Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi guys I'm having an issue with my Vagabond Mini. When I plug my battery into the charger it won't charge. If the charger is plugged into the battery and the wall socket I can plug my strobes into the battery and it works. However if I try charging the battery hours/days after it's still 'DEAD'. :(

Do you thing I just need a replacement battery??????

Shawn

You do not necessarily have a bad battery. When plugged only into the wall, the charger block should give you a green light. When charging a fully or partially depleted battery, the charger should give you a red light until the charge is complete, when the LED on the charger turns green. If you do not get a light on the charger, there is a problem with the charger. Also, try charging directly to the battery rather than via the inverter.

When the battery is charged and connected, and the inverter turned on, you should have one or more LED's in the "fuel guage". You should also have an LED next to the USB port. The fuel guage is exluded from the fuse's circuit, though I do not think the fuse is the problem.

Please try charging via the inverter as well as straight to the battery. Once you do this, let us know what LED's work, and what color they are. Do the LED's change behavior when something is plugged into the inverter and switched on?

When the battery is plugged into the charger the "fuel gauge" gives me three LEDs. However I've not tried plugging directly into the battery, so I'll try that and get back to you.

When I plug the charger directly into the battery, the charger led goes red for a few seconds the solid green. It then stays solid green on the charger.

OK, the three LED's mean the battery is fully charged (verified by the charger) and making contact to the inverter. As well, the charger is making good contact, as it is going red to green (either way, the charger is not the problem at hand right now).

Are you getting a green LED next to the USB port. I suspect so, since you are able to run stuff when the charger is plugged in, but I need to verifiy this.

When you plug in a light without the charger attached, what do the LED's (the USB and fuel guage LED's) do?

The green LED next to the USB port comes on when the battery is plugged into the charger and turned on. Once I turn the battery off the green LED next to the USB port goes off as well.

When I plug in a light without the charger attached no LEDs come on or the lights won't work.

Ok, with this information, it is not possible to isolate where the problem lies. I would recommend sending the whole unit (inverter, battery and charger) in for warranty service. All VML's are under warranty, though the warranty on the early ones are about to expire.

Please visit this link for information on how to get the unit repaired:
http://www.paulcbuff.com/repair.php

Hi,

I am havign the same issue.I bought this Mini vagabond last year, used it once and put in on my closet. Tomorrow I have a wedding to cover, and i put it on to charge, and Is not charging.

If y plug it into the wall and switch it to on, it seems to works. IT shows all the lights green, saying that is full power, but if I shut it off, being plugged to the wall, it just goes off, and doesnt work at all.

I honestly dont remebr where did I put the receipt. Do i need it to send it back for warranty? I should be under all your database, i have bought several items from u guys...

Please, if there is something i can do to get it work by tomorrow saturday, would eb great.

Thanks

Trust me, it's toast - you need a new batt - been there done that.

So..... This thing last only one shot within a few months a thats it?!?!??////... really?

Do Paul C Buff exchange them or do they take any responsability on this?:-?