the shorting out (burning smell factor) isnt about the energy put out when the camera flash fires its more about the high current that goes into chargeing the capacitor ready for its next fire..

if u are repeatedly fireing flash after flash things might get a little hot.. if its under warranty send it in saying u can smell something burning and see smoke.. they will send u a new one.. if its not.. just keep useing it and hope it keeps working.. just dont sit there playing fireing flash after flash..

i think u do have a fault.. but like a lot of todays products once out of warranty they are just not economic to fix..

trog100