Usiong studio lights outdoors

[Kev M]

I'm looking into studio lights at the minute but I'd like some I can take outdoors if the need arises. The pucker stuff for doing that (apologies for sounding all Jamie Oliver) is serious money just for the heads and the batteries are even more serious so I was thinking along the lines of using a portable generator. If I was to have 4 400W heads for example what power generator would I need?

 

[The_old_man]

first of all you need a sinewave or inverter generator to ensure you have a clean mains supply. Cheapo generators can send the voltage up and down like a yoyo

Take the power you need (4x400w) which equates to 1200w and add an amount to make sure you have load spare. Say 2000w for this or 2KW. Now look for a generator at (or just below) this level.

Now, a Honda EU20i will set you back nearly a grand and their are very few alternatives. Kipor are probably the best and Honda have slapped an injunction on them to stop selling in the EU. Try to find one quick if you can.

I have a 3KW kipor unit and in ther recent power outages in Redditch I used it to run the house. It ran everything except the cooker


Steve

 

[EOS_JD]

Check out http://www.innovatronix.com/cgi-bin/productcatalog/index.asp

their inverter isn't too dear and works with a number of lights - including the D-Lites I hope to buy soon.

 

[Kev M]

Thanks very much for that. I didn't realise a suitable generator would be quite so much so those portable power packs look more like what I'd end up with.

 

[EOS_JD]

You need to use an appropriate power source. you don't want to blow up your expensive lights now do you?!