Remote Power/Car Inverter?

I am going to be needing enough power to keep a laptop (thinkpad t61) and a 1D DC Coupler going for a couple of hours (30 second exposures over 4 hours probably).

I was checking out the reviews of various dc-to-ac car inverters but everyone of them seem to be built cheaply.

I was thinking of getting an AB vagabound but I have no idea how long it would last with a constant drain.

Anyone have any recommendations?

I don't think that it is recommended to use a Vagabond for constant drain applications. I know they recommend against using modeling lamps for extended periods due to the possibility of overheating the unit.

The best thing to do would be to email Alien Bees and ask them though.

I did call them, they said they really have not done any testing but a customer told them that using a macbook air worked 8.5 hours before it died. I'm guessing that a thinkpad and a 1Ds would be shorter obviously.

I can't figure out what the drain of a 1Ds Mark II using the DC coupler would be. It doesn't seem to be listed anywhere in the manual.

For the laptop, I'd suggest getting an iGo power supply; they have your choice of tips and AC, auto and air adapters. Plug it into whatever's available. Use a separate source for the camera; see about a DC-DC adapter to supply the right voltage rather than deal with the waste of going DC->AC->DC.

Well CPS was no help, they don't have any published data on power consumption of the body, with or w/o lens or even the DC input. Weird. I would have figured this is a requirement for anything electronic being sold in the US.

Look at the MaH rating of the 1Ds normal battery...and look at the MaH rating of the Thinkpad battery. Consider also the duration permitted as open shutter time on a Bulb exposure using that body, where it not only is the time for exposure but also the long exposure noise reduction blank image time. You know the normal battery life of each product in hours...a car battery probably is 30-40x as long, rated in Amp-hours, not MaH!

I suggest Kensington 120W supply be considered as an alternative to the suggested iGo. I can power two devices at once, using the optional splitter cable.

You want something with clean power, that will cost you much more than a POS $30 inverter. Change your search terms to a Sine Wave inverter and you'll get realistic results.

Is a generator out of the question? I have one of those baby Honda generators that is a 1000 watts peak, 900 running full load, half tank of gas, and runs for about 8 hours on a half a tank of gas.

http://www.hondapowere​quipment.com …EU1000I&modelid​=EU1000IAN

I picked mine up on craigslist for $300. This doesn't put out trash power either like most generators. It's quiet enough you can hold a normal conversation right next to it.

Yeah I'm going to a public beach at night. Just in case the police swing by I don't want to be interrogated as to why I have a generator.

I'm thinking of getting this one:

Wagan EL9754 150-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

150W Normal, 300W Peak -- $106.
Amazon (external link)

Specs look good to me;
You're getting a True Sine Wave inverter which is the only way to go with electronics; so the only thing you need to compare to now is the total draw form both your laptop and your charger + some extra.

As long as it provides enough juice; you should be in good shape.

For others.. once you exceed 150 watts; you can no longer power the inverter from your cigarette lighter plug. you must go straight to the battery. Refer to the labels as Wilt said.

I have mine wired up so it site under my drivers seat in my truck.

The laptop is minimal about 65W and although I can't find anything for the 1D DC Coupler, I can't imagine it being more than the laptop.