power on the go...

searchin doesnt work too well on the mobile.. so thanks in advanced for the replies

for mobile setups, ive seen battery packs but they can get kind of pricey, im wonderin if anyone uses generators or if they get too loud on scene

im lookin to power 2x 250-400w strobes for maybe 25-100 shots

A PCB Vagabond II can be had for $325 shipped and could power two strobes at that wattage for like 400+ shots full power. Generators will be more money, might not output a pure sine wave (which strobes should receive), and are way heavier and very loud.

Ben,
i'm not doubting you, but wanted to clarify for myself...
you can really get 400+ shots at full power from a pair of 400W strobes of a vagabond II ?
I didn't think they had that much oomph, but i probably misread something somewhere (my memory doesn't have much oomph anymore either).
Greg

I shouldn't have been such a lazy sod and just looked it up.
Right you are Ben. From the AlinBee website:
3 B800 units (960 Ws) 2.7 seconds recycle time, 400 full power flashes
Greg

i really like the vagabond, but id like to try and spend less than 300, ill only be powering 320 watts total.
for small lights like that, would i need an inverter generator for a cleaner sine wave, or would a standard 800watt gas generator work?

ugh.. i really want to try this generator but i dont want to fry my lights!!!

unless you can clean up the power supply, I wouldn't use a generator for something like strobes. I worked for briggs and stratton power products in the engineering lab, and not only is the sin wave not perfect, they do tend to very in hz, as they use a manual spring governor.

Yea Id stay away from the generator too. Too risky. And are you kidding?! <$300 is a STEAL for that kind of portable power! Thats why the Vagabond II sells so well! Have you looked at other lighting manufacturers options?! Most will run you $1000+. The Explorer XT is also a good option but is a bit over $400 shipped.

there are some honda generators that output a pure sin wave, but they're pricey - $1000+...i started looking into them after reading this: http://www.popphoto.co​m …hting-techniques?page=0,2

thanks for the input, i picked up a vagabond 2, it arrives in 2 days