HiViz - Operating Manual for the Multi-Trigger 2 - HiViz.com

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Assembly and Operating Instructions for HiViz Kits
Operating Instructions for the Multi-Trigger 2
Assembly instructions for other kits
Here is a printable version of this manual.
Components
Sensor cables included with the MT2
External input cable
Photogate cable (SPG2 type)
Photogate cable (SPG1 type)
Microphone cable
Flash trigger cable

Flash trigger cable
A flash trigger cable such as one of the three shown below is needed to connect the the outputs of the MT2 to a flash unit. The cables are
purchased separately from the MT2.
The adapter shown in the far right cell is provided to connect the RCA plug to the MT2 box.
PC to RCA
Flash shoe to RCA
Vivitar 283/285/3700 to RCA
Female RCA to 3.5mm mono male
adapter
Camera shutter cable
A shutter cable is required to actuate a camera using the MT2. The cables are purchased separately from the MT2.
Canon RS-60E3
Canon RS-80N3
Nikon MC30
Nikon MCDC2
Sony S1
Refer to the following photo for the locations of the knobs, switches, jacks, and LEDs.
Note: It's best to have the unit turned off when inserting plugs into the input jacks.
Powering the Multi-Trigger
The Multi-Trigger circuit is powered by 9V DC. This can be supplied either with a 9V battery or an AC-to-DC 9V
adapter. The AC/DC jack on the enclosure accepts a standard 2.1mm plug such as the one on the adapter to the right.
(Center pin is positive.) When the AC-to-DC adapter is plugged into the box, the battery is automatically disconnected

(Center pin is positive.) When the AC-to-DC adapter is plugged into the box, the battery is automatically disconnected
internally.
In order to install or replace a battery, remove the four screws that hold the lid in place. Then lift the lid carefully so as
not to stress the wires that connect the lid to the battery holder. If necessary, the battery holder itself can be removed,
as it is held to the bottom of the box with hook and look tape. After replacing the battery, lower the lid on onto the
box, being careful not to pinch any wires between the lid and the box. Then screw the lid back down.
When the on-off switch is flipped to the ON position, the LED next to the switch will light. If you're operating on
battery power and the light is dim, that may indicate a weak battery. When the battery is weak, the unit may still function but demonstrate erratic behavior.
That's a sign to replace the battery or use an AC-to-DC adapter.
The Delay Unit
In order to test the operation of the delay unit, first plug in the external input cable. Then set this starting configuration:
Power switch ON
Input selector switch on MIC (Note that when no input cable is connected to the enclosure, this test of the delay unit only works with the input set
to MIC.)
DELAY/10 switch to OFF
TIMEOUT knob turned fully counterclockwise
All other knobs turned to their halfway positions
1. Press and release the TEST button. You should see the TRIG LED light momentarily. This indicates that the delay unit triggered.
2. Turn the COARSE DELAY all the way clockwise. Press the TEST button. You'll notice a longer delay before the trigger indicator lights. Turning
the FINE DELAY clockwise also increase the delay. However, you're not likely to notice this visually, since the FINE DELAY control provides
about 0.05s of delay at the most.
3. Turn the TIMEOUT knob all the way clockwise and press TEST. TheTRIG LED will remain lit for about a second. During this period of time, the
delayed output of the delay unit is inactivated. When using a flash, setting a long timeout prevents multiple exposures. This comes in most useful
when using the sound trigger. Loud sounds that last for a while or that produce echoes can set off the sound trigger repeatedly. Setting a long
timeout provides time for the sound to decay before the flash can discharge a second time. When triggering a camera, a long timeout prevents the
shutter from actuating repeatedly.
4. Turn the TIMEOUT back to the original position, and flip the DELAY/10 to the ON position. When you press the TEST button, there will be no
noticeable delay even with the COARSE DELAY turned all the way clockwise. This is because all delays are divided by 10 from the original
position. This is useful when you need particularly fine control of the delay for events for which the maximum delay needed is less than about
0.05s.
5. Now flip DELAY/10 to the OFF position. Using the appropriate trigger cable for your flash unit, connect the FLASH DELAYED output jack to
your flash unit. Turn on your flash. When you run a finger through the photogate or push the TEST button, the flash should discharge.
While you have the external input cable connected, also try shorting together the bare wires at the end of the cable. This should trigger the delay unit the
same as in the tests above.
Note for Build 2 of the Multi-Trigger 2, the Test button will only function when a sensor cable or the external input cable is connected.
The Photogate
Remove the external input cable, as the photogate and sound trigger would be disabled with the external input cable in place.
With the unit turned off, insert the 3.5mm plug of the interrupter (SPG2) photogate cable into the PG jack. Be sure to push the plug in all the way;
otherwise, the photogate won't work. Flip the input selector to PG and make sure the PG SENS knob is turned to its halfway position. Turn the unit on.
The PG LED on the right side of the panel should light as soon as you turn on the unit. This LED indicates that the photogate beam is unbroken. Now run
a finger through the interrupter. The alignment indicator will go out, and the TRIG LED will momentarily light and the flash unit discharge after whatever
delay you've dialed in.
Now turn off the unit, remove the interrupter photogate cable, and insert the other photogate cable (SPG1). Tape the emitter and detector to the table
pointed at each other a few inches apart. Turn on the unit. The PG LED should come on. If it doesn't, check the alignment of the emitter and detector. If
you wish, move one of them to the side to verify that the PG LED responds correctly. Now turn the PG SENS knob clockwise until the alignment LED
goes out. This happens when the sensitivity is set too high. In order to set the sensitivity at the highest it can be without going over the threshold, dial the
knob back to the point where the LED comes back on. If you're running on battery power, the sensitivity may drift as the battery runs down. So if you have
the sensitivity adjusted to the threshold, you may have to readjust it as the battery weakens. You also need to readjust the sensitivity when you change the
separation of the emitter and detector. Whenever you position the emitter and detector for an experiment, be sure to anchor them as rigidly in place as
possible in order to maintain alignment as well as the sensitivity adjustment.
The Sound Trigger
Plug the microphone cable into the MIC jack and flip the input selector to MIC. Turn the SND SENS knob to the halfway position and turn the TIMEOUT
all the way clockwise. Turn on the unit. Snap your fingers or tap the microphone. The TRIG LED should light and the flash discharge the same as in your
tests of the delay unit and photogate. With the TIMEOUT set to 1s, the flash will remain inactive for about a second. This is the typical TIMEOUT setting
to use with the sound trigger in order to avoid multiple images from repeated triggering of a flash. Of couse, you may use a smaller TIMEOUT if you
wish. In order to increase the sensitivity of the sound trigger, turn the SND SENS knob clockwise.
The External Input

The external input jack can be used to connect other triggers to the delay unit. When a 3.5mm mono plug is inserted into EXT IN, both the photogate and
sound trigger circuits are internally disconnected from the delay unit. You can connect as an external input any trigger that produces a short circuit as an
output. Examples include the Amplified Sound Trigger as well as a simple contact trigger. In order to see how this input works, plug the external input
cable into the enclosure. Turn on the unit and simply touch together the two bare wires at the end of the external input cable. The delay unit will operate
the same as if using the internal sound trigger or photogate. You can also trigger the unit externally from either the instant or delayed output of another
delay unit. This means you can chain delay units for the purpose of triggering multiple flash units.
The Instant and Delayed Outputs
Important: If your flash unit has a high-voltage trigger circuit (greater than 80V), don't connect it to the outputs on the lid. Modern flash units typically
have low-voltage trigger circuits but older units may have voltages of 200-300V. For example, Vivitar 283 units manufactured before 1984 have highvoltage
trigger circuits. Vivitar 283s manufactured after that date have low-voltage trigger circuits. You'll know if your flash unit has a high-voltage
trigger circuit, because it will sting you if you touch the output terminals. If you want to trigger a high-voltage unit with the Multi-Trigger, you'll need the
Output Extender Kit. By the way, if you do use a high-voltage flash with an output on the lid, you'll burn out an optocoupler and possibly also the 556
timer. These chips are inexpensive and easily replaced.
Aside from the restriction noted above, you can trigger flash units, camera shutters, and wireless transmitters from either the INSTANT or DELAYED
output. For a flash unit, connect a trigger cable between the output jack and the flash. You may need to use the 3.5mm to RCA adapter depending on the
type of connector that you have on your trigger cable. Note that the position of the REVIEW/FOCUS switch is unimportant when using a flash unit. Now,
when you trigger the delay unit either with the TEST button, photogate, or microphone, the flash should discharge. If you are triggering your flash through
a hot shoe, note that some flash units (examples are the Nikon SB600 and the Canon 430 EXII) must be put in manual mode in order to trigger them
through a hot shoe.
For triggering a camera shutter, use your camera shutter cable to connect the camera to an output. Set your camera for manual operation (focus and
exposure). Depending on your camera, it may or may not be necessary to flip the REVIEW/FOCUS switch to the FOCUS position in order to be able to
trigger the camera. The REVIEW/FOCUS switches perform the shutter half-press operations of your camera. Some camera makes such as Nikons require
that the half-press operations be performed before the shutter can be actuated. Other camera makes such as Canons do not have this requirement, so the
position of the REVIEW/FOCUS switch may be unimportant for such cameras. Note also that for Nikon camera, the REVIEW/FOCUS switch must be in
the REVIEW position in order to view images on the camera's LCD.
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