Portable power supply for outdoors photography
Jun 11, 2021 07:03:44 #
User ID wrote:
Has it occurred to you to just get a real AC generator (aka alternator) so there’s no inverter involved ?
I don’t know which models that might be cuz we never worried about it, just used whatever was sold at Agway. I’m thinking you might be overthinking this. Maybe you’re an engineer ? We ran a whole set of studio power packs from a typical farm generator. If we’d had an engineering consultant we’d never have gotten any work done.
I don’t know which models that might be cuz we never worried about it, just used whatever was sold at Agway. I’m thinking you might be overthinking this. Maybe you’re an engineer ? We ran a whole set of studio power packs from a typical farm generator. If we’d had an engineering consultant we’d never have gotten any work done.
Studio power packs are far more forgiving than mono strobes.
Most if not all Generators have the NO load voltage set 15 to 20 volts higher than what will be used to maintain constant voltage i.e. 220 vac units are set no load at 250v-255v, and the low cost units produce "dirty" electric.
When we had a long power outage I was using a 7kw unit to keep appliances going, how ever my ups on my computers would not recognize it as clean electric, but my computers work when plugged directly into the generator.
A friend just bought a cheap 900w unit, just for the hell of it I'm going to see if it will operate on of my Alien Bee strobes. However it is not super noisy but It is not quiet, plus it does get hot sooo you have let it cool down before you can load in when finished.
Now with all the talk of generators Did anyone notice the OP Ask about batteries and inverters?????
Jun 11, 2021 08:01:25 #
Craig Rothgery
Loc: Bradenton, Fla
Read an interesting test not long ago that compared Harbor Freight generators to Honda. Honda and HF were equal in all respects except HF was significantly less cost. FWIW
Jun 11, 2021 08:27:42 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
Studio power packs are far more forgiving than mon... (show quote)
Yes we do and I fact I think the OP doesn't like the generator because it's noisy. However, I feel the batteries and inverters solution don't provide enough power.
Jun 11, 2021 08:56:57 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Yes we do and I fact I think the OP doesn't like the generator because it's noisy. However, I feel the batteries and inverters solution don't provide enough power.
Noisey??? we ran it three feet from an operating transciever with no problem on the sailboat...check the photo.... BTW: lets stop beating this to death.. Ed
Jun 11, 2021 08:58:32 #
ek2lckd wrote:
Noisey??? we ran it three feet from an operating transciever with no problem on the sailboat...check the photo.... BTW: lets stop beating this to death.. Ed
I think the OP said so. He didn't want the generator approach due to noise. My opinion, I would take the noise because I feel batteries won't give enough power.
Jun 11, 2021 10:36:24 #
BebuLamar wrote:
I think the OP said so. He didn't want the generator approach due to noise. My opinion, I would take the noise because I feel batteries won't give enough power.
We got no specifications for his needs:
Combined current draw?
Combined wattage?
Working voltage? (120 or 240?)
# Stills to be exposed or length of video to be recorded?
Amount of idling time?
Tolerance for noise?
Device tolerances for low voltage and dirty power conditions?
Knowing those constraints would narrow the speculation to a few choices.
Jun 11, 2021 10:42:57 #
User ID wrote:
Must be stills ... who worries about wave form for video lights ?
When using LED or CFL, waveform, frequency accuracy, and stability can be very important. Few of us use incandescent lights for video these days.
Jun 11, 2021 13:11:49 #
Jun 11, 2021 19:15:43 #
ek2lckd wrote:
As some else mentioned, a small generator. Honda makes a small one that is very quiet,...... years ago I put it on the rear deck of my sailboat (Pearson Ariel (25)) and worked a field day at anchor in the bay. think it was in the $300 range but just sips gas....we ran the radio just 3-4 feet away from it, no problem... de k2edm 
Thank you for the suggestion.
Jun 11, 2021 19:24:43 #
sb wrote:
Depending on your needs, it might be less expensive to just go to LED lighting... However, there are a lot of various portable power stations available that you can charge that produce a sine wave. See:
http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-Explorer-Generator-Optional/dp/B082TMBYR6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=6511YTQQD7F1&dchild=1&keywords=portable+power+station&qid=1623349756&sprefix=portable+power%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Portable-Explorer-Generator-Optional/dp/B082TMBYR6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=6511YTQQD7F1&dchild=1&keywords=portable+power+station&qid=1623349756&sprefix=portable+power%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-4
Wow! A pure sine wave generator. I never heard of it, I will give this a try.
Thank you very much for the suggestion. Flashes need the pure sine wave to avoid damage.
Jun 11, 2021 19:27:45 #
burkphoto wrote:
Just buy one from Paul C. Buff, Inc. It’s a UL-certified solution.
https://www.paulcbuff.com/Portable-Power/
It’s a turnkey solution with a safe, reliable performance record.
https://www.paulcbuff.com/Portable-Power/
It’s a turnkey solution with a safe, reliable performance record.
I have to admit that I have never seen this littleone, I wonder if I can run two 600w units at the same time. Thank you for the suggestion.
Jun 11, 2021 19:32:43 #
gwilliams6 wrote:
Yes I also have used the ones from Paul C. Buff, they make this Vagabond one; and used to also have an even larger one. They work great.
I will make one just to see if I can make a decent unit for less money and use it for my studio lighting classes. If it doesn't work well, I will get one from Paul.
Thank you very much for the suggestion.
Jun 11, 2021 20:50:59 #
ialvarez50 wrote:
I have to admit that I have never seen this littleone, I wonder if I can run two 600w units at the same time. Thank you for the suggestion.
It has dual sockets but it's not recommended using the modeling lights.
Jun 12, 2021 00:25:30 #
Haydon wrote:
It has dual sockets but it's not recommended using the modeling lights.
Thank you, I will remember that. I can use a couple LED lights attached to the umbrellas or soft box.
Jun 12, 2021 05:21:11 #
ialvarez50 wrote:
. . .I wonder if I can run two 600w units at the same time. . . .
Do you mean 600 watt-seconds? Or do these units actually use 600 watts of AC power, each?
There is a big difference, and it affects your design or purchase of a power supply.
A Flashpoint/godox 600 w/s monolight runs off a 11.1 volt, 8.7 amp hour battery for 500 flashes. It uses a 10 watt modeling lamp.
Most of the battery power is running that modeling lamp.
My older monolights used 75 watt and 150 watt incandescent bulbs, and that is where most of the power went. The electronic flash part probably used 10 -20 additional watts, and then only during the few seconds the flash was recycling. Total drain on a 400 w/s unit was about 200 watts with the 150 watt modeling light on.
If your units have modeling lights which are more economical than my old dinosaur monolights, then the current demands will be quite low.
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