Elinchrom Service - Frequently Asked Questions

For technical assistance and support in the Scandianvia, please contact Aifo AB

Most Elinchrom flash heads have plug-in flashtubes, making it easy to change flashtube yourself.

• Switch the unit OFF
• Remove the mains cable
• Take the unit from its stand and lay it horizontally on a rigid surface.

  It will need to be held firmly whilst removing and replacing the flashtube.

• Allow the flashtube and modeling lamp to cool down and wait for the unit to discharge for 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove and store the modeling lamp. They can be very hot.
• Pull the flashtube firmly out of the terminals.

  If the tube is broken, use security gloves to avoid cutting yourself and use an insulated tool to pull out the electrodes.

• Never touch the metal electrodes and ensure that the unit has been disconnected from the mains for 30 minutes.
• Take the new flashtube.

  Insulated tissues or security gloves MUST BE USED.

  Any contact with your fingers on the tube can cause dark markings on the tube when used.

• Check that the tube is correctly aligned (central) and that the trigger contact is gripping the tube.
• Re-connect and test the unit as usual.

  Always use a protective glove to remove the flashtube.

Mains fuse

• Before changing a blown fuse, switch OFF the unit and remove the mains cables.
• Open the small drawer in the mains plug with a screwdriver and replace the fuse with the spare one located in its support case in this drawer.
• Please, also make sure to check the correct rating of the fuse.

Modeling lamp fuse

• Switch OFF the unit and replace the blown fuse with a new one, in the correct rating.
• The fast blow fuse will protect the triac of the modeling lamp circuit, the lamp, and the flashtube.

First, do the following:

• Change the battery of the Transmitters
• Change the Transmitters

If the problem remains, it could come from the flash tube or the keyboard itself.

• To find out which unit is causing the misfiring, test each unit separately.
• Send the faulty unit to Aifo your local Elinchrom service center.

The following actions will help preserve battery life:

• Verify that usage temperature of the battery averages an ambient temperature of –10°C to 45°C. In lower or higher temperatures, the battery may not work properly and can sustain damage.
• The optimal storage temperature is between 15° C and 25° C.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes as this may cause condensation and malfunction.
• Do not leave your battery uncharged for more than one week.
• Recharge your battery completely before putting it in storage, remove the battery from the unit and the fuse, which will deactivate the battery.
• Recharge at least once every 3 months any stored battery.

This error could be forced by a deeply discharged Li-Ion battery.

Please never store a discharged Li-Ion battery, always recharge it at least every 3 months and remove the battery from the unit.

Deeply discharged Li-Ion batteries can be recovered when connected and charged with the ELB 400. The ELB 400 unit offers a recovery mode for Li-Ion batteries.

Please contact Aifo AB your local Elinchrom service center.

If you want to use a new li-Ion battery with an old Ranger Quadra pack you can, but this depends on when the battery pack was manufactured.

Please check out your serial number.

All packs with serial numbers beyond 4001 are compatible with Li-ion batteries, without any modification.

All serial numbers below 4001 are not compatible and require a modification of the flash lamp.

For compatible Quadra Heads, please download the PDF manual.

If you get P1.0, P2.0. P3.0, P4.0, or P5.0, please try a master reset as described in the manual.

Press together “up + down” and turn on the unit

There might be a contact problem in the E27 socket.

Try to screw the lamp a bit further into the socket. Please use gloves for protection in case the bulb breaks. If this does not help, please contact your official Elinchrom service center.

It might be that the rubber brake discs in the tilt head are consumed or greasy.

You can try to clean them with alcohol or use an anti-grease liquid that does not ruin the rubber.

If this does not help, Please contact Aifo AB your local Elinchrom service center.

The flash tube could have cracked and you’ll perhaps need a replacement flash tube.

You cannot replace Quadra Head parts by yourself, you’ll need to bring your heads to a repair store.

The ELC Pro HD is trimmed for fast flash duration and recycling times.

Due to its high performance, the Xenon flash tube may extract ozone smell, which is normal for very fast flash units.

There might be something hanging in the software.

Try to reset the unit. If this continues, the unit should be returned for a proper check at your dealer.

How to reset:

• Push the left and right buttons simultaneously and hold for at least 1 second.
• The unit will reboot and will clear all working parameters.

This will not delete the “User Preset” data which is restored in the preset menu nor will it reset the counter in the “statistics” menu for “total lifetime,” “total flash amount” and “power.”

If you are looking for the spare fuse of the ELC Pro HD, there is one for the electronic and modeling lamp in the little drawer close to the mains plug.

When turning off, the unit makes an electrical buzz or a zapping sound, ensure that all the main plugs and cables are earth grounded and that the main cable is well connected with the unit.

If this noise is not disappearing, it might be a faulty ON/OFF switch, which needs to be checked by an authorised elinchrom service.

If you need spare parts, you have to contact Aifo AB the official Elinchrom service center.

If a halogen modeling lamp blows up, make sure the main voltage is compatible with the bulb of your unit.

If you bought an Elinchrom unit from an international website, such as B&H or Amazon, you may have a US configuration. It could be the modeling lamps are 110V and the mains voltage in your country is 230V.

It could also be voltage spikes in the mains, which could be a reason for this unusual defect.

You should always purchase Elinchrom products in official dealer stores.

The warranty covers 24 months of support for electronic and mechanical parts, except capacitors, flashtubes, and other consumable items.

• Consumables (cables, fuses, modeling lamps, etc.) are excluded from the warranty.
• Damage caused by transportation and shipping must be claimed from the carrier.
• Damaged packaging or contents should be examined whilst the carrier is present and signed for as received damaged.
• The warranty does not cover equipment, which has been, misused, dismantled, modified, or repaired by an unauthorized Service Agent.
• Damage caused by usage under extreme cold, hot, dusty, or wet/humid conditions are excluded from the warranty.
• No responsibility can be accepted for any damage resulting from incorrect operations of the equipment, nor for any wasted materials, or other expenses.

Make sure you insert the security fuse on the top side of the battery pack.

Please check the operating instructions, page 8 & 9.

Amazon and eBay are not official Elinchrom dealers, therefore we do not recommend purchasing Elinchrom products from these webshops.

In case you need assistance, official Elinchrom service centers will not help you and your 2-year warranty will not be available.

Always purchase Elinchrom products through our official Elinchrom authorized distributor.

We are not allowed to send some spare parts out, which could force a high voltage accident.

Please keep in mind that the capacitors retain high voltage charges and only professional discharging tools give you the ability to open a unit safely.

Please contact Aifo AB your local Elinchrom service center in Scandianvia to change specific spare parts for your unit.

Equipment like the Elinchrom S2 studio flash heads with the 1200e power pack is from 1963!

Old systems like these aren’t supported anymore, so repairs or parts are not available.

Please also consider the security aspects.

We highly recommend not to use them!

“P” stands for Power (flash power), “PB” stands for Lead Gel Battery attached.

The fuse may not be inserted into the battery. If not, the fuse may be damaged and need a replacement.

Please check the operating instructions, page 8 & 9:

The loss of Lead Gel batteries is similar to Li-Ion: 30% within one year.

The main difference is the lower amount of flashes out of one charged battery:

• Lead Gel: fast and slow charge at max power yields approx. 110-140 flashes.
• Li-Ion: fast and slow charge at max power yields approx. 280-320 flashes.

If the Ranger RX Battery LED indicator stays on at 10%, this might be a problem with the keyboard, or it could be a faulty contact.

If the LED does not switch off after a few minutes, the unit should be checked by an Elinchrom repair service.

Unfortunately, there is no other option than to contact your local Elinchrom service center for assistance.

Push the left and right speed buttons while the Transmitter is ON (approximately 2 seconds).

This will reset the Transmitter Pro to manufacture settings.

All user settings, except the display contrast, will be reset.

Please check that the fuse is inserted correctly in the battery box.

For assistance and support on your Elinchrom products, please contact Aifo AB

A flashtube that turns dark at the electrodes after the first usage can happen after the first burn-in.

It depends on the type of electrodes that are used in specific flash tubes as the Quadra HS heads.

On some other types, you have a kind of white rests at the electrodes.

E1 indicates an overvoltage problem. Switch the unit OFF, wait 2 minutes and switch the unit ON again.

If the error still appears, it needs to be checked out by Aifo your local Elinchrom service center.

E2 indicates an overheating problem.

Wait until the unit has cooled down.

The unit will switch back to normal operation as soon as temperature decreases to a normal working level.

If the error shows up again, the unit requires a check-up by your local Elinchrom service center.

E3 indicates an Auto Dump function fault.

The Unit has detected a time out in the ADF mode.

Switch the unit OFF, wait 2 minutes and switch the unit On again; use the Test release button for power reduction.

If the error shows up again, the unit requires a check-up by your local Elinchrom service center.

E4 indicates a Charge fault.

The unit has detected a time-out during recharging.

Switch the unit OFF, wait 2 minutes and switch the unit On again.

If the error shows up again, the unit requires a check-up by your local Elinchrom service center.

E5 indicates a Mains supply fault.

Check your mains cord and mains installation sockets.

Switch unit OFF, wait 2 minutes and switch the unit ON again.

If the error shows up again, the unit requires a check-up by your local Elinchrom service center.

E6 indicates a possible error in the charge circuit or mains supply.

This error message may pop up if you switch the unit ON/OFF too fast.

Please check all fuses and try powering it up again.

If the message comes back, return the unit to your local Elinchrom service center.

E8 indicates a Fan management problem due to overheating.

Wait until the unit has cooled down.

Check if the Fan is blocked.

If the error shows up again, the unit requires a check-up by your local Elinchrom service center.

The ambient temperature whilst the unit is in use: min. -5°C up to max. 35°C.

Storage temperature: -5°C up to 60°C

Optimal operating temperature: 0°C (32°F) up to 45°C.

Elinchrom devices have been manufactured to the highest standards from materials which can be recycled or disposed of in a manner that is not environmentally damaging.

An Elinchrom device may be taken back after use to be recycled, provided that it is returned in a condition that is the result of normal use.

Any components not reclaimable will be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Used Batteries may need to be recycled. Check your local regulations or your local waste management.

If you have any question on disposal, please contact your local office or your local Elinchrom distributor.

You can find all Elinchrom user manuals and use-full documentation at Elinchrom website