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Vehicle power inverter enough to use a strobe?
I've got a location shoot coming up in the next few days, which is ironic because I've been looking for a few weeks now for a decent portable power pack that's in my budget. What I was considering doing in the meantime was running a power inverter from my car to the strobe via an extension cord. The flash unit is an Alien Bee B800 (800w). What I was thinking of using was a 1250w watt inverter that would be hardwired to the car's battery. I do have another flash unit that I'd like to use, but don't know if that would overload the circuit - or if it would just cut the power in half. As long as I wasn't using them both at over 75% they should be okay, I'd assume? If anyone has any experience in such matters, your help would be greatly appreciated. Feb 19 08 01:27 am Link True sine wave inverter strongly recommended. Feb 19 08 01:29 am Link JBSpencer Photography wrote: its funny im about to do the same thing Feb 19 08 01:29 am Link BlindMike wrote: While I wouldn't understand a real answer as to why this is true (it would be completely over my head), could I ask for a layman's version of what the difference would be, and why a true sine wave inverter is more desirable? Feb 19 08 01:31 am Link I asked the same thing a few weeks ago and got some good answers I will see if I can find the thread. Feb 19 08 01:31 am Link How many amps are the lights, and how many amps is the inverter able to handle? Feb 19 08 01:31 am Link I have a 500w inverter that wouldn't fire a 150ws strobe. I know nothing about electricity except that it makes my lights work. Couldn't figure out why the strobe wouldn't fire off the inverter, but worked fine a second before and a second after from the wall socket. The inverter works fine to power laptop, TV, etc. Feb 19 08 01:32 am Link If you are going to shoot for any length of time, run your engine. The battery won't last that long. Also, the light is 320w/s. Check to see the fuse size to know what the maximum draw is. A single light should work on 1250 watts, but there won't be as much room there as you would think. I doubt that you could get two lights to work on it. Feb 19 08 01:32 am Link First of all, a AB800 is not a 800watt device, it's an 320watt-second output strobe that unless I am mistaken has a variable wattage-draw not related specifically to the watt-seconds of the device output. A power inverter run off a car, which is esentially the same thing as a gas-powered generator would in many cases provide enough wattage, but not amperage. It is never advisable to run extension cords from a power inverter, also due to amperage concerns. There is also the issue of the fact that most strobes require pure-sine-wave AC power, which is not produced by the majority of power inverters or generators. Inverters which produce pure-sine-wave power advertise as doing so. $300 http://www.alienbees.com/VIIsystem.html Feb 19 08 01:37 am Link Thas interesting please let us know the feedback afterwards, How long is your extension cord? I have thought of using a jumpbox with a power inverter. Feb 19 08 01:38 am Link JBSpencer Photography wrote: It will depend on the inverter. an inverter will have 2 ratings Feb 19 08 01:39 am Link JBSpencer Photography wrote: Because most strobes won't tolerate square waves. If you're very lucky, they'll work. If you're sorta lucky, they won't work. If you're unlucky, they'll fry. Feb 19 08 01:44 am Link The cheap inverters you find at walmart, auto-zone, and basically everywhere, are modified sine wave invertors. They do not put out a good clean solid electrical output. You will find that some strobes may work with those, but usually not. When I first tried it, I used a normal modified wave invertor and the strobes went crazy and would not respond properly. A "TRUE" sine wave inverter is going to cost you anwhere from $140.00 and up! Look for a "Samlex" inverter. I use one in conjunction with a portable jump starting battery and power (2) 320ws strobes with no problem. If I use one strobe, I can get well over 150 shots at full power NO MODELING LIGHT! it takes way too much of the power Feb 19 08 01:47 am Link re- photography wrote: Thanks for the excellent post. BlindMike wrote: I'd rather not chance it with an uninsured light. kevbailey wrote: Thanks for the advice... as long as I'm going to have to spend $140, in for a penny, in for a pound... Feb 19 08 01:47 am Link JBSpencer Photography wrote: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4824450 Feb 19 08 01:56 am Link BlindMike wrote: Thanks for this explaination. If I can remember back to physics class in HS... Feb 19 08 01:56 am Link I priced sine waver inverters and they are not cheap. You are better off spending the money and buying the Vagabond from AB. The other thing to think about is the electraonics of most of todays cars. Constantly running your battery down and recharging it puts a lot of stress on your cars alternator (which depending on you car can be expensive) You also run the risk of causing other electrical issues in you car too. $300.00 per Vagabond is alot cheaper than the thousands it could cost you should you screw up your car, regardless of what the inverter manufacture claims. Plus you elimainate the need for extention cords. Feb 19 08 01:57 am Link Well I checked and I I was curious about how a "square wave" could exist, and it can't in the sense of right-angles, just very quick transitions from min to max that are so abrupt that they are almost instantanious. More information then most people would ever want to know before deciding to buy a $300 product or not can be found here, on a site on electrical circuits: (Have fun...) http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_2/chpt_7/2.html Feb 19 08 02:04 am Link Next time get a Toyota Tacoma (newer models) ,certain packages come with a power outlet on the bed of the pick up. I believe they put out 115V/400-watts, with a 130-amp alternator. And theyre great for off road. ........Maybe not enough power.  Feb 19 08 02:11 am Link You need to use a Pure/True sine wave inverter with Whitelightning products, otherwise you'll fry the light. A normal inverter would cause damage as its not a clean source of energy and would make the light overheat (with the new circuitry in todays strobes though it's possible that the light will just shut down before damage occurs but I wouldn't take the chance). Sine wave inverters cost more but they're the only way to go with Alien bees/X series strobes. I don't have Alien bees but I have a set of Whitelighting X lights; I've had them shut down a couple times due to overheating but that's part of the design which is very cool. One of my old X lights blew a year ago, it overheated, and when the flash capacitor went it sounded like a shotgun going off... scared the shit out of the model. Anyway, you have to take into consideration your car batter too. The load you are going to draw on the battery will deplete the charge and your car battery wont be the same. Car batteries are not good to deplete and then charge again, you need a deep cycle battery for that. If you're going to use the car battery I would suggest an ohmmeter, take a reading before you start and don't let the car battery go under like 30-40% of that first measurement. http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm Feb 19 08 02:21 am Link The samlex unit is the same one VB used in the first battery pack. I got mine on ebay. Feb 19 08 02:25 am Link  this is the battery i use Feb 19 08 02:27 am Link kevbailey wrote: What was the total cost for you battery set up? Feb 19 08 02:30 am Link Ron Scott Photography wrote: Pep boys had the battery for $39.00. I got (2) of them. The inverter was $129.00 on ebay. I use a rolling file cart from Staples ($20.00) The battery sits in the cart. I then use tie-wraps to secure a light stand to the telescoping handle on the cart. I mount the light, or two lights on that stand. I can roll it anywhere I need it, use Pocket wizards to fire the light and I'm ready to go. Feb 19 08 02:35 am Link JBSpencer Photography wrote: Alien Bees have electronic circuitry that requires sine wave power. You must use a true sine wave inverter, or a generator (Generators, typically produce sine wave power). Feb 19 08 06:08 am Link I use the vagabond for all my outdoor shoots this image was shot with 3 AB800  this on was shot with one WL1200  this was shot with two AB 800 and one WL 1200 at 2am temp was 18 degrees, brave girl  Feb 19 08 06:31 am Link Michael Fryd wrote: good advice Feb 19 08 06:18 pm Link Many very poor information in this thread, but I am not going to re-type everything again; I have explained almost every aspect of it in the past: - lll's Best Camera Monitor LCD Lighting Power List See the list about Power. Thanks. Feb 19 08 06:45 pm Link Hmm. I start to love the Honda Generator (EU2000i). Don't have to worry about running out of juice. I think I am going to sell my Vagabond IIa. Feb 19 08 08:40 pm Link Ron Scott Photography wrote: Great info. Just curious how are you connecting the samlex wires to the jump start battery in your picture. Are you just clipping onto them with the jumper cables? Looks like an interesting setup. I have Profoto Compact 600's and wonder if a setup like this would at least power up one of them or would I need two? I found a Samlex 600w pure sine inverter at Frys for $199. Thanks for the info. Jay Feb 19 08 10:38 pm Link To all who replied: Thanks a lot! After consideration, I've ordered the Alien Bee Vagabond II unit. It sounds like most true sine wave generators would be more expensive than the price I'm paying for the Vagabond ($270), and the peace of mind knowing that if something fries thanks to the battery or the light that AB will replace it is worth it's weight in gold... after all, even if I paid someone to make a battery (as I don't know what to do myself) I doubt they'd say they were willing to be held liable if anything unexpected happened... Feb 20 08 06:30 pm Link Not recommend for a continuous power supply, but For strobe only use, along with a pair of small car batteries, I use this http://www.invertersrus.com/inv2000ps.html My strobes are Elinchrom digital so they require pure sine. If you dont need pure sine, the inverters are smaller and better priced For all of you nay sayers, I get a loooot of frames with two batteries, lol Feb 20 08 06:45 pm Link A marine battery is designed to be drained and then charged. A car battery won't take to many full discharges and charges before it completely dies. These guys make a nice pure sine wave inverter. http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/puresine_600.html Feb 20 08 06:55 pm Link NewPhotograph wrote: It may have already been answered, but your unit that is distributing power must be a 'true sine wave.' If it's not, your units will not work and can ruin some units. They do make true sine wave power inverters. Just make sure that it states this on the unit. They cost a bit more than a standard non sine wave unit. Feb 20 08 09:07 pm Link |
