Bowens QuadX 3000 Generator Power Pack - 3000 Watt/Seconds (120VAC)

Comments about Bowens QuadX 3000 Generator (120V):

I have three QuadX packs and bought them in early 2005. They have been extremely reliable and consistent in output and color temp.

Coming from an all Broncolor studio I took a chance on these because they had many of the features but a much more reasonable price tag.

They have proven to be a great investment and have paid for themselves many times over.

Any piece if equipment can fail so in a professional studio having backups at hand is essential. One of the packs has been serviced and it was returned in a week or so.

Comments about Bowens QuadX 3000 Generator (120V):

I would like to use it in my photo.
I like, not only the high quality, i like all the duties that it has.
I agree about everything of this product.

Comments about Bowens QuadX 3000 Generator (120V):

Quadx is used in a studio for fashion photography.

Things not so great:

1- the IR button causes endless beeps when turned on. Of course it took months to figure out that this button was causing the problem. It initially sounded as a warning but there was no indication of what was defective ? This was a bit alarming during a shoot , initially I would turn off the speaker option but thought the unit was defective..

2- one of the channels is intermittant. It will only work if you're within 1 foot of the unit.
If you're using a pocket wizard to trigger the unit or a Sekonic trigger you get different results. The unit was sent for repair but came back with the same problem {Calumet}{not a Bowens center, mind you}.

3-the modeling lamps seem to burn out quickly... ?
This gets expensive very fast. They are 300 watts though.

4-So I sent it away to Bowens center {March 10}{to Toronto} to get the defective channel fixed. Repair time estimated 4-6 weeks ? Will update later with the real time it took.

5-Light modifier attachments can at times be very tight and hard to remove.

6-the unit is a bit heavy for my female assistant.
Has a solid feel to it though.

The positive:

1-when it works , it works very well. The above channel problem is solved if and only if you use both channels at once. Not always convenient and messy of course when you're on the run.

2-re-charge times are fast.
3-Lots of wattage if required.
4-I guess a positive is that all the light modifiers work with my old reliable Bowens 500 watters which was the reason I bought the Quadx to begin with.

Let's hope the channel gets fixed properly.
Unfortunately I haven't seen very many good reports on this unit ?? Hoping that the unit becomes reliable as my 500's....

Comments about Bowens QuadX 3000 Generator (120V):

My Bowens QUADX 3000 generator exploded in the middle of a17 person portrait session. My local dealer had no loanersor rentals. I turned the unit in for repair and contactedBowens USA and was told I would get expedited service. Ittook a full 3 months for the unit to be repaired. Bowenswas notforthcoming about how long it would take. I was forced tobuy another unit because I couldn't make my client wait andI have a substantial investment in flash heads for this unit. Also, you will not be able to get any information on howmany cycles you can expect from the generator or mean timeto failure information. I asked several times and gotcircuitous non-answers.

Expertise: Professional Photographer

Problems Encountered: I was advised that the failure was defective capacitors. Iwas also advised that the first replacement capacitors werealso defective.