Car battery and studio strobes

PerfectSpeed

PerfectSpeed

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Steve
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Can this be done?

Has anybody tried this for location shoots, and would it work, any feedback greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Sorry I know this probably isnt the answer you are looking for, but I picked speedlites rather than a mains powered studio setup for the flexiblity and portability it gives me.

However, good luck with your setup.
 
I'm struggling to see the advantages of trying this, over either using speedlites or using a proper battery pack.

Decent car batteries are expensive, as are the pure sine wave converters.

It would surely be a lot cheaper to get a small petrol powered generator if you already have mains lights. I saw Chase Jarvis use this setup in a recent video release of his.
 
karfeef said:
http://blog.patyuen.com/lessons/photography/powerpack/

the most critical bit being the pure sine wave inverter
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Flash In The Pan said:
Clicky

Clicky again

and again

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks guys, great links :thumbs:

Marcus Geezer said:
Sorry I know this probably isnt the answer you are looking for, but I picked speedlites rather than a mains powered studio setup for the flexiblity and portability it gives me.

However, good luck with your setup.
Click to expand...

Thanks, think I'll go DIY this time, I've already got 2 speedlites, just need some receivers and bits off flash.

Ste Manns said:
I'm struggling to see the advantages of trying this, over either using speedlites or using a proper battery pack.

Decent car batteries are expensive, as are the pure sine wave converters.

It would surely be a lot cheaper to get a small petrol powered generator if you already have mains lights. I saw Chase Jarvis use this setup in a recent video release of his.
Click to expand...

Money being the biggest point, plus a 4 light setup :D

Too much noise with a generator and petrol is a pain to keep carrying around, I already have one.
 
Ok. Negative hat on. I wouldnt be happy playing around with a car battery. Fair enough they only output ELV but thats a lot of amps to be playing with.

Also;

Although the cheap sine wave generators claim they are a true sine wave you need to be sure that what they are producing isnt damaging the electronics in your hardware. Fair enough mains isnt as clean as people think it is and most kit have their own filters, but I would offer that the cheaper convertors may not be that good.

Considering the value of the kit it would be powering, I wold think again about buying 'cheap' kit.

Negative hat off.... (sorry :shrug: )
 
Marcus Geezer said:
Ok. Negative hat on.

Negative hat off.... (sorry :shrug: )
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No probs, thanks for taking the time to explain :thumbs:

I will look into it fully before buying the equipment, I quite like the idea of creating a multi functioning device as found in the links above.
 
you can run an elinchrom ranger off a car battery with a special cable they make. you wont like the price though.
 
If you already have a generator....:shrug:

The problem with using a car battery is they're designed for starting engines - lots of amperage over short bursts followed by a nice steady recharge from the cars alternator.

The converters are designed to be used while the engine is running - not just on a battery sat on the ground. I reckon you'll have a very flat battery in next to no time. Converters are extremely thirsty.

If you're worried about carrying petrol around, you don't seem that bothered about carrying a plastic box full of lead and acid around. :shrug: In the right type of container I'd prefer the petrol personally!

It's also quite easy to soundproof a generator, provided there is adequate air flow over the engine and a way for the exhaust to escape you can get them down to around 50 dB at 1 metre. Besides which you can use a good long extension lead.
 
check out the tronix explorer xt pack, it's about £300 inc shipping and customs and has been well reviewed :) they do a cheaper one for about £250 all in too iirc, but the explorer can juice 2400ws of strobes :o
 
Ste Manns said:
If you already have a generator....:shrug:
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Been using one for many years, too heavy, noisy, smelly and the price of petrol :cuckoo: plus it makes your car stink, if you spill a little on your hands you got to then clean them


If you're worried about carrying petrol around, you don't seem that bothered about carrying a plastic box full of lead and acid around. :shrug:
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They will be sealed units :shrug:

It's also quite easy to soundproof a generator, provided there is adequate air flow over the engine and a way for the exhaust to escape you can get them down to around 50 dB at 1 metre. Besides which you can use a good long extension lead.
Click to expand...
It is a lot of hassle on top of everything else just for two lights :shrug:

Think I'll go with a battery pack, DIY or ready made :thumbs:
 
PerfectSpeed said:
Can this be done?

Has anybody tried this for location shoots, and would it work, any feedback greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Click to expand...



portable FLASHES are just this really. battery & inverter. if you use one make sure you use a pure sine wave inverter.
 
speedlites are small and don't have the power is pretty much the whole answer


Ste Manns said:
I'm struggling to see the advantages of trying this, over either using speedlites or using a proper battery pack.

Decent car batteries are expensive, as are the pure sine wave converters.

It would surely be a lot cheaper to get a small petrol powered generator if you already have mains lights. I saw Chase Jarvis use this setup in a recent video release of his.
Click to expand...
 
I make use of a 1300 VA sever level management UPS system to power my Bowens 1 x (400) & 2 x (800) units respectively, picked up very cheaply, somewhat heavy though.

mark
 
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