Power Inverter setup

Pretty good, how much did this set you back? With a rig like this I wouldn't have to pack up when I run out of daylight..

Cart was thirty-five bucks, (US), including tax, at Home Depot.

 

The charger came from the place I ordered a couple of batteries from; it was twenty-five bucks.

 

The battery I picked up on e-Bay for about one twenty-eight, delivered. Weights about thirty pounds.

 

The 2500w power inverter I picked up at e-Bay auction for about one twenty-five, delivered.

 

The light was about a hundred, e-Bay auction.

 

The stand was some fifty bucks from B&H.

 

The D1204, delivered was about two fifty on e-Bay auction.

 

So the total for the setup, including cables was about,,,,, adding machine tape noise in the background,,,,,,, was under seven hundred and fifty bucks (US).

 

I can run the modeling light and flash to my hearts content for well over an hour, unrestricted. Maybe even a couple of hours, I've never tried to time it. With an 80AH deep cycle battery, I have enought juice to run a pair of D1204's, w/modeling lights, constant on for over two hours.

 

The system is designed to handle two 1200ws power packs and modeling lights, unrestricted:) I have two more deep cycle batteries (80AH) in the back ground so there's spare power and enough battery power to run four power packs at the same time for about an hour to two hours plus, unrestricted use:) No gas, no fumes:) Woo hoo! :)

just wacky, Tom. Have you got any pictures made with this rig, yet?... t

No. Unfortunately the day job, being seasonal, is getting in the way. I'm wanting to try and drag it, this winter, into the hills and do some night photography with trees and fields.

 

But at this time and point, it's just expensive equipment filling the shelves:(

I'm not sure where you live, but if I had that kind of mobile power, I'd be visiting junkyards at night for "art" and talking to pilots about commercial work. You could light a plane up from another plane at twilight with a sunset in the background. Put a little slave in the other (subject) plane's cockpit and do portraits of pilots flying their own planes. They've got the money, and most likely the ego to pay you a small fortune for that type of photo. I suggest a long lens for this sort of work :^)... t

In Silicon Valley, money still flows in large amounts, everywhere. A family of four is considered broke if the household income is below $71k US.

 

For ding-a-ling reasoning, was worried my back was going to go out on me, I blew a small fortune on lighting gear last winter. Everything from several Pocket Wizards, stands, booms, bags, multiple Brownline pwr packs and accompanying hoo-ha to complete the nuttyness. I even went so far as to map out expenditures for a full compliment of Chimera softboxes and umbrellas (7' if necessary) as well as created a full featured self-contained power supply system (part of which is displayed) which comprises of multiple deep cycle batteries and seperate inverters. All I need are the softboxes at this time and point. Oh! And a lot of experience:)

 

I'm greatful as the back has seen itself to last out another season. This is a good thing considering there's not a lighting mentor, such as yourself, insight:)

 

Maybe in retirement I'll be able to take you up on your most excellent idea of doing vanity shots of pilots and their planes/jets:) With the Pocket Wizards, Speedtron gear, portable power supplies, softboxes, stands and Canon 550's for cockpit lighting, with an assistant, it should be a relative piece of cake:)

Whats that brown thing that looks like a oil filter to the left?

Thanks

 

It's the flash bulb's protective cover.