kyle_noad100
Active member
Anyone have any suggestions for any good power supplies for lighting on the move where mains power is not available?
Thanks
Thanks
power on the move
- Thread starter kyle_noad100
- Start date
BLUESPIDER
DVXuser Ninja
Re: power on the move
Car battery will work for smaller watt lights. Or a car with a AC/DC converter.
Generator, good but too dam lound, not enless your doing a silent film.
There are also battery packs for lights. Do a search for portable light systems.
good luck!
Car battery will work for smaller watt lights. Or a car with a AC/DC converter.
Generator, good but too dam lound, not enless your doing a silent film.
There are also battery packs for lights. Do a search for portable light systems.
good luck!
kyle_noad100
Active member
Re: power on the move
yeah i was hoping to find some big rechargeable battery pack thing with plug sockets on or something to plug lights into.
Cant find anything like that anywhere.
Does this product even exist?
Thanks
yeah i was hoping to find some big rechargeable battery pack thing with plug sockets on or something to plug lights into.
Cant find anything like that anywhere.
Does this product even exist?
Thanks
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: power on the move
how far are you form the "mains"?
how far are you form the "mains"?
kyle_noad100
Active member
Re: power on the move
miles...ill be filming in a wooded area, well that is if i can sort out some kind of power supply.
miles...ill be filming in a wooded area, well that is if i can sort out some kind of power supply.
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: power on the move
You could use a generator with 50-100 feet of cable from it to your shooting area and build a baffle box around the generator with sound blankets. I've done it before and it works. Other than that, it would be tough to bring car batteries that far, and dangerous. And battery belts would not give you the time you might need.
You could use a generator with 50-100 feet of cable from it to your shooting area and build a baffle box around the generator with sound blankets. I've done it before and it works. Other than that, it would be tough to bring car batteries that far, and dangerous. And battery belts would not give you the time you might need.
kyle_noad100
Active member
Re: power on the move
cheers.
Yeah i think that is going to be my best bet. I need to look into renting a generator now i guess.
Thanks for your input
cheers.
Yeah i think that is going to be my best bet. I need to look into renting a generator now i guess.
Thanks for your input
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: power on the move
Just make sure your cables are not more than 100 feet. More than that and the voltage drop is a lot. also use 12 gauge cables for the feeds tot he lamps.
Just make sure your cables are not more than 100 feet. More than that and the voltage drop is a lot. also use 12 gauge cables for the feeds tot he lamps.
Walter_Graff
Carbonite Member
Re: power on the move
Ac cable has resistance so longer runs drop voltage. DOn't make runs over 100 feet at 12 gauge. Also the bigger the gauge the better
Ac cable has resistance so longer runs drop voltage. DOn't make runs over 100 feet at 12 gauge. Also the bigger the gauge the better
Terry_Lasater
All about the Caption
Re: power on the move
FWIW... The smaller the gauge number, the 'thicker' the cable.
Too much current being drawn through too small a gauge of wire will cause overheating and possibly damage to the cable and the fixture... (like fire).
FWIW... The smaller the gauge number, the 'thicker' the cable.
Too much current being drawn through too small a gauge of wire will cause overheating and possibly damage to the cable and the fixture... (like fire).
filmmaker58
Well-known member
Re: power on the move
A generator is your answer. Batteries and inverters (DC to AC) are only good for flourescent or other small wattage fixtures. For lighting in the woods, I'd look at a 5k at least. that way you can run 3 1k lamps and a couple of 650's. Save yourself some cash and get one or two long heavy guage cords with 4 way boxes on the ends for the runs to the genny, and use lighter guage short cords to distribute the lights from there. Get some cheap 1" celetex sheets from a hardware store and build a 3 sided box to put over the genny to deflect the sound away from where you'll be shooting (don't cover it completely or it will overheat)
A generator is your answer. Batteries and inverters (DC to AC) are only good for flourescent or other small wattage fixtures. For lighting in the woods, I'd look at a 5k at least. that way you can run 3 1k lamps and a couple of 650's. Save yourself some cash and get one or two long heavy guage cords with 4 way boxes on the ends for the runs to the genny, and use lighter guage short cords to distribute the lights from there. Get some cheap 1" celetex sheets from a hardware store and build a 3 sided box to put over the genny to deflect the sound away from where you'll be shooting (don't cover it completely or it will overheat)
kyle_noad100
Active member
Re: power on the move
thanks for all the advice.
But, is there such a thing as a "powercell unit" if you see what i mean. Like a big unit that u charge by the mains which contains power cells, and it provides portable power?
thanks
thanks for all the advice.
But, is there such a thing as a "powercell unit" if you see what i mean. Like a big unit that u charge by the mains which contains power cells, and it provides portable power?
thanks