Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I am happy with the VML as it works flawlessly with my Speeotron Monolight...moreover, I use it in power outages and camping to power my CPAP machine. Being so light and having a high capacity battery, it would be very useful for the traveling CPAP medical community as well.

Thanks Paul.

It is awesome you are finding the Vagabond Mini so useful for a variety of applications. However, using for medical purposes is done at the user's own risk. We cannot guarantee compatability with any device that is not built by us, nor can we accept any liability for consequential damages arising from our product not supplying power to the connected device.

Thanks. This device pulls ~35 watts and if the unit failed for some reason, the device has safegards as it is expected to be in use when the power could fail without harm to the user. I have 3 machines so if one breaks, I have backups.

I understand your statement of liability though. I will use it at my own risk.

FWIW, this was a blanket statement, not only to you, but anyone who happens across the post in a google search or similar, not knowing what else is involved.

Is it possible to convert my old vagabond sine converter to use the new lithium batteries?

No, the Lithium batteries output a voltage that the older inverters cannot handle.

Slight correction: Our VML battery chemistry (same as laptops and most power tools) outputs 14.8V (16.6V at 100% charge. Vagabond 1 or 2 inverters have protection circuitry that will shut down at about 14.5V input).

LiFe chemistry batteries are rated at 12.8V and would work with Vagabond 1 or 11. But they must be capable of at least 60A continuous current (22A for VML). Life batteries have less power density than VML chemistry and cost more. So you would get fewer pops per charge per pound, cubic inches and dollars. This is somewhat equalized in that LiFe batteries offer more charge/discharge cycles over their lifetime.

By the way . . . a direct equivalent 130 watt-hour lithium VML from other sources would typically cost about $300 or more and they would likely come from the same factory. This is entirely due to our direct sales marketing. A 130 watt-hour LiFe battery would be nearly twice as big and would be in the $500 range.

By the same token, if Einstein were made exactly the same but came from one of the Euro companies it would cost you around $1500 and you couldn't call up a nice, very knowledgeable southern girl any time you want for questions or help!

I've recently been looking into creating my own "mega vagabond lithium" using this same approach and have come to the same conclusion.... buying a single battery pack just doesn't get me the economy of scale to come anywhere near the VML price.

I am in a 230V country with a vagabond II, minus the battery which I had to ditch during the move as it was tooo heavy. Will the vagabond II run in continuous mode on 230V mains without a battery, or do I have to get a 12V car battery? If it will run, how many B800 will it support at full power?

No, you will need a 12V battery in order to use the VII as a step down device.