Anyone know where to get something for portable 110 power?

[UnknownBro]

I have a few shoots lined up that are on location and I'd like to take a strobe, but getting 110 power for it isn't going to happen in the middle of nowhere. Would an inverter on my truck be out of the question/bad for my trucks alternator and battery?

 

[Buckster]

I've used inverters a lot for things like power tools and laptops over the years, and they never seemed to do any harm to the vehicle's electrical system as far as I could tell. Never used them for strobes, so I can't say for sure if they'd be problematic for some reason.

You could buy or possibly rent a portable generator instead, or maybe you know somebody who has one that would let you borrow it. Here's one on Craigslist>Las Vegas for a hundred bucks: Portable Coleman 2500w Generator I saw one on Amazon new for about $150. Ahern Equipment Rentals has portable generators for rent, and they have a place in Vegas. You could give them a call to see how much they'd charge.

If you're going to be doing this a lot, it'd probably be worth it for you to go ahead and buy a portable generator to use.

 

[UnknownBro]

wow generators are cheaper than I thought they'd be. I think I might go that way. thanks Buckster.

 

[UnknownBro]

this looks interesting as well.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/vm120.php

Almost thinking the extra money is worth not having to deal with hauling a motor around in my suv. I imagine the fumes would get a tad annoying.

 

[UnknownBro]

think this would power a strobe?

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-XP...keywords=Portable+Power+Supply#productDetails

 

[Buckster]

this looks interesting as well.

Paul C. Buff - Vagabond Mini Lithium

Almost thinking the extra money is worth not having to deal with hauling a motor around in my suv. I imagine the fumes would get a tad annoying.

Probably a solid idea. Check out these threads:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/buy-sell/301398-wanted-vagabond-mini.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...ducts/291241-vagabond-mini-power-printer.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-equipment-products/274374-vagabond-mini.html

It's probably worth contacting a few of those who actually have and use it by PM to ask them specific questions about how many lights they'll power for how many shots, etc.

think this would power a strobe?

Schumacher XP2260 Instant Portable Power Source : Amazon.com : Automotive

I'd guess yes, it'd probably work great, but I have no actual real-world experience with it, so my guess means diddly-squat! LOL! The question is, for how long? 30 shots? 3000 shots? Note the post by MLeek in the middle thread above.

 

[David444]

.

 

[tirediron]

Most monolights require a pure sine wave inverter, using a cheaper square wave inverter can damage the strobe. The Vagabond Mini uses a pure sine wave inverter and is hard to beat for the money.

This is the same problem with using cheap generators. The only pure-syne wave portable generators of which I'm aware are the Honda 'Eco' line; a 1Kw starts at about $750. There are also the Innovatronix line of inverters; I have a couple of the 'Explorer XT' models, and they'll give you a LOT of pops for not a lot of $$. Very well made, and have user-replaceable batteries!

 

[Big Mike]

As mentioned above, every bit of advice I've read, says that for strobes you need a 'pure sine wave' inverter...not just a regular (cheaper) inverter. Although, that being said, I've yet to hear from someone who has ruined their strobes by not using a pure sine wave inverter.

I bought myself a PSW inverter and a small battery. This was before they had the Vagabond mini...and my set up is half the weight of the old Vagabond. But now, I would just go for the V.M. http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-equipment-products/177686-ghetto-vagabond.html

I guess it boils down to how much power you'll need. If you need to fire several strobes, at full power, hundreds or thousands of times...then you'll need plenty of batteries or a generator/alternator.
But if you're just trying to fire one strobe a couple hundred times (maybe not at full power) then a small set up should be just fine.

 

[UnknownBro]

this looks interesting as well.

Paul C. Buff - Vagabond Mini Lithium

Almost thinking the extra money is worth not having to deal with hauling a motor around in my suv. I imagine the fumes would get a tad annoying.

Probably a solid idea. Check out these threads:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/buy-sell/301398-wanted-vagabond-mini.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...ducts/291241-vagabond-mini-power-printer.html

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-equipment-products/274374-vagabond-mini.html

It's probably worth contacting a few of those who actually have and use it by PM to ask them specific questions about how many lights they'll power for how many shots, etc.

think this would power a strobe?

Schumacher XP2260 Instant Portable Power Source : Amazon.com : Automotive

I'd guess yes, it'd probably work great, but I have no actual real-world experience with it, so my guess means diddly-squat! LOL! The question is, for how long? 30 shots? 3000 shots? Note the post by MLeek in the middle thread above.

Most monolights require a pure sine wave inverter, using a cheaper square wave inverter can damage the strobe. The Vagabond Mini uses a pure sine wave inverter and is hard to beat for the money.

Most monolights require a pure sine wave inverter, using a cheaper square wave inverter can damage the strobe. The Vagabond Mini uses a pure sine wave inverter and is hard to beat for the money.

This is the same problem with using cheap generators. The only pure-syne wave portable generators of which I'm aware are the Honda 'Eco' line; a 1Kw starts at about $750. There are also the Innovatronix line of inverters; I have a couple of the 'Explorer XT' models, and they'll give you a LOT of pops for not a lot of $$. Very well made, and have user-replaceable batteries!

As mentioned above, every bit of advice I've read, says that for strobes you need a 'pure sine wave' inverter...not just a regular (cheaper) inverter. Although, that being said, I've yet to hear from someone who has ruined their strobes by not using a pure sine wave inverter.

I bought myself a PSW inverter and a small battery. This was before they has the Vagabond mini...and my set up is half the weight of the old Vagabond. But now, I would just go for the V.M. http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-equipment-products/177686-ghetto-vagabond.html

I guess it boils down to how much power you'll need. If you need to fire several strobes, at full power, hundreds or thousands of time...then you'll need plenty of batteries or a generator/alternator.
But if you're just trying to fire one strobe a couple hundred times (maybe not at full power) then a small set up should be just fine.

thanks for all the info guys. I think I'm going to do it right and get something that's designed for this. Vegabond it is.