Battery Belt Chemistry

modus

modus

Well-known member
I have purchased a used Lowell iLight for my on-cam lighting. It uses a 4-pin XLR for power.

I would like to purchase a battery belt, but the prices for some battery types would strain my budget. Looking around, the lead-acid batteries are cheapest, but cheap doesn't always mean good.

My way of thinking is that if a cheap battery belt is going to stop taking a charge in a year and cause me to buy a new one, it is not worth wasting the money. To me, a longer lifespan will warrant spending a little more.

Can someone help me to decide which battery types may be preferable for event coverage? I shoot a lot of banquets and weddings. This means I would like them to last 5 to 8 hours (or more).
 
Well, having used a gigantic, heavy battery belt for a few years now, I've only once run out of juice on a shoot. I had the 100w light cranked all the way up as a primary light for a 2 hour interview, and it just finally went out.

That being said, I've never run out of juice at a wedding. I shoot no more than 2 tapes (MAX) worth of footage at a reception, and I've never had any power loss. I seldom run at a full 100w either. Usually I'm dimmed at or below the 50% mark on my light, which leads to longer overall run times.

What's the wattage on your light? How much are you willing to tie 10 lbs of weight around your waist? The battery belt I have is about 2-3 years old and still performs quite well. It's a Bescor with an automatic shutoff charger. I've taken very good care of it and done everything according to manufacturer recommendations.

This is the one I have:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...arved_Electrolyte_Battery.html#specifications

Also a good idea to get a cigarette style reader to check the charge on the batteries once in a while:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/150241-REG/Bescor_PT104_PT_104_Battery_Tester_with.html

There are also power vests available that will deliver longer operating times if you need it. Vests would be more confortable to wear than a belt.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys.
I have a 100W bulb in the iLight.
The Bescor Lead-Acid batteries are the ones people have been telling me to get, but it looks like the battery chemistry prevents them from having a very long service life. I just didn't want to waste my money if there was a longer-living alternative for a slightly higher price.
 
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The Lead-Acid batteries are the oldest, and the most reliable kind, similar to your car battery. They will give you long service life, there is nothing wrong with them. The reasons they are inexpensive are they are easy to make, there is no safety electronics needed like in the Li-Ion batteries. The downside to them is they are much less efficient than the newer generation NMh and Li-Ion, making them much heavier for the same amount of energy delivered.
 
Consider swapping your light head for an LED model. Even a small battery should drive an LED for five+ hours no problem.
 
I was considering getting an LED panel too. I just happened to get a good deal on the iLight.
 
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