Powering a Mini-Sun Gun HMI Light

[Student]

I am looking to purchase a Frezzolini MAK24-4 24-watt AC/DC Mini-Sun Gun HMI Light
and a portable power source.
B&H Photo has a kit with everything I should need, battery and charger.
The kit uses a 14.4 VDC battery and trickle charger.
I don’t know what a trickle charger is and there are no specs on how long this unit will power the light. Has anyone used a trickle charger or has anyone used a light kit like this?
What is your opinion on using this type of power source?
How did it work for you?

[Barry_Green]

The "trickle" charger means that it delivers a slow trickle of energy to the battery to re-charge it. Probably will take 12 or 14 hours to recharge the battery using a trickle charger.

As far as how long the battery will power the light, that depends on the Amp-hour rating of the battery. The Frezzi 24-watt sungun only pulls 24 watts, so it's a good bet that the battery will drive that for three to six hours or so. Post specs on the battery and we'll be able to tell you more.

[Student]

After more research I decided to go with the 50 watt Sun Gun HMI Light and the largest battery I could afford. My question is what is the difference or advantages between a 5 pin xlr connection on the battery and a 4 pin connection. I am going to use this light on a stand not on the camera so I'm hoping I can find a battery I can just sit on the ground or strap to the tripod. Can anyone help me with this purchase. Thanks Barry for explaining a trickle charger (Sorry I should have figured that one out myself) anyway - That should work fine. I will have pleanty of time between shoots to recharge.

[gcaus]

How much does it cost? How much light does it put out...

-Jerry

[matthewd5]

ok if you are truly only going to use it on a stand wouldn't you want to get a cigarette lighter model and get some variety of 12v that is NOT meant for photo and is not realy high priced.

there are some 12v batteries that are fairly user friendly that are meant for RC airplanes etc. might cost a ton less money.

matthew

[Student]

I thought the NiCad 14.4 volt battery that comes in the lighting kits would be the most reliable and efficient, the 4 pin xlr connection would give me versatillity if I ever wanted to power a portable monitor or even another light. I'm not sure if I would know which other way to go other than a photo type of battery.

[Terry_Lasater]

Maybe you could look into a relatively cheap Bescor battery belt.

[matthewd5]

i am putting together my on camera lighting kit now and i have an nrg 96 watt hour battery belt on order, but for now an electronics expert friend of mine gave me a gel cell, kind of like the ones in a ups, it costs around $15 and it has 84 watt hours!

i plan on putting 5 or 6 of these puppies in a pelican like case and drilling a hole for the connector.

it will weight 35 or 40 pounds, but for doing interviews, street lighting, or in a pinch it will be great.

it has a trickle charger that is 500 ma so it will take an hour for each amp, each of the gel cell's is 7 amps so thats around 14 hours per battery!

but for the price it will be a nice tool for certain shots and for a backup.

matthew