Question about lighting

4

45thronin

Member
Hi, I have a very naive question to ask about lighting. When you are out on your shoot, what do you get to power the lights? It's obviously some sort of battery. Is there something that someone can suggest?

I am thinking of purchasing the Lowel DV Creator 55 Kit for a shoot I have later this year. I'm purchasing equipment instead of renting, because I have a second shoot for a documentary that I'm doing over the next year.

Any suggestion as to what power source I should use that would be effective enough to support lighting for this kit?

Thank you!!!
-45thronin
 
The DVCreators kit 55 is quoted as 1950 watts. It would be pretty tough to get a battery small and light enough to be considered portable for this kind of lighting. You're more looking at a generator for tungsten lighting when you don't have power available.

A lot of people are using LEDs today when they need portability and also need to use batteries due to the efficiencies they provide in both size, weight and power draw.
 
Assuming you're outside the range of commercial power, your choices come down to generators or batteries. For this kit you'd want a 3kw or better generator. These are readily available, but leave you with a noise problem to contend with.

Batteries can be run thru an inverter to change the DC to 120 AC for your lights. Problem becomes battery capacity. (we're talking large lead-acid automotive style) This link
http://majorpower.com/inverters/battery_sizing_faq.pdf
gives a start on figuring battery capacity required.

Many setups will use a generator for setup and run thrus, switching to battery for the actual take.
If you do go the inverter route, get the true sine wave type. Cost more but your bulbs will last far longer.
 
Inverters are great, but on large shoots it would take too many batteries to keep lights running, as was said. They just aren't built for that. Think about what happens when headlights are left on in a car. Those are pretty big batteries and not all that huge of lights. Generators and generator trucks are the best choice when available, short of plugging into a regular feed that can handle it.

My favorite mobile setup is with batteries charged through a generator and maybe some solar panels if possible. I've long wanted a generator and everything else truck built around that.

If you're outside and it's not night, the sun is going to be your best light source.
 
a generator don't have to make that much sound. It's only noicy when you right next to it. But if you have a long cabel runing from it, you can place it kind of far from your location. Then place it behind a hill ore i a pit, ore behind big buches trees etc. Once I build at easy "screen" of thick madresses that was between my location and the generator. I thinking of building one thats more premanent and portabel.
 
Thanks so much for the replies, very much appreciated. For some reason it just baffled me how they lit these sets. But it makes total sense that they would use generators, or something like that. I was thinking a car battery of some sort.
 
Hey 45,
Go LED and your current draw is in the 50 Watt range, enough for a Camera battery to power for a few hours or more. Richard from Cool Lights has some great products. Check them out before you buy something else.

Kit
 
Thanks Kit, I appreciate the offer. I'm curious what difference the lighting would make though color wise. Thoughts?
 
thats possible w/ car batteries. Automotive lighting, Xenon(similar HID to MH), that provide up to 5500lumens at 50w ~5500K. Thats equivalent to 500w tungsten lumens. unfortunately, i dont think ppl are adapting these lighting yet in film industry.

It's something ppl will harness in the near future, for sure. Xenon ballast and bulbs have become more affordable and more stable. it's one of the solution to portability. It's a well-proven technology. there is a huge advantage over HMI.

the xenon uses very low voltage 9-24vdc w/ start-up at 15-30A, while operates at half of start-up amp rating. you can have a Honda Civic powering about 4 of these lights. or you can have a civic w/ upgraded alternator and dry batteries and light up 10-20 of these. the idea can be proven but just not so ideal bc too many variable involved.

for now, the best way is generator and use 120v lamps. there are generator kits out there that you can adapt to car engine for truck and SUV.
45thronin said:
Thanks so much for the replies, very much appreciated. For some reason it just baffled me how they lit these sets. But it makes total sense that they would use generators, or something like that. I was thinking a car battery of some sort.
Click to expand...
 
Well it definitely sounds like a generator is the way to go. I can't thank you all enough for the feedback. Most appreciated!

-45thronin
 
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