Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

Just found out my two blown Vagabonds are likely caused by my new and faulty ABR800

Anyone else had ABR800 issues .. ?

Tony

What leads you to believe it is faulty?

When you say blown Vagabonds are you talking about fuses or actually destroying something in the VB and rendering it inoperable?

EDIT:

See OP's post below.

AB

Hi guys

In the first case with VB #1.

Plugged in the ABR800 and test fired a few times to get light levels. Heard a lound crack come from the VB. When I returned home Ichecked the fuses and both had blown. When I attempted to replace the fuses they immediately blow. This is with no load plugged in and the inverter in the off position.

VB#2

Again plugged in the ABR800 and same scenario as the first .. just head a crack come form the inverter. Again trying to replace the fuses, they will immediately blow with no load and the inverter in the off position.

No smoke came from the VB .. just a very audible crack like a component failing etc.

I am going to bring the ABR800 into work and have it tested to see how much current its drawing etc .. as after discussions with Julie at 1st Digital I may be the victim of a bad batch of VB's.

Kind regards

Tony

I had the ABR checked for current draw today using a 220 to 110V step down transformer

All looks good with no nasty surprises.

This means both my Vagabonds were defective .. :(

That is interesting info. I had a very similar problem with a VBII. It seemed to charge fine but blew a fuse within a few seconds of of turning on an E640 the very first time I used it. Same thing with drawing a spark / blowing the new fuse when replacing. PCB replaced the VB and I haven't had any problems with the new one.

Power Engineer

Yup mine charged ok also and blew as soon as I switched it on ... :(

I have returned my two VB's and have had to go purchase the Explorer XT SE as the Australian distributor is out of VB's :( and can't replace my dead ones !!!

Tony

Were the lights on when the VII was turned on? While it does sound like a couple of bad VII's, it is best ot keep the power switch of the light off until the VII is on.

The procedure was and always is ..VB2 on first then light switched on :P