LED lights, powered by UPS (Uninterruptible power supply)?

PhilD

PhilD

Well-known member
Hello,

I'm looking into buying LED lights (like Cool Lights) for quick set-up lighting for video and I was wondering if they could be powered by a cheap computer Uninterruptible power supply instead of their proprietary batteries. I have a Belkin but it keeps making alert sounds when it's running on the battery so I want to change it.

I don't know much about voltage and whatnot in general but I was thinking maybe it would work since LED lights don't seem to draw much power.

Also if you have recommandations for cheap LED lights let me know.

Thanks
 
Hi,

I'm really lukewarm on those UPS for computers being used for powering something like an LED panel. Its pretty inefficient. What you basically have there would be the UPS with an inverter in it so it can put out 110v. The inverter takes some power out of the battery. Then our 12V AC to DC power supply plugged into that. Then The LED panel.

We don't have a proprietary battery or any battery at all for sale. We only have the 12V DC power supply the unit comes with and the optional interface plates for industry standard pro camcorder lithium batteries like Gold mount or V mount types. That power supply converts 110v (or 220v if you live in a 220v country) to 12V DC.

Many that don't want to use this type battery simply use some solutions like the lead acid Bescor types like this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=228191&is=REG

The drawback is they are heavier but they are also less expensive than the lithium types which are more compact. Plugs straight into the 4p XLR input just like our DC power supply does. In fact anything which outputs DC voltage from 10V to 24V and has a standard 4 pin XLR with pin 1 ground and pin 4 + voltage can power the LED 600.

Our LED panel draws 50w at 12V, so that means with that particular battery, the power time is close to 5 hours (we have a couple of customers that confirmed that). In any case, you would need at least a 50 WH 12V battery to power it for one hour.
 
has anyone with cmos cameras reported strobing with your LED panels? I"m interested but am concerned about this.
 
Flickering? Not sure if you're talking about the Cool Lights LED 600 or another one. Ours has no flickering and is completely DC powered inside so not much chance to get it.
 
I think that it is not bad idea.
You need to use powerful chinese UPS, not the top brand one.
Look for ones with largest batteries (locally he have 1200VA with two big batteries for about $65).
This thing is able to run average computer for about 20min.
So, your panel (they are 34W to 60w) will be run for hours.
You can also have spare charged batteries on set. To replace them, if necessary. It is not hard.
Batteries are 12V, btw.

It is not pro solution in any way.
 
UPS devices are not really designed to do this - they're instant get out of trouble power, and although they will do it, it's never for that long, they take a fair while to recharge and often have annoying beeps and noises to warn you power is off. A proper leisure battery (at least that's what we call them here in the UK) driving an inverter will give much longer on the batteries.
 
Repeat to yourself: "I'm better than this." ;) That's something one might try in desperation, in an emergency. But it's a poor plan or bad experiment. Get a hold of a 30/13 battery belt, Anton Bauer 14v batts, a block battery - the normal production batts (shouldn't be difficult or expensive to get for shoots), or do some homework and build a proper battery solution. Depending on what type of LED fixture you're talking about, some can run on little DV type batteries, and there's no shortage of inexpensive, off-brand ones available. I run my little Litepanels MiniPlus off of all kinds of power sources.
 
Sorry I didn't see this thread and posted my own very simular to it. The Duracell (Xantrex) Powersource Mobile 100 worked fine for someone else on the forum powering those Ebay 500 LED's for about two hours. Unfourtuanatly they are impossible to come by as they are discontinued and out of stock everywhere. If we can locate a good alternative to the Duracell I will be very happy.

BTW the Powersource was going for about $30 :(
 
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