Bowens QuadX 3000 User Manual

Your QuadX 3000 is a versatile and powerful photographic generator.

The pack has 4 head sockets which can deliver a total power of  3000W/S in various
ways.  At all times, the pack will indicate the   available power at any socket.  This is
scaled such that 3000W/S represents 10 on the display.  Lower power levels are
proportional and adjustable in steps of 0.1 stops.
e.g. A value of 9.0 represents half the pack, 1500W/S.

The pack is divided into two channels A & B.  These channels are further split across two
sockets each A1/A2 & B1/B2.  The energy available from each socket is displayed.
Switching Off a socket, will cause the unit to dump the energy in order to maintain the
remaining channel/socket.  There is no need to manually accommodate these changes.

With channel A in use only, the full pack power is available to share between sockets A1
and A2.  Therefore a single head in A1 can discharge the full 3000W/S.

With a head switched on in either of the channel B sockets B1/B2, the pack automatically
becomes asymmetric.  In this mode, a maximum of 2000W/S is available across channel A
and maximum of 1000W/S across channel B.

As you become familiar with operating the pack, you will notice short delays in the unit
returning to ready during power adjustments.  This is because the unit always adjusts the
power level to match the displayed value for each socket.  Turning a socket off for example,
requires the energy to be dumped, hence the delay.  A further reason is that for any given
power level, the unit will automatically optimise the internal capacitor usage to minimise the
flash duration.

Modelling On/Off is controlled by a single button.  Modelling control to each head can be set
to ON/OFF or INTERMITTENT.  (Intermittent extinguishes the lamps when the unit is not
Ready).

There are 3 modelling modes namely, FULL, PROPORTIONAL and AUTOMATIC 100%.
The FULL and AUTOMATIC 100% modes

 also provide a bias control allowing all

lamps to be controlled in ratio.

The commonly required adjustments are grouped under the main selection menu.  This
allows control over the following :-

1. Modelling
2. Speaker
3. IR 

Channel

4. Bracketing

⇒

To adjust the charge control :-

Advanced Options 

⇒

 Charge Control.  Use 

⇑⇓

 to toggle Auto/Slow charge.

⇒

This mode contains three advanced features :-

Trigger Delay, Trigger Skip and Multi-Trigger.  These features may be operated standalone
or in conjunction with one another.

Selection begins :  Advanced Options 

⇒

 Setup Flash Mode

Use 

⇑⇓

 to scroll, 

⇒

 to select.

⇒

⇒

The Trigger delay function allows a timed delay between triggering the pack and the pack
discharging.  The feature maybe toggled ON or OFF and the delay period may be varied
from 0 to 9.9 seconds in steps of 0.1S.  Selection and adjustment is performed using the 

⇑⇓

to scroll, 

⇒

 to select.  The > character changes to * when an item is ready to change.

⇒

⇒

The Trigger Skip function is solely for use with 2 or more packs and is designed to allow the
photographer to trigger packs alternately and therefore more rapidly.  To do this, the pack
must first be assigned a pack ID number, which must be less than or equal to the number of
packs in use.  Next, the number of packs must be set to equal the number of packs to be
used.  Each pack must be connected to the same trigger source.  As a trigger signal occurs,
the pack will begin counting the number of triggers.  If this is equal to the pack ID, then the
pack will trigger.

e.g.  Consider 3 packs set up with  Pack ID 1, Pack ID 2 and Pack ID 3.

Having switched on the Trigger Skip function, the first trigger will cause Pack 1 to fire, the
second trigger will cause Pack 2 to fire, the third trigger will cause pack 3 to fire.  The fourth
trigger will cause Pack 1 to fire and so on..

FLASH MODE CONTROLS
> Trigger Delay:OFF
  Trigger Skip :OFF
  Multi-Trigger:OFF

Alternate Units