How to Power and Charge Your Godox V1 Flash Battery

By The Camera Exchange | Published: 2026-11-03

Category: Guías prácticas

A step-by-step guide to charging the Godox VB26B battery with the VC-26 charger, swapping it safely, and getting more shots per charge from your V1 flash.

Quick answer

Remove the VB26B from the V1, seat it in the Godox VC-26 charger, and charge until the charger's indicator shows full. For a spare, keep a second VB26B charged and swap it in rather than charging mid-shoot.

Why the V1 uses a removable pack instead of AA cells

The V1's VB26B pack is a sealed lithium-ion unit rated at 2980 mAh, so you charge it as a block rather than swapping individual cells. That means one spare pack, not eight AA batteries, is your backup plan.

The practical trade-off: you cannot top up with alkalines from a shop, so charge discipline matters more than with AA-powered flashes.

Charging habits that shorten or extend pack life

Lithium-ion packs age fastest when stored empty or kept at full charge in heat. Charge before a shoot, and if the flash will sit for weeks, leave the pack part-charged rather than fully drained.

The VC-26 is a dedicated charger for the VB-26 pack, so avoid improvising with other chargers even if the contacts look similar.

Step-by-step: charge and swap the V1 battery

Power the flash off and remove the pack: Switch the V1 off, open the battery door, and slide the VB26B out using the tab. Common mistake: pulling the pack while the flash is on, which can interrupt the charge state and risk contact wear. Let the flash sit a few seconds after power-off before removing the pack.
Seat the pack in the VC-26 charger: Align the contacts and push the VB26B fully into the VC-26 until it clicks. Checkpoint: the charger indicator should light; if it does not, reseat the pack rather than forcing it.
Charge to full before the shoot, not during it: Charge until the indicator shows complete, then remove the pack. Common mistake: leaving a full pack on the charger for days, which adds heat for no benefit. Charge the night before and unplug once full.
Carry a charged spare and swap cold: Keep a second VB26B charged in your bag. At the venue, power off, swap packs, and store the depleted one in a cool pocket. Checkpoint: never swap packs with the flash mounted and powered on a camera hot shoe. Label or number your packs so you know which one is depleted.
Store packs part-charged for long gaps: If the V1 will sit unused for weeks, leave the VB26B around half charge and keep it out of hot car trunks. Common mistake: storing a fully drained pack, which can leave it unable to accept a charge later. Recharge a stored pack before the next shoot, not on the way to it.

Products mentioned

Godox VC-26 Battery Charger f/ VB-26 Battery: Godox VC-26 Battery Charger f/ VB-26 Battery, listed at USD 14.36. A dedicated spare charger lets you leave one at home and one in the bag, so a forgotten charger does not end a shoot.
Godox VC-26 Battery Charger f/ VB-26 Battery
Godox VB26B Battery for V1 Flash Head (2980 mAh): Godox VB26B Battery for V1 Flash Head, 2980 mAh, listed at USD 36.46. A second pack of the same capacity means you can swap and keep shooting instead of waiting on a charge.
Godox VB26B Battery for V1 Flash Head (2980 mAh)