Sine Wave Converter specs

<p>All you engineers... is this one good for running power pack and mono-light strobes?<br /><a href="http://www.samlexamerica.com/documents/product-specs/PST-30S-12A_24A_Samlex_Specifications.pdf">http://www.samlexamerica.com/documents/product-specs/PST-30S-12A_24A_Samlex_Specifications.pdf</a><br>

Thanks for your big brains on this one.<br>

It's a Samlex America PST-30S-12A described like this:<br /><br /></p>

Design Features

- High ef

ficiency

- Low battery voltage alarm

- LED indicators for power and protections

- Protections: input low voltage, input over voltage,

over temperature, over load, short circuit

- Low idle power draw

 

 

<p>The spec says "Pure Sine Wave" so yes, it should be OK. I believe Paul Budd uses/used Samlex inverters.<br>

<Chas></p>

<p>I would be a little concerned about the peak power capabilities of the unit. They claim it can deliver 500w for less than one second, and I believe that some monolights may draw up to 8 amps (=>1000 w) briefly right after firing. It might be wise to check with the monolight manufacturer about the peak draw for the light.</p>

How does the price and capacity compare to the Vagabond Mini Lithium?

<p>Yes, you want a sine wave, but like Jeremy said, the peak power is more of the concern.</p>

<p>A typical inverter is designed to handle a reasonable load. A strobe is not a friendly load. It will have large current surges and a poorly designed one can have huge current surges. It would require schematics of both the inverter and the strobe, and a detailed analysis, to prove that it will work. But, it probably will, assuming it is sized correctly.</p>

<p>Check your strobe specifications, but 300W continuous, 500W surge seems rather low to me. I would want something closer to the capacity of a 15A circuit. At least 1000W. </p>

<p>It's hooked up to a 12 volt Marine battery, in a rolling backpack, nicely secured in a covered non-conducting case. No seams on the bottom (safe even in a puddle). $150. I tested an Einstein at full power and got 3 rapid pops. I figure this with the Vagabond mini (with extra battery) I already have would make a pretty nice combo. It weighs about 40#, so a wheeled cart is a must. I'm thinking about bolting a light stand (with legs remover) to a different cart like <a href="http://www.wheeleez.com/beachcart-folding-mini.php">this one so </a>I can wheel it where ever with an Einsten already mounted on it set up and ready to go. Got the idea from <a href="http://www.robgalbraith.com/multi_pageac08.html?cid=7-11667-11915">a cart Jame Burke</a> set up that was posted a while back on the old Galbraith blog (scroll down). <br /><br />The guy I got it from said it's two years old... t</p>

<p>Drop a line to PCB, he'll let you know pretty quickly and directly what he thinks of your setup.</p>

<p>Compare similar units from Innovatronics.<br>

The sallest they offer is rated 350 Watts RMS, and 700 Watts peak. <br>

Since is it designed specifically for strobes of up to 2400 Wattseconds, it could possibly have some mild max surge current reducer, preserving pure sine wave form (without causing sine wave clipping or distorion on the output).</p>

now *that's* a good idea. Since I'll be pushing mostly the Einsteins, or at most 500 watts from a Dynalite, I'm probably

good to go. But I'll do more comparison before plugging in the Dynalites... t

<p>I would hook up an amp meter and volt meter to test the current and voltage as the flash charging up. The current may be over the rated current and voltage may drop due to excessive current draw. In such case the inverter won't last long.</p>

<p>This will be a good read. Some info from Samlex on powering strobes in there as well.<br>

http://www.photigy.com/diy-portable-power-system-for-paul-c-buff-monolights-vagabond-iii/</p>

<p> </p>

Very good.

 

 

I'll just be using one Einstein on this unit, not the two that that guy was using at full power. The replacement, properly

rated Samlex Inverter costs as much as a V2Mini.maybe I'll replace it later if I find the need to power two heads. One odd

note… he says he used two heads with the same inverter I have (as pictured) but it only has one outlet. I think he likes

pushing the envelope.