Here’s a rough guide on how to modify a Metz CT 1 to: work with a modern day digital camera, use 7.2v RC batteries and be able to use it for strobe photography.
Credit to Joe Templeman for working most of this stuff out and helping along the way.
Note: Try these mods at your own risk, I'm not responsible for you breaking your equipment or blowing your hands of or something like that :)
Firstly here is the flash, Its a little on the large side but for £40 inc delivery of eBay I cant complain. With it being so cheap I don't have to worry about it so much. Its now nearly 20 years old so its lasted well I think!
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First thing you need to consider with the CT1 is the high trigger voltage. I read in multiple places online that with this model you shouldn't connect it directly to the camera because there is a chance of frying it! using a multimeter the voltage read 200+ volts! this is huge when the modern day standard is around 6v.
The way to get around this is to use a remote trigger. I picked up a trigger and receiver of eBay for around £8. This not only protects the camera but also means I'm not constrained by a cable.
When I got the flash the old NiCad batteries were dead. I was about to buy a new pack of eBay when Joe stumbled across this article on flickr. He has used a 7.2v RC battery to power the flash.This was great because I have a lot of old RC batteries lying around.
Here’s how we got the RC battery powering the flash.
Note: This was done using the rechargeable pack that came with the flash.
The other AA battery packs connect to the flash with different connectors so there is a danger of over powering it.
Firstly remove the old rechargeable battery compartment from the flash.
Unclip the plastic housing on the case
Then disassemble the device by unscrewing it.
Remove the old NiCad batteries
Now un soldier the the cables and replace them with longer ones. We made a small hole in the bottom of the case and fed the wires through. Then I connected it to a male connector I got off an old charger. Used some shrink tube to neaten the cable. Then put it all back together connect it up to a fully charged battery and tested it out.
This next mod is a little more tricky.
We got the idea for this mod from this guy.
Basically the Metz CT1 Doesn't have a fully manual mode and the automatic mode is pretty limited. when the flash is auto It measures the light of a subject using a simple LDR.
So when its darker the flash is brighter and when its lighter the flash is dimmer.
The Link above explains in detail how to remove the otter casing and make it so you have control over the output. But in his method he has used a 12 stepped switch that is connected to varying resistors that allows him to change the resistance manually. This means having an external box to house all the components. Joe had the Idea of having just one switch that changes between a set resistance and the LDR. This way means there isn't more stuff attached to the outside of the flash.
We got a two way switch and some resistors from Maplins. The circuit is pretty simple, When the switch is up the current flows though the LDR and when its down it flows through set resistor. We found that a Ideal resistance of around 8 ohms meant a balance between flash brightness and number of flashes before the capacitor discharged.
Using a dremel we were able to remove some of the plastic away from where a old external battery pack could be connected. Now there is the perfect slot to fit the switch. Using a glue gun we stuck in the switch made sure there was no exposed wire then reassembled everything back together.
Here’s the switch on the side of the flash. It looks pretty neat and it works great!
Here’s one quick test shot with the flash on full power. I’m really surprised with the power of this flash!
So I think that’s about it, Hope this helps some of you, if you need any more information or have any questions feel free to comment Ill try to answer as soon as possible.
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