any advice on this diy powerpack

http://www.flickr.com …iscuss/72157632​619839392/


Basically that setup with these parts:
http://www.autozone.co​m …temIdentifier=2​98374_0_0_

http://www.lowes.com …wer%2Binverter&​facetInfo=

And I will be shooting with 2x of these strobes going at a time, worse case scenario both will be at full power so 320Ws per fire
http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/b400.php


Few questions:


1. How do I charge it/know when it needs to be charged(figured, when its dead ill know....)
2. How many times can I fire 2x of these(at the same time) before this battery goes completely dead
3. Is it safe to use all of the items above together without any other things being needed?

Advice is appreciated.

Lead acid batteries need to be charged when every they are used to any extent.
And if they are being stored they should be charged and maintained with a trick or float charger.

Would be much better to get Lithium Ion battery and inverter.

dmward wrote in post #16368184
Lead acid batteries need to be charged when every they are used to any extent.
And if they are being stored they should be charged and maintained with a trick or float charger.

Would be much better to get Lithium Ion battery and inverter.

Hmm, I will try to find one!

Yea I just went by his post so I didn't really know what type of battery besides a marine deep cycle

also, how would I go about charging the Lion battery if I found it?

Same for the one above, if you happen to know

Nick Aufiero wrote in post #16368099
http://www.flickr.com …iscuss/72157632​619839392/


Basically that setup with these parts:
http://www.autozone.co​m …temIdentifier=2​98374_0_0_

http://www.lowes.com …wer%2Binverter&​facetInfo=

And I will be shooting with 2x of these strobes going at a time, worse case scenario both will be at full power so 320Ws per fire
http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/b400.php


Few questions:


1. How do I charge it/know when it needs to be charged(figured, when its dead ill know....)
2. How many times can I fire 2x of these(at the same time) before this battery goes completely dead
3. Is it safe to use all of the items above together without any other things being needed?

Advice is appreciated.

The inverter will not work with your AB, which need a pure sine wave AC power, buy a vagabond power pack or pure sine wave inverter.

tonyniev wrote in post #16368413
The inverter will not work with your AB, which need a pure sine wave AC power, buy a vagabond power pack or pure sine wave inverter.

yeah actually I saw that after, the one Id get would be this
http://www.lowes.com …wer%2Binverter&​facetInfo=

or ill find another I suppose

but yeah, do I need to be looking for another battery?

I guess that is still not a pure sine wave inverter, check this site http://www.theinverter​store.com …e-inverters-off-grid.html

Just buy the vagabond minipack http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/vagabond.php

didn't realize you were trying to run AB monolights.
The Mini-Lithium is the best solution.
I built a DIY a few years ago, based on design that was posted in a thread on Fred Miranda forum.
It works great but cost almost as much as the VML. I have three and they work a charm.

tonyniev wrote in post #16368448
Just buy the vagabond minipack http://www.paulcbuff.c​om/vagabond.php

+1.

Yeah my only problem with it was the small amount of shots you can do and all that.

I would rather build something else that has multiple uses.

I am looking into ordering the vagabond 2, but I still wanted to build my own.


Reading about the vagabond tho I guess id get around 800 shots with my smaller 2x ab400s

eh. ill keep searching for now.

Thanks so far, other suggestions and inputs are welcome!

The number of shots is a function of battery capacity.
The easiest way to extend the number of shots is to have a second battery available to plug into the VML.
If its not practical there are cables that can be built that permit linking two batteries together to double the capacity.

dmward wrote in post #16369692
The number of shots is a function of battery capacity.
The easiest way to extend the number of shots is to have a second battery available to plug into the VML.
If its not practical there are cables that can be built that permit linking two batteries together to double the capacity.

yeah I think I'm gonna get the VML and get a spare battery or two, seems like my best bet.

I would really like to build my own so I can use it for other things but..... I guess ill see

The inverter in a VML is just that an inverter. It can be used for anything that requires 120VAC.
There are posts about people using it to power computer, lights when power is out, etc.

dmward wrote in post #16369702
The inverter in a VML is just that an inverter. It can be used for anything that requires 120VAC.
There are posts about people using it to power computer, lights when power is out, etc.

Which is true, I meant more of something stronger that lasts longer but, I believe I'm gonna just do the VML and a spare battery.

Maybe once i start shooting outside 24/7 ill worry about it, but for now, I really can get by using wall power with my shoots -.-