willowsr
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 p.1 #4 · Vagabond II reliability | |
Specifics- My first VII unit arrived in early August and worked just fine on four shoots (between 500 to 800 shots) powering a White Lightning X3200, mostly in Fast mode, and then, in the middle of the fifth shoot (maybe 100 shots, approx half power) with imported talent (including a horse), the client, an AD, and three assistants, the unit crackled, popped, smoked and died- no power output. Later, I found that one of the two 30A fuses had blown. When I attempted to replace the fuse (with the rocker switch in the off, center, position), nasty sparking occurred as I tried to set a new fuse. Customer Service (Melody) and Tech Support (Joe) sent out a replacement unit by Second Day Air (a prepaid UPS shipping label arrived promptly for the return of the failed unit). On receipt the second unit, we charged it overnight per the very clear user instructions (as we had done with the first unit). In the morning, preparing for a late afternoon/evening shoot I plugged in the X3200 (with power switch off, modeling light off) and rocked the VII switch to Fast- this resulted in immediate popping and lots of smoke- and even though I quickly returned the switch to the center (off) position, an alarming hum persisted until I disconnected the battery from the inverter. Note that this failure occurred the very first time (in my possession) that the unit had been energized, with no load. Despite the unit failure, neither of the fuses had blown. I called Tech Support (Joe). We discussed, at length and in detail, the pre-shipment testing procedures which include the use of a 2500 WS unit- a very much greater load than my X3200- and their extensive use of both the Slow an Fast modes, and even the drain of modeling lights (specifically recommended against in the manual). Joe assured me that he would personally check out and test another unit, and Overnight it to me in time for a shoot scheduled for the evenings of Sept 4&5. The unit arrived by UPS, as promised, Friday morning, Sept 3. Before opening the package I called Tech Support (Joe). With Joe on the line, we confirmed that it was OK to check/test the unit without the full 12-24 charge up as he had already topped the battery off prior to shipment. The unit checked/tested perfectly. With the WL X3200, and with three different Photogenic 1250 units, in both slow and fast modes, high and low power settings, one light- two lights, powered down, powered up-the VII functioned perfectly. I thanked Joe, and he wished me good luck for the shoot. The unit was charged overnight and again tested Saturday morning in preparation for work that evening- everything fine. The unit failed just after six that evening (long after my local rental shop had shut down), during lighting check, 20 or shots- a little popping, fair amount of acrid smoke, neither fuse blown. The client and the horse didn't like the smoke. My old Vagabond and Tronix units got us through the shoot. I sent the failed VII unit back. I want to repeat that Customer Service and Tech Support were superb. They were attentive and responsive- Joe, in particular, clearly knows his stuff. And again, my previous experience of these folks is positive- my old Vagabond and the WL X3200 have been completely reliable. And I have a PLM 86 on order. And, Matt, the rental manager for BorrowLens.com (San Carlos, CA) says that his all VII units are problem free. But I am thinking about the alternatives- anybody got recent, direct experience of the Tronix XT?
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