Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi,

I was shooting using my Vagabond Mini Lithium (240V AUS) and it was working fine until it wouldn't re-power the strobes. The power was 1/2 on the gauge but nothing to strobes. Checked the USB and it was working fine. I re-charged the battery and tried again (once I got home after I had to cancel the rest of the shoot) and it didn't change the ability of the unit to power the lights or anything for that matter.

It leads me to think that the unit has a circuit breaker either heat or current activated and it has become terminally sick?

Any ideas??? I'm located in Australia and like to work for a living so you can see transporting it back to the USA is my last option as it would take weeks (months) to get it back.

Cheers, iKapture

sorry - need to add that the fuse is fine and the light next to the USB is green as well.

It sounds like there is a fault, but it is hard to say for sure if it is in the battery or the inverter.

If you are familiar with a multi-meter, you can meter the AC outlets when connected to the battery. Presumably, this will either be low voltage or no voltage.

Then disconnect the battery, then plug the charger into the inverter (either the front or back) and meter the AC outlets again. If you get the proper voltage, the problem is likely the battery. If the voltage is the same, or otherwise low, then the issue is likely the inverter.

Being in Australia, I would suggest contacting customer service to see what is possible on shipping possibilities and any turn around times for repair. Knowing the above information, if possible, would help determine the best course of action.

Thank you for your response I will make the checks and let you know the results.

Quick update.

I had an electronics company look at the VML and they say it's unfixable. No explanation at the moment but I will push for more info when I get it this afternoon. I think it was left in the too hard basket.

Shame, as I really enjoyed using the VML on location and found it to be very reliable and easy to use. Sadly for Australian's we miss out on using PCB equipment as it's too hard to get a hold of.

Between myself and my two associates, we have 25 Vagabond mini units, both in 120v and 230v versions. I have used the units since they were first introduced.

The problem you described is all to familiar to me, and I am sending 1-2 units a month to Nashville for repair from New Zealand. The problem is with the voltage regulator. The units generally have power to the plug, cut out with any load at all, so nothing with any appreciable draw will power up, which is why the usb port usually works. When I send them back, they replace the voltage regulator and double it's capacity. I have found that the newest version of the VML is most susceptible to the problem. The newer versions are the ones that show all three power bar light immediately when powering on. the older ones used to take a minute to get to three lights up and illuminated.

I currently have two units waiting to be shipped to Nashville, along with a white lightening 3200 that will not come up to full power. It's a real drag absorbing the cost of international shipping in both directions, but I keep in mind that the use these units get is probably far more frequent than most folks give them. I am shooting 6 hours per day (typically) 6 days per week. So compared to the units I used to use say, back in the 80's, all of the Paul C Buff line is more resilient than any top flash brand we used in those days.

Still, it would be nice if they could get these problems sorted so I don't have to keep sending this stuff back.

Cheers

I presume this to mean it is unfixable by them. We, of course, would be able to. However, it may be more cost advantageous to order a new inverter. Our repair or sales departments should be able to price this out for you.

Out of curiosity, what lights are you running on these?