timberwolf1 Posted September 15, 2003 Share Posted September 15, 2003 I am aware of the brands for generators: Honda, Generac, Coleman, etc. What are your working experiences with these generators and using equipment that may have a microprocessor in it such as a Speedotron Force 10 mono light? Are the larger 7,500 watt units "clean power" enough to power a microprocessor safely? What do you know about using generators on location? Timber Borcherding timberborcherding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted September 15, 2003 Share Posted September 15, 2003 You want a Honda generator. I can't put my finger precisely on the reason but it has to do with how it handles brief high amperage surges.power surges and the"cleanness" of the signal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_witkop Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 I've not used a generator with any kind of photographic equiptment, but from experience in a former life as a system admin, I'd advise any (relatively) sensative electronics should probably not be pluged directly into a generator, as they have notoriously "dirty" (read inconsitant) power. I've never tried this with photo equiptment, but you might try a UPS system like you'd see on a computer. You'd have even, consistant power, and a few pops after you run out of gas, and goodness knows unexpected things like that _never_ happen on location. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Our 4000W Generac is a 2 pole 3600Rpm unit driven by a 8Hp 4 cycle Briggs. It is loud; like a lawn mower. The output is a nice sine wave; it has been used to run power supplies that drive my ham radios; and also run my computers. I have used the home generator during blackouts to get on the internet; get email; post on this board; do Photoshop; watch local TV; fire up the microwave; and even run a dinky window AC..One can view the sinewave output with a scope. Overloading a generator will droop the voltage; usually the breaker will then trip....I try to run the generator here every other month; they need usage to prevent the carbs from getting gummed up...<BR><BR><BR>The super quiet small/dinky cute HONDA's are great for swap meets; where the provide small lightweigh portable power; without driving your neighbors nuts. They are super quiet; but are real expensive for the power output<BR><BR>larger Hondas are quiet too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 The biggest problems I have seen with generators are; too small of wiring to the load. Size of load too big for the generator. Lack of understanding of running loads versus starting loads of AC motors. Poor and illegal grounding of generator. Lack of proper safe way to refuel hot generator. Not enough fuel to keep engine running to do the job. <b>Damage due to unplugging all of the loads from the generator at once; so that the inductive kick from other loads ruins one equipment; if they are tied together thru one circuit or extension cord. </b> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timberwolf1 Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 Great responses; keep going. As for the gummed carbs: I believe that gasoline becomes shellac at warm temperatures. Therefore it would be best to store dry. A 2000ws Norman studio pack, I am told by experts, draws a 60 amp load when it peaks. The pack is rated 15 amps, but peaks at 60 amps. This draw is similar to a short in the line, that is, the capacitors draw the electricity so fast that it is similar to having a short. This accounts for the 60 amp draw. Now, this draw won't pop the fuse because it is too brief. Heat has no time to build up. You would need repetitive pops to heat up the fuse. But what is the effect on the generator? You can't fool the generator! How much of an over capacity do you need for a 2400ws pack? How much for a 1200ws pack, 4800ws pack, etc.? Is anyone using a generator for rapid pops, like fashion? What are your experiences? Is there anyway to further quiet the Generac? Is the sine wave truly clean or is it a square wave? Keep going! Timber Borcherding timberborcherding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen_S Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 My local HAM radio club has a 4 kW Honda, old but reliable. The little Hondas are nice you nearly could give classic concerts on a electric quitar powered by them. But I suppose you don't need a everyday generator so get something cheaper than Honda. Maybe military surplus? I have a Sachs 2stroke driven Bosch which is damned reliable but of course to small for serious flash setups (750W). I'd suggest to add a plain minimal load to your flash equipment to have the generator runing constantly but I suppose CW PAs are worse than flashes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timberwolf1 Posted October 4, 2003 Author Share Posted October 4, 2003 I talked to the tech at Speedotron regarding generators. This is what he said in a nutshell: There are two kinds of packs: transformer packs, and transformerless packs. Transformerless packs are called "capacitor voltage multiplier" units. Transformer packs are the lower end packs like the Speedotron Brownline. Transformer packs do not need a sinewave, but can take the "square wave" generated by inverters and some generators. "Capacitor voltage multiplier packs" absolutely need a full sine wave for operation. Therefore, if you are using a battery and inverter combination (no generator), you should be using "transformer packs". If you are using a generator, be sure it is a sine wave generator and you can use it on both transformer or transformerless packs. Timber Borcherding timberborcherding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted October 5, 2003 Share Posted October 5, 2003 Most all AC generators that I have used generate a sine wave. There is a rotating rotor on mine at 3600 rpm; which produces the 60 hertz. At light wattage/loads; the frequency is slightly above 60Hz; say by 0.5 to 1 Hz; at full load; the frequency drops to about 59 hz.<BR><BR>The invertor units that produce a square wave are the older invertors such as my tripp lite model PV-100 power invertor; which produces a square wave. These units draw alot of power when not even loaded<BR><BR>Some of the newer more efficient invertors produce a pseudo sine wave; and have little DC input draws at low load. <BR><BR> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timberwolf1 Posted October 18, 2003 Author Share Posted October 18, 2003 Regarding re-buildability: All generators have a operating life. I picked up an opinion of a heavy user, a street muscian in San Francisco at Pier 39 who puts 8-10 hours on his Honda Generator Eu3000si. He says that the plastic, smaller EU 1000 and EU 2000 are "discardable generators". Why? Well, he had one rebuilt, and it was never the same. it came back with variable Hz, etc. The larger generators of the 3000ws and above are rebuildable in his opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tak3 Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 can any please give me some advice on normal contruction 2k generator, are these generator workable on my bowen gemini 500w 2 heads? do i need a adaptor or something, many thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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