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Review Summary
1500Ws
2
31 - 1500Ws
1/10 stops
0.5 - 3.8 sec (auto)
1/2130 sec Min
1/5700 sec Max
Ready LED
Ready Beep
Modeling light
Off
Proportional
100%
6V
+/- 0.1 f/stop
On/Off
On/Off
5300K +/-300K
Yes
Yes
7"
10-1/2"
11" (incl. handle)
4"
9"
4"
16'
24 lbs
5 lbs





When a photoshoot requires using a location that is not fully connected to AC circuitry, a DC battery power pack is an ideal solution when smaller on-camera flashes are lacking the light output needed. There are a wide variety of these sorts of devices, but the Bowens, Explorer 1500 Pack stands out with a feature set not found on most other portable strobe power generators.
Contained within this compact, yet powerful pack is a sophisticated operating system that allows for the two head outlets to be adjusted from 31 to 1500 watt/seconds in 1/10th-stop increments. The adjustments can clearly be read in sunlight and low-light with the top-deck control LCD display.
Battery charge, status, channel and other essential system info can be easily adjusted and viewed with a quick glance of the screen. Custom functions include: bracketing, sounder, modeling timer, charge and recall. Also, there is a switchable photocell (slave) that can be replaced by the Bowens Pulsar radio sync receiver that is built into the pack.
A Bowens Pulsar transmitter is required for this wireless operation. Otherwise, the two wired PC sync sockets with safe and clean 6V power will connect to any camera with a sync terminal. Many functions are carried over from the QUAD series AC power packs like auto-bracketing that allow for a succession of shots to be made with the pack automatically lowering a and raising the power level around the metered setting.
The bracketing interval range is 1/10 to 9/10-stop.The two main independent output channels connect to Bowens QUAD heads and will let users fire them symmetrically, asymmetrically or locked in a chosen ratio. The short flash duration of up to 1/5700th of a second, keeps consistent 5300°k color temperature from shot to shot.
Additionally, a modeling light found on a connected flash head can be powered by the Explorers circuitry that provides a timed 250 Watts power load with a single head and 100 Watts over two heads. It can be programmed to shine for anywhere from 1 to 60 seconds that is either proportional or 100%. The 12 Volt battery will provide up to 150 full-power bursts with a single head.
It is quick to recycle and can be augmented by the inclusion of two additional 750 Watts/second Bowens Esprit Gemini on the top deck. Using these Gemini ports, the total power is maximized to a whopping 3000 watts/second over 4 heads. Charging the battery is a breeze and the cell is able to be charged within the pack's housing or with an external charger in 5-6 hours.
A quick charger and car charger are also available as optional accessories. Altogether, the Bowens Explorer is an excellent, full-featured portable flash power generator with features to please the most demanding photographers. This package includes a single QUAD 3KM flash head, with flash tube and modeling lamp.