Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Hi,

I have a VML system, I really like it. I have one problem though, that I hope someone can help me solve.

When I have my assistant use the VML with the supplied shoulder strap the weight of the battery pulls it away from the main unit, just very slightly, but enough to result in a loss of power. If we push it back in it works for a while, then stops again. This is obviously just a physical problem, but it's annoying as I have limited time for portraits at weddings, and equipment failing wastes time and makes me look unprofessional.

Is anyone else having this problem? Is there a solution, or does the battery or main unit need to be replaced?

I'm based in New Zealand, and purchased the unit from Australia.

Thanks

Tim

Remove the battery completely. Locate the red and black connectors on both the battery and the inverter. Inside the connectors, there are metal tabs (almost tongue-like). Be sure all four of those are all the way forward in the connector, and look the same. Also, gently press in on the connectors and see if they recede into the housing. Also, does the release latch on the bottom/back of the unit hold securely?

Sorry for the slow reply, I'd loaned my VML to a friend to charge his phone with while I was overseas, we've had bad storms and earthquakes and he was without power.

The terminals on the main unit look fine, gold and springy. When you view them end on you can see them sitting up there above the plastic.

The ones on the battery are closer to silver or white, and they don't spring much if at all. They're sitting much lower in the connector, and now I've poked them you can barely see them when you look at them directly on. That looks like it could be a problem.

I have another VML battery. It's faulty in that it doesn't seem to have enough power to run a flash, but it will run lower powered things. That batteries terminals are a little better, but still relatively flat.

The release holds the battery in reasonably securely. When I push the battery in hard there's perhaps a 1mm gap, when I pull it the other way it rises to 2 or 2.5mm (I guess).

I've linked to photos below - sorry you'll have to copy and paste the URLs due to hotlink protection on my server. Sorry no macro lens. First is the contacts, taken as close as I can to parallel to them. You can see the battery contacts don't go out that far, and they don't spring.

http://mrwild.co.nz/temp/vml/VML1.jpg

This shows the gap between the battery and the main unit when I push it together.

http://mrwild.co.nz/temp/vml/BatteryClosed.jpg

This shows the gap between the battery and the main unit when I pull them apart, simulating what happens when I'm using the shoulder strap.

http://mrwild.co.nz/temp/vml/BatteryOpen.jpg

When I click the link, I am informed I do not have permission, and to go ask my mum.

Also, have you tried swapping batteries to see if the other battery works in this inverter?

Sorry, you'll have to copy the link location then paste into your web browser. It's hotlinking protection on my server. I'll edit the post above if possible. Here are the links to copy and paste into a browser tab

http://mrwild.co.nz/temp/vml/VML1.jpg
http://mrwild.co.nz/temp/vml/BatteryClosed.jpg
http://mrwild.co.nz/temp/vml/BatteryOpen.jpg

The other battery doesn't work to power my AB800, it won't run it at all. It will power low load devices like a cellphone charger or a small LED light. I could try putting it in and seeing if it cuts off when I move it around though.

To be clear, when I am suggesting swapping batteries, I do mean the actual battery, seperated from the inverters, and reinstalled into the opposite inverter.

Also, on this inverter, remove the battery and see if you can push the red and black connectors into the housing with little effort.

Thanks, I understand the difference between an inverter and a battery. I only have one inverter unit, one good battery that cuts out at times, and one battery that won't power a flash.

The other battery works in the single inverter I own, but I haven't done any tests to determine whether it will lose power like the other battery. Would you like me to do that?

Do you mean with the battery try pushing the metal prongs inside the connector in, or push the whole red and black connector unit in? I tried pushing the metal prongs in with a knife, they don't go back in.

If you tried to push the metal prongs in and the plastic part of the connectors did not move, that tells me what I was looking for.

Do all the contacts have a curve, or are any of them flat? The curve should bend into the center of the connectors, so that the peaks touch, like this )( .

Or do any of them bend away from the center so that the curves would mate like )) or (( or ()?

How old is the other battery or the inverter?

The positive contact on the battery is completely flat, to the point when you look at it end on you can't really see it. The negative is almost flat, but slightly higher. They're a bit more curved on the inverter, but not too far off flat. The go up from the outside edge a little, then curve back down. So in the inverter they're convex, but in the battery they're not far off concave. The photos above show them, to some degree - you'll just have to copy and paste the URLs to see them. Shame we can't attach images.

The inverter and initial faulty battery were purchased 10 November 2011. The replacement battery arrived 2-3 weeks later. The problem was reported to the Australia branch in May 2013, but was happening from approx September 2012 - the start of my 2012 wedding season.

At this point, about the only thing that can be done is for the unit to come in for repair. It sounds like there may be something out of spec in the connectors.