Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I just completed running a VML endurance test. The battery was able to provide 474 full power pops to an Elinchrom 600RX, fired every 15 seconds by intervalometer. The test ran just short of two hours at which point the battery ran up the white flag.

One thing I noticed was that the charge remaining indicator LEDs were not illuminated for the duration of the test. They were all on when the test started but then extinguished and remained off. I called PCB TS as I thought this might be indicative of a problem with my inverter. In fact, I was told this behavior is normal. The LEDs go out when the unit is in use.

That in itself seems odd to me but my question is when do they come back on so battery depletion level can be assessed? The TS person I spoke with said they'd come on "after a few seconds". This is clearly not the case as the intervalometer was allowing 15 seconds between pops and the LEDs did no come on.

Can you please explain how the charge remaining LEDs are supposed to function?

Thanks much,

Dave F.

The LED's will light up within 10-15 seconds after turning on the inverter. Assuming a fresh battery charge, all three lights will come on. This is with the inverter on and no load. As flashes are fired, the LED's will sequencially go off. After a fair bit of shooting, returning the inverter to a no draw state (i.e. the lights are not being recycled), the LED's will come back on. This may take longer than 15 seconds, especially if 4 or more of those seconds are under heavy load (recycling). If the model lamp is on, the LED's may not recover until the model lamp is turned off, as well I do not know what the power draw is on an Elinchrom which can affect the time it takes for the LED's to recover.

The most accuracy from the LED guage is with the inverter on, no load, and with sufficient time for the LED's to register.

Thank you for the explanation.

Dave F.

I just posted a video unboxing and of an AB1600 at full power showing the recycle time with the Vagabond Lithium. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pAgCYO3quI

Thanks for your video.


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For information, Profoto Acute exhibits the same battery LED issue. With VML it was assumed that users would not fire non stop for 400+ shots, but would pause occasional to change setups, posing, etc. That is the time to check the remaining battery life . . . after a few minutes of non firing.The LED will recover to indicate true battery status in a couple of minutes when not firing.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=37469469

Come on, Luap!! Get real!!!

Why would you assume customers would be rational and in search of a device that would simply allow them to use their lights very easily outside the studio??

What planet are you living on??

Never mind... now I know what the "earth ground" connection is for. :lol:

John,

Glad I can tell humor from literal words. A post like this on Fred Miranda would bring page after page of arguing. You're right, I sometimes make the assumption that people are rational.

I do have methods of configuring the LEDs so they don't give falsely low reading during firing. Perhaps I'll implement this in the future.