What generator for location?

Muzzieman

Muzzieman

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hi guys, does anybody know what I would need to power my profoto acute setup on location? I need small and cheap. I will be using two standard heads and a ring light. Do I need to match the power output of the strobes to the power of the generator?
 
How many amps are you planning to pull?
(if you don't know exact figures add up all the fuse amps on the plugs you'll be plugging in - but the manufacturers' figures should be on the data plates).

Generators..
  • Cheap
  • Powerful
  • Light weight/portable
  • Quiet
Pick any TWO of the above.
 
Would a battery pack be cheaper / easier than a generator?
 
Have you seen the price of profoto battery packs? Don't want to spend that much plus my heads are fan cooled and that drains battery's fast. I am looking to spend no more than £200 or I'll just use speed lights
 
Alastair said:
How many amps are you planning to pull?
(if you don't know exact figures add up all the fuse amps on the plugs you'll be plugging in - but the manufacturers' figures should be on the data plates).

Generators..
  • Cheap
  • Powerful
  • Light weight/portable
  • Quiet
Pick any TWO of the above.
Click to expand...
The power pack requires 50-60hz if I get a generator with that output will that do it? I can't see anything on the heads themselves
 
Phil V said:
I think if you find a suitable generator it'll be more expensive than a battery pack.
Click to expand...
I think probably so Phil the problem I'm having is I was told there was power where I am shooting but been told today it's 80 metres away! The job doesn't pay enough to warrant the spend required for a battery pack and I saw a generator today in B&Q for £120 I thought I may get away with that. Looks like 100m extension lead is getting googled! Lol
 
Muzzieman said:
I think probably so Phil the problem I'm having is I was told there was power where I am shooting but been told today it's 80 metres away! The job doesn't pay enough to warrant the spend required for a battery pack and I saw a generator today in B&Q for £120 I thought I may get away with that. Looks like 100m extension lead is getting googled! Lol
Click to expand...
Not one of my areas of expertise but it's something about a pure sine wave, and cheap generators produce 'sloppy' sine waves.

Can you not run to hiring a battery pack?
 
Eighty metres of extension lead would be cheaper than a generator!


Steve.
 
I'm no expert on this but flash units need clean power and they draw quite a bit of juice when they recycle - neither of which are common characteristics of generators. Nothing affordable anyway. You could end up with a big repair bill.

Suggest hire a battery power pack, Innovatronix or Godox, from The Flash Centre, Calumet etc. Or hire Profoto battery flash units from Calumet, or Elinchrom Rangers from TFC.
 
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HoppyUK said:
I'm no expert on this but flash units need clean power and they draw quite a bit of juice when they recycle - neither of which are common characteristics of generators. Nothing affordable anyway. You could end up with a big repair bill.

Suggest hire a battery power pack, Innovatronix or Godox, from The Flash Centre, Calumet etc.
Click to expand...


Most generators should be fine powering flash units. They don't require the waveform to be perfectly sine wave shaped and if you're not powering anything else from it, it will be 'clean' power.


Steve.
 
Muzzieman said:
The power pack requires 50-60hz if I get a generator with that output will that do it? I can't see anything on the heads themselves
Click to expand...
That's just mains frequency.. amps are what you need to know, or the kW if you can't find the amps. Or failing that, check each plug and look at the fuse rating, then add them all up.

And if you're budget is £200 you're not looking at much of a generator. Plus - generators are very noisy, cheap ones even more so. Don't under estimate just how much the noise of a generator will intrude onto a set.
 
You don't want to be using a generator just think of the noise !!! Nobody is going to be able to relax and look natural with all that going on !

you'll also need to bring fuel to the location. Fire precautions. Are you going to bring a fire extinguisher too ?

This the maddest idea I have ever heard of. Just rent some gear for the shoot instead.
 
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as it turns out it's about the same price to rent a power pack for the day as a decent generator, I just thought a cheap generator might give me a bit of freedom without too much of a spend but at around £40 for a days hire that is ok for me on a shoot by shoot basis.
 
I use generators (3) on my diving trips.

The smallest I use is 'quoted 800w' & cost from memory about £90. Runs for hours, & is very quiet, however as with lots of things if you try & run 800w with it you will be in for a shock.

The Honda EU range is just simply amazing (if you are looking to buy one) but not cheap....
 
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