Vagabond mini robustness and reliability question

I am close to pulling the trigger on a pair of Einsteins and am also considering getting the Vagabond mini battery pack with them.

I've reviewed some DIY threads on making your own battery pack, as well as looked at posts about the Vagabond mini, and one thing I noticed is that some of the DIYers posted later that their systems crapped out fairly quickly for electronic reasons I don't really understand. Needed a different inverter, inverter was not rated for the specific use, that sort of thing.

One post from quite a while ago about the Vagabond mini said it, too, became inoperable fairly quickly, but the Paul C. Buff customer service was fantastic and they replaced it right away. It was an old post though and the Vagabond has been around a while now, so may be more reliable.

My question is why are battery packs (apparently) so fragile? I doubt I could put together a DIY unit for less money, but might I get more robust components? Although I don't understand the electronics, I can hook stuff up using PowerPoles and have done so for some low-tech ham radio stuff in the past.

What is the consensus on the Vagabond minis recently? Should I

1. Get a Vagabond mini

2. Get a more expensive battery pack from another maker

3. Put together one on my own (I will need specific component recommendations)

Thanks!

!) Get the mini. Its a pretty durable unit, so I'm not sure of the issue in the ONE POST you cite above but it has a good reputation. Anything you put together, and I've seen lots of DIY solutions here will inevitably be larger, heavier, and most certainly less durable than the VML. I've owned all 3 incarnations of the vagabond and the mini is an amazing unit.

I've had the Vagabond mini for a bit over a year now and have used it around 15 times. It's been 100% reliable for me so far. I also have a Vagabond II which is still going strong, although it's a bigger pain to transport around than the mini. I highly recommend the mini.

The guy I assist and 2nd shoot with has a couple of them and they are still going strong and he isn't easy on gear. I've got a couple of them as well but they don't see a ton of use and I baby my gear.

I have the Vagabond Mini Lithium and I think it's amazing!

- Super light weight (3.5lbs)
– Loads of capacity (I made more than 600 frames at 1/8+ power setting at it still read 3/4+ capacity)
– Quick to recycle (anything under 1/8 power, 80 Watt/sec, with the Einstein is instantaneous recycle)

It's not quite built as robust as an Elinchrom Quadra or Profoto pack, but then again it's about 1/4 the price.

The only thing that concerns me is the plastic clip that holds the battery to the pack, as it's a little thin. I've heard that if it breaks, PCB will replace it under warranty though.

Staszek wrote in post #16736344
The only thing that concerns me is the plastic clip that holds the battery to the pack, as it's a little thin. I've heard that if it breaks, PCB will replace it under warranty though.

That plastic clip worried me too. I ended up just using small bungie cords to help hold it in place around the base of the light stand.

That's perfect, thanks to you all!

The post I remember was about the time the current unit was released, and it's probably thoroughly debugged by now. I think you are right about the value for the money, it certainly cannot be beat, and I take very good care of my gear.

I think this is the way to go, definitely. I appreciate the input!

Vagabond is amazing. I've been using mine for about 2 years now. and when I say use it, I mean I REALLY USE IT. I shoot outdoors often and I plug 2 bees to my 1 vagabond. lasts a long time. I've dropped it and tossed it around a lot, nothing wrong. When I go starbucks to study, I actually bring my vagabond there in case there are no outlets around me. I plug my laptop into it and it keeps my laptop going for hours. LOVE MY VAGABOND

fashionrider wrote in post #16736837
Vagabond is amazing. I've been using mine for about 2 years now. and when I say use it, I mean I REALLY USE IT. I shoot outdoors often and I plug 2 bees to my 1 vagabond. lasts a long time. I've dropped it and tossed it around a lot, nothing wrong. When I go starbucks to study, I actually bring my vagabond there in case there are no outlets around me. I plug my laptop into it and it keeps my laptop going for hours. LOVE MY VAGABOND

I use mine in flights even if I'm not hauling lighting gear. It'll get you through a 10 hour flight.

A strip of plastic that secures the clip that holds the battery in place is a little flimsy (mine broke off), and the sockets for the power plugs are a little loose, but they work.

Because of the lower quality plastic, I'm on the fence about them. I would have bought more, but instead I find that I'd rather just run longer extension cords even when I'm out at sports stadiums. I still carry the vml just in case, and I still use it when power isn't available, but most of the time I shy away and use power cords.

They are wonderful to use and very reliable, but the housing is cheap and flimsy. The clip that holds the battery in place has broken as well as the socket to hold the light stand clip. But, it still works like a charm - it just has lots of tape to hold it together.

I don't beat the crap out of mine, but I am not nice to it. It keeps working amazingly.

I have 4 VML Batteries and have had them from the very first day that they were introduced. The key is proper storage, transport and support! I use 2 Pelican 1500 Hard Cases for storage and transporting. These cases allow me to store 2 VML's along with the VLM Bracket and all Cords and Charger. The VML Bracket (used for support) allow for 100% SECURE RELIABLE SUPPORT on ANY LIGHT STAND OR BOOM ARM!!! I have 4 of the brackets (one for each VML) and I have no worries and am confident that my VML's will last for years to come and when the time comes, will only probably need to replace the actual battery and not the whole unit (unless some new and better battery option/technology comes along… LOL).

Here's a link to the VML Bracket: http://www.vmlbracket.​com/?page_id=33

Mark beat me to it, but the VML Bracket makes up for all the shortcomings of the Buff default clip. A little pricey compared to total cost of the VML, but it's a solid product.

mike1812 wrote in post #16737416
A little pricey compared to total cost of the VML, but it's a solid product.

Pricey? I don't think so. I just started looking at suitable clamps for a DIY of something like this, and I think while you could save a few bucks you couldn't make anything near this nice and easy to use for a lot less. Given the price point of the Vagabond and the savings there, I think that clamp is a no brainer.