
a different channel from
that used by wireless
shutter release
transceivers
TX or RX:
Yes (R ED
every 3
secs)
Insufcient 
battery power
- Replace batteries and
retry

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3. Flash Not Triggered / Shutter Not
Released
LED BLINKS? POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
TX: No
RX: No
1. Poor battery
contact or
battery out of
power on TX
- Replace batteries on TX
and retry
2. Shutter speed
is faster than
t he ca m e r a’s
x-sync
limitation
- Adjust the camera’s
shutter speed to the
maximum supported x-
sync speed
TX: Yes
(GR E EN)
RX: No
1. Poor battery
contact or
battery out of
power on RX
- Replace batteries on RX
and retry
2. Channel mis-
match
- Ensure both transceivers
are set to the same
channel
3. Backg rou nd
radio
interference
- Set both transceivers to
another channel
- Change setup location as
interference may come
from other equipment in
the surrounding area
4. Beyond 100m
effective
range
- Make sure TX and RX
transceivers are placed
within 100m (328 ft) of
each other
Note: The effective
range of 100m (328 ft)
may not be achieved in
the presence of radio
interference

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LED BLINKS? POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
TX: Yes
(GR E EN)
RX: Yes
(GR E EN)
1. Poor hot shoe
contact
- Adjust tightness of hot
shoe contact
- Remove hot shoe metal
plate
- Clean hot shoe contact
of V 5 a n d  a s h w it h 
clean cloth
2. Flash used
is not
compatible
with V5
- C h e c k t h a t t h e  a s h u s e d 
is compatible with V5
(refer to Compatibility
section of this user
ma nu al)
3. Poor cable
connection
- Check cable connection
- Change cable
4. Wrong cable
is used (only
when V5 is used
as Wireless
Shutter
Release)
- Ensure that an
appropriate shutter
release cable is used
12. Notices
NOTICES FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE U.S.A
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio
Frequency Interference Statements:
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation.

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If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
• Reorientorrelocatethereceivingantenna.
• Increasetheseparationbetweenthe
equipment and receiver.
• Connecttheequipmentintoanoutletona
circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consultthedealeroranexperiencedradio/
TV technician for help.
C h a n g e s o r m o d i  c a ti o n s n o t e x p r e s s l y 
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void your authority to operate
the equipment.
HARVEST ONE LIMITED AND THE MANUFACTURER OF
THIS WIRELESS FLASH TRANSCEIVER IS NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RADIO OR TV INTERFERENCE
CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS TO THIS
EQUIPMENT. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE
USER AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT
FCC ID: VAAWFTV5
MADE IN CHINA
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.