HMI & Generator

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ttamojom

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I have to do a shoot in a desert and only need a small generator to run 1/2 1200w HMI. Could I get away with using a normal contractor grade generator or should I look for something like the Honda EU3000 that has inverter technology. The thing i'm worried about is that the inconsistent voltage of a contractor generator will mess with the ballast of the HMI. The plus of using the Honda would be the ability to charge batteries and run computers but they are hard to find at rental houses. Also has anyone had experience using a voltage regulator w/ a contractor grade generator? It would save me around $100 on my budget if I just rented a normal generator at the location for one day instead of renting one at home for 3 days.
 
Talked to mole richardson today and they said it should not be an issue to run it off a standard contractor generator if anyone else needed to know. Now I just have to buy a voltage regulator for the computers to run. Thankfully I dont have to shoot sync sound for this project.
 
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You should be fine, I've seen it done before successfully. Really, an HMI should be run on a crystal-sync genny. Shooting with video, however, you'll be able to see right away if you're getting flicker from the HMI or not, you can adjust shutter speed a little bit accordingly if it ends up being a problem.
 
Yeah, like Noah said you want to be running, if at all possible off a crytal sync genny, but if you have to use a contractor grade genny, just check your ballast, wether its magnetic or square wave to get a consistent flicker match with your camera, to where it is running flicker-free, etc.
 
Diddo on everything above. On video you can probably deal with the flicker. If the ballasts are electronic square wave you'll be great.

That said the EU3000 genny is great. I bought one last fall and have run 1200 HMI's with magnetic ballasts with no flicker problems. The unit is also small and very quiet compared to construction gennies.
 
They are mole richardson HMI's w/ electronic ballast so everything should work out fine. The voltage range is 90v-260v .Now I just have to get a voltage regulator to run the computer & harddrives and hope we get all our permits. This shoot is for a really reall really low spec spot ($1000 budget) that will be shot on the hvx in the trona pinnacles (the same place they shot planet of the apes) for a student project. Normally I would get a towable crystal sync but its not in the budget and we are only using the HMI's for a couple shots. We will be mainly using shiny boards and big overhead kits. Heres a link to the location, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trona_Pinnacles
 
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LOL. They shot Lost in Space--the Original Series there too and Star Trek V.

On flicker, it's doubtful that it would be a problem with an electronic ballast. They usually have really good specs for an input voltage range. And if you've got one of the rare gems that's universal voltage they are even more stable.
 
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