Use a car battery and inverter to power my monolights?

[James33]

I have a couple of outdoor shoots coming up - dusk and later. I was thinking I could simply hook an inverter to my battery on the car and plug the monolight into it. Anyone do this? Any dangers? Using 150 watt second lights. Thanks!

James

[jeromego]

you need to have pure sine wave power for use with strobes. i dont think doing that would give you pure sine wave.

[DozerLYP]

If the inverter can produce enough power to feed your light, it should just fine.

[James33]

you need to have pure sine wave power for use with strobes. i dont think doing that would give you pure sine wave.

"Pure sine wave power?" I have no idea what you are referring to... Any links to explain it in more detail?

[Discov3ry]

"Pure sine wave power?" I have no idea what you are referring to... Any links to explain it in more detail?

Common inverters produce AC that has a square wave characteristic, pure sine wave power inverters produce a nice and smooth wave that flash units prefer.

This is my non-technical understanding of it after googling it up so maybe someone with an engineering background can chip in.

[jeromego]

"Pure sine wave power?" I have no idea what you are referring to... Any links to explain it in more detail?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=680552&highlight=pure+sine+wave

[g-money]

You are converting DC voltage from a battery trying to make it run an item designed for AC. Invertors can give you three types of output

square wave which is the wave form DC voltage produces

modified sine wave, Which is a AC wave form but choppy, Usually found on the cheaper invertors. Will run many AC applications but would not trust it with anything with sensitive electronics.

Pure Sine Wave. This is what and actual AC circuit will put out. WIll cost more than many invertors, but should work Ok if it is large enough.

If they were my lights I would buy one of the invertors built for monolight like the Vagabond, but not sure they will work with anything other than AB lights.

[Discov3ry]

If they were my lights I would buy one of the invertors built for monolight like the Vagabond, but not sure they will work with anything other than AB lights.

Taken from AlienBees website http://www.alienbees.com/VIIsystem.html

"Operating Non Paul C. Buff, Inc. Flash Units:

The Vagabond II is designed specifically for powering Paul C. Buff, Inc. products and that we cannot make any claim for suitability with products from other manufacturers, nor can we accept any liability for any damage that might be caused to such equipment. We will, however, warranty the Vagabond II itself as well as any Paul C. Buff, Inc. equipment it powers."

So I guess it's all about warranty issues. As long as it's got a standard electrical outlet it should be good.

[57hardtop]

Taken from AlienBees website http://www.alienbees.com/VIIsystem.html

"Operating Non Paul C. Buff, Inc. Flash Units:

The Vagabond II is designed specifically for powering Paul C. Buff, Inc. products and that we cannot make any claim for suitability with products from other manufacturers, nor can we accept any liability for any damage that might be caused to such equipment. We will, however, warranty the Vagabond II itself as well as any Paul C. Buff, Inc. equipment it powers."

So I guess it's all about warranty issues. As long as it's got a standard electrical outlet it should be good.

Standard Operating Procedure...never tell the consumer that your stuff is compatible with your competitors' stuff...scare them into buying your products only.

[drh681]

did I just read thet the new AB line will operate on a modified sine wave inverter?
perhaps that is something that was applied to the vagabond unit in a manner that they KNOW works with AB.