UnderDogJon Falk Lights Ltd., Inc. |
1. If an UnderDog flash battery doesn't hang on my belt, where does it go?
The 1/4 x 20 thumb wheel allows easy mounting of this small (3-3/4"x2-1/4"x1-1/4") light-weight battery (13 ounces) under a camera or a motor drive, in the standard tripod screw mount. Return to Index
2. Are my new "Dogs" charged when I get them?
Every new UnderDog flash battery is fully charged before leaving the factory. Photo flashing can begin the moment an UnderDog kit box is opened, if the required power cable is on-hand. Return to Index
3. Who makes UnderDog power cables and where do I buy mine?
UnderDog "Short Leash" power cables
are now available for Nikon SB, Canon EZ540 and EX550, various Vivitars and
maybe the Sunpack 120J.
A "Short Leash" cable is designed for on-camera use.
They are only available from the dog factory and each costs $55.00, plus $4.00 for UPS
shipping and handling. Allow 7 - 10 days for delivery.
Quantum Instruments' Battery 1+ power cables fit the UnderDog flash battery. An UnderDog
(and the right Quantum cable) can power about 100 different brands of portable shoe mount
flashes. Q's Battery 1+ cables are sold by a network of about a bazzillion photo equipment
stores. Return to Index
4. How can I get the longest life possible from my "Dogs"?
Label them 1 and 2 or A and B. Use them equally in an alternating way as often as possible (daily/weekly) and then charge them. There are UnderDogs out there used in this way that are eight years old. Return to Index
Absolutely, at least partially. Tightening this connector (see the engraved indicator "lock" arrow) creates a solid connection between the battery and the cable. Leaving the connector loose and floppy guarantees trouble. Return to Index
6. Can I get a custom short(er) power cable to connect my UnderDog to Nikon's SB-28, SB-26, SB-25 or SB-24, Canon's EZ540/EX550 or Vivitar's 283/285 flashes?
No, yes, maybe to all three. Contact Jon Falk at the "Dog" factory. Return to Index
7. Is there a correct or incorrect way to mount an UnderDog to a camera?
A Canadian UnderDog user, with an unconscious tendency to engage the connector with his mouth when the battery was mounted with the connector at the back of the camera, has "shockingly" helped clarify this point. So, the correct way is with the UnderDog thumbwheel at the back of the camera, and the cable connector at the front. UnderDog package labels, user manual drawings and product photos illustrate the correct battery position under the camera. Anyone who can avoid sucking on the cable connector can mount the battery either way. Return to Index
8. When is the best time to charge an UnderDog?
Anytime. Really. UnderDogs love to be charged. Since they are sealed lead acid gel cells, they do not develop the nasty "memory" traits usually associated with bad nicad charging habits. It's OK to "top off" new UnderDogs, too. Return to Index
9. How long does it take to charge a tired "Dog"?
All three UnderDog quick chargers - - - the single voltage "domestic" 120 volt AC @ 60 Hz, the switchable dual voltage "foreign" 120 volt @ 60 Hz/230 volt @50 Hz and the insanely great accessory 12 volt DC car charger (AutoDog 2) - - - will do the job in 4-6 hours. UnderDogs cannot be damaged by overcharging. Return to Index
10. Can I easily charge my UnderDogs in foreign countries?
Yes. All it takes is a little advance planning and minimal technical savvy. First, you must remember to take the switchable, dual voltage UnderDog quick charger (120/230 volt @ 60/50Hz) charger along on the trip : > ) You must also have with the charger a correct accessory plug adapter for the country you are visiting. The charger is equipped with a manual sliding voltage selector switch (120 volts or 230 volts). Be sure to switch the charger to the 230 volt position BEFORE plugging it in to any 220/230 volt source in that foreign land.
Successful foreign charging requires a deluxe kit of five (5) international Franzus adapter plugs or Radio Shack's four (4) international adapter plugs. These adapters convert U.S.A. chargers to fit wall plug outlets throughout the world. Franzus Co., Inc. (203-723-6664), located in Beacon Falls, CT, makes these adapter plugs and even includes a pouch as part of the 3.5 ounce travel kit. Franzus calls this kit the M-500E Adapter Plug Set. It's easy to find. Franzus stuff is sold in hardware, housewares, luggage, photo and electronic specialty stores. But remember, international plug adapters DO NOT CONVERT VOLTAGE. They simply enable you to plug the dual voltage UnderDog quick charger into varying types of wall outlets around the world, except maybe in rural China. Nothing like this seems to work there, even if you have the right stuff. Return to Index
11. Without international adapter plugs, what is the last resort overseas?
Before leaving buy an accessory 12 volt DC AutoDog 2 car quick charger for UnderDogs and recharge those tired "Dogs" in rental vehicles equipped with cigarette lighter sockets. This reduces short term anxiety about wall sockets, foreign plug adapters, too high voltage (250), too low voltage (100) and wrong cycles per second (Hz). Return to Index
12. Are any of my old Quantum chargers compatible with the UnderDog?
No. The connectors and plugs used for charging Q's Battery 1+ stuff are different than the UnderDog's. Even if a qualified technician deviously changed or adapted the parts, Q's voltage and AC current specifications remain unfriendly to the "Dog". Pffttt happens during unfriendly electronic events. Return to Index
13. What do I need to know to customize my own UnderDog power cables?
Just enough to know not to try. But if you must, the center pin of the RCA style plug/connector is positive (+), which makes the outside collar of the RCA style plug/connector negative (-). When splicing and soldering your own cables, be sure not to mix up the (+) and (- ) scheme, or a bad thing will happen. You know, that electronic pffttt sound will be heard, followed by an expensive repair. Use a multimeter to determine plus and minus. Return to Index
14. Do UnderDog flash batteries require expensive RAM chips to work? Do they depend upon bug infested operating software to work?
No. No. Rejoice! Return to Index
No! Never. It's really a bad practice with any flash power pack, and can be a dangerous shock & fire hazard. N - E - V - E - R is the operative word.
Why? An electrical shock of any kind is usually unpleasant. The fire part, although rare, will be a unique photo experience! Exposed metal (+) and (-) contacts of the dangling end of the power cable can accidentally touch something metal and short out the battery, making the bad electronic pffttt sound you don't want to hear. A smoking power pack, caused by cable contacts pressing up against a metal camera body or lens inside a camera bag, can be even more distressing. It is, however, OK to carry a flash around with it's power cable dangling (not connected to an UnderDog). This kind of dangling power cable is pretty much harmless. Return to Index
16. How many full power flashes can a freshly charged UnderDog deliver?
Using a Vivitar 283 set to manual operation, a new UnderDog will deliver 75 full power flashes. Once broken in, that new UnderDog battery puts out about 100 full power manual flashes. Since UnderDogs are sold in kits of two batteries, expect 150 pops at first, then 200 pops after 'break-in', using a Vivitar 283. How long is the recycle time between flashes? Using a Vivitar 283 on full power (manual), a fresh UnderDog will recycle the flash in less than five seconds. It gets better. Load 400 ISO film in the camera (the candid wedding & news photographer's favorite) - and a Vivitar 283 set to 'auto' (yellow or red range), or a Nikon SB set to TTL (f:8, f:5.6, f:4) - an UnderDog will recycle the flash almost instantly. Hundreds of 'auto'/TTL pops are possible at these medium f: stops. Return to Index
17. Can an UnderDog battery "melt" the flash it is connected to?
No. Heavy high voltage packs (320 volt 'turbo' & 'bunny' style whackers) are designed to recycle portable flashes (when set to full power/manual) in less than two (2) seconds, which can heat up the flash. A small low voltage (6 volt) UnderDog cannot recycle a flash on full power that fast, so 'meltdown' is not a threat. Meltdown is caused by triggering the flash at full power too rapidly for too long a time while using a 320 volt pack - without time to cool off. Return to Index
18. My UnderDog won't take a charge. The wall plug is "hot". I checked. What now?
If the red light on the charger does not glow brightly when plugged into a 'dead' UnderDog, try the charger in the other battery. If the charge light still does not glow, the charger is probably defective. Contact the factory. If, however, the charge light does glow - but the battery seems not to take a charge in the prescribed 4-6 hours (charge light never dims and begins to flicker) - don't despair. Instead, intentionally charge the battery for a real long time, say 24 to 48 hours. It's amazing how often an UnderDog that appears to have gone paws-up can be revived. If the long charge trick does not work, contact the factory about repair or replacement of that dead "Dog". Return to Index
19. If my car cigarette lighter socket is "hot", even when the ignition key is turned off, is it OK to charge an UnderDog overnight in the vehicle?
Unless you are living or sleeping in the vehicle, or are caught in a seemingly endless traffic jam, LONG-TERM UNATTENDED car charging - using the insanely great, fuse protected, AutoDog 2 car charger - is NOT RECOMMENDED. Unattended is the operative word here. Any motor vehicle equipped with a gas tank is not the place to plug-in an unattended electrical device. Return to Index
20. What other kind of "Dogs" are available?
PocketDog and TopDog. Both provide the same performance as the UnderDog. PocketDog has no 1/4" x 20 thumbscrew. It slips into pockets and tuxedo cummerbunds or tapes up when rigging off-camera lights. TopDog has an additional bottom plate with a 1/4" x 20 brass threaded receiver. A TopDog (which still fits to the bottom of a camera), fitted with an accessory shoe mount (by Saunders or Newton) and Lowel's T1-36 Tota-tilter, turns into "monodog" - a one piece flash that mounts on regular light stands, gaffer suction cup studs and/or scissor clips. Return to Index
21. Does Jon Falk sell his private customer list to annoying junk mail polluters?
No. He sends his own kind of junk mail just to promote new products. Be sure to send in the UnderDog registration card when buying new products. It's the only way Falk can keep track of most UnderDog users. Return to Index
A small and great group of professional photo equipment dealers in handle them. UnderDogs are also distributed in Canada, Europe and the Far East. Go figure! They are, in an emergency, also sold direct from the factory (no credit card sales). Product and dealer information is available to anyone who calls, writes or sends e-mail. Return to Index
23. Who invented and then made the original Underdog flash battery?
John Van Beekum, with his real dog "Susie", from 1988 to 1995. His phone is now disconnected and he has recently moved. That makes him "DogGone". Return to Index
24. Who makes UnderDog flash batteries today?
Jon Falk, with his mascot - a stuffed dog named "Toy" - since August, 1995. Return to Index
25. Do external (UnderDog) flash batteries cause harm to fancy shoe-mount flashes?
The answer to this question is on the DogFather Speaks Out Page.
26. If UnderDogs aren't for me, how can I find out what is?
Just ask Jon Falk. He may not be writing anymore funky location lighting books, and he may not be on the road doing fancy seminars, but his advice to the lightlorn philosophy reaches beyond UnderDogs. He still thinks it's fun to cut through occasional photo marketing advertising mumbo-jumbo and truth twisting in pursuit of the right thing. Return to Index
27. Whoever thought such a seemingly simply - no status lights/no switches/no dials/no chips - flash battery would require such a lengthy FAQ?
Not the DogFather, that's for sure! Return to Index
Waggers are everyday UnderDog flashers who have, in some significant way, contributed to the technology, application or advancement of the idea that a good flash battery doesn't have to pull your pants down. Without them (Waggers, not pants), no new great UnderDog ideas would be thought up. Falk has ideas, but is real busy being the new corporate DogFather - and going to his golden handcuffs night newspaper job. Worse yet, "Toy" is not much of a thinker. Two reasons why Waggers are important. Return to Index
Wagging starts by sharing your ideas and unique UnderDog flashing experiences. Call the factory and ask to speak to the president of the company, the marketing director, the advertising manager, the assembly line superintendent, the accountant, the phone receptionist, the shipping clerk or the factory maintenance engineer (janitor). Jon Falk will listen to your idea. If calling is a problem, write your idea down and e-mail or snail-mail it in. Who knows? With the right idea you could become a member of the exclusive UnderDog Wagger's Society. Return to Index
30. How can I connect with the "DogFather" at the secret UnderDog headquarters?
The company's policy is to respond, as quickly as possible, to anyone who reaches out on the phone, through e-mail or by snail-mail. Return to Index
Copyright UnderDog / Jon Falk Lights Ltd., Inc.
by Paul Schwartz 
Webmaster for Web Market Share