Vagabond II and Explorer XT power?

[ZSutton]

I'm on the verge of purchasing one of these units, to use my two AB800s in more situations. I'm just curious on how much power these actually use. I have looked around, and neither website seems to give a direct answer for this. At full power, how many flashes can I get from one AB800?

[Village_Idiot]

1200? I think that the Vagabond spec. I believe it's on the bees website.

[hawk911]

Has anyone found a better price for the Explorer than $399?

[ZSutton]

So are they both equal in power output then? Whats the advantage of the Explorer XT then?

[sevans16]

I have an Explorer XT and with works great. I've never seen or used a Vagabound.
I can get 300+ shots with my Elinchrom 1200/600RX set, running about half power. I have never run the XT out of power. I don't know how long it will last.

[TMR Design]

Has anyone found a better price for the Explorer than $399?

You won't find better pricing, as there are no US distributors that I know of.

I love my Tronix Explorer XT Geoff.

[TMR Design]

I have an Explorer XT and with works great. I've never seen or used a Vagabound.
I can get 300+ shots with my Elinchrom 1200/600RX set, running about half power. I have never run the XT out of power. I don't know how long it will last.

I did some testing with an Elinchrom EL500 (500ws) and the Tronix Explorer XT. I got 350 pops before the green light (full power) switched to orange (approx. half power) and according to Tronix I should have no trouble getting another 350 pops before the gauge switches to red, which indicates the unit needs to be charged.

700+ pops with a single 500ws strobe or ~350 with two 500ws strobes on location is very good. The Tronix can also be charged from the cigarette lighter or accessory jack in a car and also have the provision to connect the auxiliary battery to double the life.

[dynastysmartparts]

i dont get why its even a question...the vagabond works amazing...and if your going to pay $100 more for maybe 50 more shots then your rediculous...plus alien bees has THE BEST customer service anyone on these forums has ever dealed with

[vadim_c]

I have an Explorer XT and with works great. I've never seen or used a Vagabound.
I can get 300+ shots with my Elinchrom 1200/600RX set, running about half power. I have never run the XT out of power. I don't know how long it will last.
Isn't Enlinchrom 1200/600 a digital design ? I checked with AB guys and they said their Vagabond will not work with my Genesis 400s.
If Explorer XT can power Enlinchrom 1200/600 set than it should have not difficulties with two Genesis 400. I gues the main factor here is the peak power. So did anyone have successful experience with portable power for Genesis ?

[ZSutton]

vagabond...enough said

Research a little more, people are starting to disagree with that statement

[TMR Design]

Isn't Enlinchrom 1200/600 a digital design ? I checked with AB guys and they said their Vagabond will not work with my Genesis 400s.
If Explorer XT can power Enlinchrom 1200/600 set than it should have not difficulties with two Genesis 400. I gues the main factor here is the peak power. So did anyone have successful experience with portable power for Genesis ?

The issue is mostly in the Elinchrom multi-voltage strobes such as the 400BX and the new 250 and 500 BXRi's. It's not the digital controls but rather, the software and the way the electronics recycle. The draw is too great with the multi-voltage strobes and it trips the power relays on recycle. Elinchrom D-Lite's, which are multi-voltage are compatible with the Tronix but you would have to find out from them whether it's capable of handling more than one at a time. The other Elinchrom's such as the RX or FX will work fine with the Tronix.

[TMR Design]

If Explorer XT can power Enlinchrom 1200/600 set than it should have not difficulties with two Genesis 400 ?

I wouldn't make that assumption. Tronix have a very thorough and comprehensive list of compatible strobes. The only Calumet strobe listed as compatible is the Travelite 750.

I don't know if the Genesis strobes are multi-voltage but if they are then more than likely they are not compatible, and typically if a digital strobe is not compatible with a Vagabond then it won't be with the Tronix.

[vadim_c]

Has anyone found a better price for the Explorer than $399?
The price directly from the manufactures site is $350
http://www.innovatronix.com/explorerXT.asp
Am I missing something here ?

[ZSutton]

The price directly from the manufactures site is $350
http://www.innovatronix.com/explorerXT.asp
Am I missing something here ?


The $45 shipping charge :-)

[TMR Design]

The Tronix is coming from the Philippines. Shipping cost is $45 and they ship UPS SAVER and it takes 3 to 4 days maximum. I got mine in 3 days. In terms of customer service they are excellent. I use the online Live Chat feature and email to correspond and they are not only responsive but outstanding. If you have a problem with the unit while it's under its 1 year warranty THEY will cover any and all shipping costs and will ship you a replacement even before they get the old one back. ALL shipping charges are prepaid by them if you have to return or exchange something.

Unlike many companies overseas they speak and write in English and there is no language barrier. If the bottom line is dollar amount then the Tronix is not the way to go because it is more costly but the unit is far better made than the Vagabond. I have pictures that I'll be posting of the guts of a Tronix and it's amazingly well made. There are 2 batteries and recycle times are noticeably faster than the Vagabond and the metal chassis that houses the electronics can be removed from the bag. The Vagabond doesn't exist without it's bag and the top of the bag must be opened to have devices plugged in and that means you can't carry it by it's handle when in use. The Tronix has openings on the sides so you can have strobes and devices plugged in and still carry the bag by it's handle without having to use the shoulder strap.

The Vagabond is an excellent unit. I owned and tested one.. But now that I own a Tronix I think it's a far better device and worth the cost.

It's better for reasons that go beyond just more than just 50 or so pops more and for location shooters 50 pops can be significant, as are recycle times.

Just because everyone loves their Bees and is ecstatic over Paul Buff's customer service doesn't mean that other companies are not offering better products with outstanding customer service as well.

[RichNY]

Robert, your post could have been greatly shortened if you used the sausage analogy :)
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=7527564&postcount=7

[hawk911]

The price directly from the manufactures site is $350
http://www.innovatronix.com/explorerXT.asp
Am I missing something here ?

Yeah- I thought I remembered the price a bit higher, but my mind remembered the bag plus shipping out it at over $400.

[TMR Design]

Yeah- I thought I remembered the price a bit higher, but my mind remembered the bag plus shipping out it at over $400.

$435 with bag and shipping.

[ZSutton]

$435 with bag and shipping.

And how completely needed is the bag?

[hawk911]

what would you carry it in, if you didn't get the bag?

[ZSutton]

what would you carry it in, if you didn't get the bag?

My hands? I mean, it has a handle on the top of it, doesnt it? I'm pretty much planning on transporting ti on set, setting it down, and plugging things into it. I have no desire to sling it to my body when I'm shooting

[Village_Idiot]

what would you carry it in, if you didn't get the bag?

I save the plastic bags from the grocery store for a reason.

[TMR Design]

And how completely needed is the bag?

You don't need the bag but I think it's a good accessory to have. It has the compartment for the AC cord to charge it as well as the cigarette lighter cord and some extra doo-dad's. I would think that if you're using the battery on location that it's going to take some hits, dings, scrapes, etc.. It obviously won't affect operation but it will protect it a bit and also keep dirt and dust out.

Not a deal breaker but I would just get the bag. if you're going to get the Tronix.

[hawk911]

it's a bit like this (for me anyway): if I'm spending $400, does the $35 really break the deal? AND, it's the manufacturer's carry bag, not a homegrown solution for it.

[vadim_c]

i dont get why its even a question...the vagabond works amazing...and if your going to pay $100 more for maybe 50 more shots then your rediculous...plus alien bees has THE BEST customer service anyone on these forums has ever dealed with
Explorer XT has 25% more peak power ( 1200 vs 900 W). Since the strobes consume energy only for a very short period of time during recycling it is the peak power not the nominal power you are interested in unless you run your modeling lights.
25% difference may mean you can or cannot use a second(third) strobe with the inverter.

[vadim_c]

it's a bit like this (for me anyway): if I'm spending $400, does the $35 really break the deal? AND, it's the manufacturer's carry bag, not a homegrown solution for it.
It is $40 not $35 i.e. 10% of the products price. If I do not need it and will keep/carry the inverter in a large case together with the lights why would I buy it ?
$40 is a lighstand, or areflector or a roll of seamless paper or ...

[hawk911]

if you have an adequate substitute for the carry bag, then sure. I don't, so I'd buy the carry bag. YMMV. :)

[TMR Design]

It is $40 not $35 i.e. 10% of the products price. If I do not need it and will keep/carry the inverter in a large case together with the lights why would I buy it ?
$40 is a lighstand, or areflector or a roll of seamless paper or ...

We all prioritize differently. It's no big deal. If the cash is better spent elsewhere that's cool. No one is pressuring anyone to get the bag. It's a nice form fitted bag and some of us are recommending it because we like it. It's all good.

[Okami]

Has anyone ran any of their bees or white lightings off the explorer xt? How did that go

[TMR Design]

It won't be any different than running them off a Vagabond II except that you'll probably get more pops and recycle times will be faster when the battery starts to run down.

[CkWong]

The issue is mostly in the Elinchrom multi-voltage strobes such as the 400BX and the new 250 and 500 BXRi's. It's not the digital controls but rather, the software and the way the electronics recycle. The draw is too great with the multi-voltage strobes and it trips the power relays on recycle. Elinchrom D-Lite's, which are multi-voltage are compatible with the Tronix but you would have to find out from them whether it's capable of handling more than one at a time. The other Elinchrom's such as the RX or FX will work fine with the Tronix.

So, if one is running the BXRi's... is the Ranger RX the only option?

[TMR Design]

Based on all the testing I've done I'm guessing (don't hold me to it) that a 250BXRi will work fine with the Tronix and you might be able to use two successfully.

I wold also venture a guess and say that a 500BXRi will work fine up to about one stop less than max power and then the power relays will flip when recycling.

Unless you take the step up to RX or go for the Ranger there aren't really any other good solutions for portable power.

[vadim_c]

I'm on the verge of purchasing one of these units, to use my two AB800s in more situations. I'm just curious on how much power these actually use. I have looked around, and neither website seems to give a direct answer for this. At full power, how many flashes can I get from one AB800?
You probably did not look hard :-)

http://www.alienbees.com/VIIspecs.html

[dariusz]

hi all

Comparison between the Tronix Explorer XT and Vagabond II battery packs

http://vimeo.com/4556523

http://vimeo.com/4580175

enjoy ....

[TMR Design]

hi all

Comparison between the Tronix Explorer XT and Vagabond II battery packs

http://vimeo.com/4556523

http://vimeo.com/4580175

enjoy ....

That second video is not at all typical. I use 600RX's with an XT and NEVER experience anything like what's shown in that video. I have no idea of why his strobes are behaving that way but that is in no way representative of typical performance with Elinchrom 600RX's and an Explorer XT.

[Seanzky]

I'm not here to defend the Explorer XT, since I don't even own one, but I think something is wrong with that guy's unit. I'm assuming he's in the US and he has the 115v version to go with his RX 600. I've researched and read complaints about the Explorer XT (XT SE) and this has never been one of them --price, weight, size, etc. but never recycling issues.

[ben_r_]

Ah the age old question... How many pops CAN I really get from a battery. The world may never know...