Portable light kits using car batteries?

D

DarkOne

Active member
Some quick questions regarding lighting...

Does anyone know how to assemble a portable light kit using a car battery for power? I have seen some wedding videographers do it. If so, how much wattage and number of lights will I be able to use off that one battery? This would be great as it would eliminate the noise of a genie and allow greater flexibility and quicker set up time. This would also allow to shoot where no power is available.

I would also like to know how to set up dimmer packs to work alongside my portable light kit.

If anyone knows of any links or resources regarding this, please forward.

Tony D.
Miami
Dark Room Pictures
 
Re: Portable light kits using car batteries?

I too would lkie to know if anyone has any info on this.
 
Re: Portable light kits using car batteries?

Well I made one.. basically went to Walmart and Canadian Tire, bought a battery, battery box, Cigarette Plug, Inverter, and a little 2watt solar panel. Put them all together, with the inverter and cig plug hardwired to the Battery in the box so I can go with normal 120AC or 12v.  I got a really, really cool invertor from Canadian tire that is digital, it shows you exactly how much  juice you have left, how many watts is being pulled, and what volts its outputing.
Link Canadian Tire  

I put it in my camera truck, glued the solar panel onto the roof and plug that into the Cig socket so the battery is always charged, ready to go.

Well anyways, today I used it in the middle of nowhere for a car shoot, and had it power a 2 bank 4' kino, 12" kino, 13" monitor. The total wattage the invertor said it was pulling was 80 watts. The thing lasted me 8 hours, and only didnt die It was insane.

Anyways, here is a funky grab from today:

Image3.jpg
 
Re: Portable light kits using car batteries?

Jarred, would it be possible for you to show a pic of this light kit set up? It seems extremely interesting and practical. The portable solar panel seems like a "bright" idea. By the way, are you happy with the functionality, practicality and flexibility of it all? Any pro's/con's?

Please post!
 
Re: Portable light kits using car batteries?

didnt find a problem so far... will keep you updated.
 
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