PROPAC CABLE NX problem

This is a cable that gave me problem.

When I got my PROPAC PB960, I opted for the Nikon version, that's the cable is for Nikon speedlight, in my case it's the Nikon SB-800.

But that cable was iffy, sometimes it worked but most of the time it didn't.  It took me quite some time to notice that.  Because, I didn't use the SB-800 often enough to notice.  The SB-800 requires 4AA batteries inside even when it's to be powered by the PB960 (the 4AA is then used for the display and other functions I guess), meaning when I am on TTL and has enough ambient and it doesn't draw 100% power I wouldn't notice the difference even it's coming off from the 4AA.  But finally I did notice the slow cycling time when the 4AA batteries depleted its power.

I don't have have other Nikon SB-800 flashes or other Nikon flashes that accept external power laying around for me to test if it's the flash or the cable or the pac unit.  But I figure in all likelihood it's the cable.  I hope it's not the PB960 itself of the SB-800.  The pac has no problem passing power to my Sunpak 120J with another cable at all and the SB-800 seems work fine.

Finally I got a hold of my friend who also owns a Nikon SB-800.  Same problem.  Sometimes it works but most of the time it doesn't.

I took a chance I ordered another NX cable on eBay.  I could have bought some quantum or paramount cable which are supposedly better made but more expensive even used, about $50 each.  The PROPAC PB980, at least the power cable is based on the quantum spec, that's my understanding.

Actually I wrote to Godox via email about the cable but of course nobody replied.  I also wrote to the original eBay seller I got it from with the pac, but to no avail.

The eBay cable came, it's practically new.  It is somewhat different from the one that came with the pac.  The new one has a shorter neck and has no sleeve and fits much snug than the original.  The original one is by no means loose when plugged into the SB-800.

no good cable with the sleeve removed just to show the neck

D810 with the NX cable attached that works.

This NX cable doesn't come with a sleeve, the 3 insertion prong is the same length though.  This one works.

SB-800, the left most hole has no protruding pin there, it's not broken it's just like that.

No good NX cable with the sleeve at the neck

the cable has 3 prongs like so.  The cable that works is very tight.  So maybe it's better made more on spec.

With the new cable, the SB-800 actually draws power from the pac as the cycling time is much faster even when the 4AA is low in juice.  The ready light on the Pac actually turns itself off as it recharges itself between flashes--I was doing a full power 1/1 manual flash on the SB-800 to make sure maximum power is used.

I hope the cable stays good.

I saw on YouTube there were similar issues with the cable, and some people suggest to turn on the pac then the flash unit in that order.  I did but still iffy.  So my experience is the cable is faulty perhaps not up to spec.  The other cable that works has some minor changes as it fits much tighter.  The absence of a sleeve probably has nothing to do with it, it could be even because it's a used cable but unlikely as the neck is much shorter to accommodate a sleeve like the original cable that I have had.