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To maximize the lifespan of your lithium ion battery, we recommend the following:

 

1. When not in use, store the battery in a cool place. Do NOT store it in extreme 

heat (above 86ºF) or extreme cold (below 32ºF). Leaving a battery in a hot envi-

ronment, especially when exposed to the sun, speeds up capacity loss. A fully 

charged battery stored at elevated temperatures is even worse.

 

2. Partially charge the battery before storage (charge until both the 1/4 and 1/2 

LEDs are lit). Turn the system OFF, disconnect the charger and battery, and store 

it in a safe, cool, dry place away from flammable materials. The battery should be 

used and partially recharged every three months for best battery life and to avoid 

ruining the battery’s components. For long-term storage, do not allow the battery 

to be fully discharged then stored. Storing a battery for periods over a few days 

when it is nearly discharged may result in degradation of internal components.

 

A battery should deliver approximately 200 to 300 charge / discharge cycles, with 

a useful life of 2 - 4 years when stored properly. When the battery capacity drops 

to 50% or lower (when the number of full power flashes, per wattsecond rating, 

per battery charge is halved), it is recommended that you replace the battery. 

For safety and best performance, the battery should be replaced after 3 years or 

when its total capacity drops to 50%, whichever comes first.

General Battery Charging Notes and Reminders

The battery must only be charged using the provided VMC3A Vagabond Mini™ Lithium 

Battery Charger.

 Do not use other charging devices or cords.

The battery should be recharged within 24 hours when it is fully discharged. 

Recharge 

to 100% if you will be using the system soon, or partially charge for storage.

Always charge the battery in a safe environment and do not leave the charger or system 

unattended.

  Do  not  charge  the  battery  on  or  around  flammable  materials. 

Keep all components away from fire, flames, and heated surfaces. Do not 

charge the battery in or around water, moisture, salt spray, dew, or any 

other liquids. Exposure to water (especially salt water) increases the risk 

of a potential battery fire. The system should only be used in dry, moderate 

conditions where the equipment is protected from rain, dirt, sand, and dust.
When charging the battery before use, charge to 100%. Once the battery is 

fully charged, the charger is still outputting a small current (5W consumption) 

and charging for an additional 1 to 2 hours will help to balance each cell of 

the pack and thus help to prolong battery life. 

Do not leave the battery charger 

connected, however, for more than 2 hours once the LED on the battery charger has 

turned green (indicating 100% charge). 

The charger will slowly drain battery power 

if it is connected to the system when not connected to an AC power source. 

If any aspect of the charging process is abnormal, discontinue use immediately

, turn 

the system OFF, and disconnect the battery from the inverter. Contact our 

Customer Service team for support.

 
• 

 

 

Summary of Contents for Vagabond Mini Lithium

Page 1: ... pages 8 11 to learn more 2 CONNECT your flash units Plug one or two flash units into the AC power outlets located on the front panel faceplate or connect up to four units by using a multi outlet extension cord or power bar Note Always use grounded outlets and extension cords Depending on the type of flash units and power settings used you may be able to success fully power up to four flash units ...

Page 2: ... three months for best battery life and to avoid ruining the battery s components Do not charge the battery to 100 and then store it Also storing the battery for periods over a few days when it is nearly discharged may result in a dangerous degradation of the battery s internal components possibly causing overheating and creating a fire hazard when the battery is then charged again Do not store a ...

Page 3: ...vice team Likewise do not attempt to make any changes or modifications to your system Changes and or modifica tions made outside of those performed or approved by Paul C Buff Inc may present hazardous conditions and void the warranty WARNING Do not put a continuous load higher than 120 Watts on the inverter Doing so may cause the unit to overheat and shut down Also note that attempting to operate ...

Page 4: ...r of full power flashes per wattsecond rating per battery charge is halved whichever comes first Properly recycle an exhausted battery To discard an exhausted battery in a safe and environmentally friendly way take the battery to a rechargeable battery recycling center Many local electronic tool and home improvement stores will take your battery visit the Call2Recycle website www call2recycle org ...

Page 5: ...ct opening of or modification or failure to follow instructions supplied with product This warranty does not apply to any flashtubes modeling lamps batteries except the VMB8 8A internal Vagabond Mini Lithium battery or memory cards that may arrive with a product as these become exhausted based on normal use Specifically with the Vagabond Mini Lithium system as battery capacity is a function of the...

Page 6: ...ne wave power source specifically engineered for powering Paul C Buff units The converted power with both systems is similar to the power that you would get from a standard power line when shooting in the studio with your flash units power packs connected to an AC power outlet Battery Type LiCoxNiyMnzO2 lithium battery Battery Volts Amp Hours 14 8V 8 8AH Battery Watt Hours Energy 130 Watt Hours Ma...

Page 7: ...This is par ticularly true when multiple units are attached to a single inverter 2 The VMB8 8A Vagabond Mini Lithium Battery The 14 8V 8 8AH lithium battery arrives attached to the inverter ready to charge It provides 130 watt hours of energy and may be discharged to approximately 95 of its capacity before the internal protection circuitry causes shut down Recycle time of attached lights remains c...

Page 8: ...earn more The VMBAG Vagabond Mini Lithium Carrying Bag is a convenient soft side carrying bag designed to carry your complete Vagabond Mini Lithium system with the stand clamp attached along with a spare battery Front and side pouches ad ditionally allow you to carry small items such as power and sync cords remote controls and a small power strip for powering more than two flash units The VM UPC3 ...

Page 9: ...o indicate that the charger is receiving power and ready to charge the battery A Solid Green LED on the battery charger when the charger is connected to the inverter or to the battery indicates that the battery is fully charged When first connected to the inverter or battery the charger s LED will shine red When the light turns from solid red to solid green charging is complete You can discon nect...

Page 10: ...e battery press down on the spring loaded tab and pull the battery backward out of the unit To reinstall a battery after charging is complete press down on the tab position the battery in the slide in slot and slide the battery into place If you encounter any resistance when you reach the position where the battery connector meets the mating connector you may have to wiggle the front end of the ba...

Page 11: ...neral Battery Charging Notes and Reminders The battery must only be charged using the provided VMC3A Vagabond Mini Lithium Battery Charger Do not use other charging devices or cords The battery should be recharged within 24 hours when it is fully discharged Recharge to 100 if you will be using the system soon or partially charge for storage Always charge the battery in a safe environment and do no...

Page 12: ...its The largest practical load for the system is dependent on the particular flash units and power settings Heavy loads can be expected to reduce the efficiency and will likely reduce the recycle rate 2 Turn off your modeling lamps Set the modeling lamp s on your flash unit s to the OFF position The system is not designed to operate modeling lamps con tinuously This would deplete the battery rapid...

Page 13: ...abond MiniTM Lithium system This re lationship causes Einstein units which cycle slightly faster than AlienBees and White Lightning from AC to recycle slightly slower from Vagabond MiniTM Lithium system the 3 4 LED will shine green when the battery is charged between 75 100 the two LEDs below will remain lit as well the 1 2 LED will shine green when the battery is charged between 50 74 the one LED...

Page 14: ...onfigure such a cable walking you through the components needed For technical assistance call us on our Toll Free Line at 1 800 443 5542 Monday through Friday from 9 00am to 5 00pm CT The VAGABOND MINI LITHIUM Fuse A single blade type 30A fuse is located on the front panel of the inverter so that you can check the fuse status and replace it if necessary It is extremely unlikely that the fuse will ...

Page 15: ...visable to operate flash units and continuous power loads at the same time Airline Travel With Your VAGABOND MINI LITHIUM System The battery in the Vagabond Mini Lithium system is a 14 8V 8 8AH lithium ion battery rated at 130 watt hours Lithium ion batteries such as these are regulated for air travel by both the U S Department of Transportation DOT and the International Air Transport Association ...

Page 16: ...zing Please read the complete warnings section pages 2 5 for more information After storage note that moving the system from one environment to another can cause condensation to occur due to temperature changes Do not operate or charge the system until all condensation has fully evaporated Do not attempt to charge a battery that has been stored for a long period of time if it will not power the VM...

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