DIY Vagabond / power pack parts list

Antonio Cotto · Dec 8, 2006

I already have an automatic battery charger, so the expense will be minimal. I shopped around on the web and found that inverter for $118 at this web site:

http://www.marketronics.com/Catalog/ItemDetails.aspx?ItemCode=PST-30S-12A&selection=0

That sounds like a pretty good price.

Antonio Cotto said:
I'm thinking of buying the 300w inverter and using my riding mower
battery. That battery mostly just sits in my garage unused (except
whet I have to mow the lawn). I replace that battery every few
years already. All I have to do is have a good carrying case and
wiring to make it user friendly.

--
Antonio Cotto
GemPhoto
http://www.myspace.com/gemphoto
http://gemphoto.fotopic.net/
http://ujenatalent.com/photographer/11253.html
http://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=886

--
Antonio Cotto
GemPhoto
http://www.myspace.com/gemphoto
http://gemphoto.fotopic.net/
http://ujenatalent.com/photographer/11253.html
http://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=886

jean bernier · Dec 8, 2006

I ended up using a battery/inverter that was intended for use with my laptop in the field. Since this small 140w inverter can be used with a laptop, why not with an electronic flash?

Flashes used are 300 w/s chinese monolights. I presume many low power monolights will run fine on such devices, there is only one way to know: risk it. I fired one unit for 150 full power bursts before getting bored by the experiment, and it did not heat up, or took longer to recharge. The flash does very slightly hum during recharge, likely from the lower voltage rather than the "simulated sine wave" nature of the current. And the flash never fully recharges: lower output can be measured than when the flash is plugged into a reguler Ac outlet, but it does always recharge at the same level, though it takes a little longer. I'd be curious to see how these inverters, including the vagabond's, recharge a flash compared to regular Ac.

The modeling light can be used for a few minutes when setting up, whithout wasting too much energy.

--
Jean Bernier

All photographs are only more or less credible illusions

dipics · Dec 8, 2006

The Tronix explorer 1200 comes ready made for about the same price you would pay to make your own. True sine wave.

DIPics

Richard Brown47498 · Dec 8, 2006

Thanks for posting,

I have been using one for a while now but put mine in a soft shoulder pack to use with the ABR800 so I can move around without any connections to a pack on the floor or plugged into a wall.

I use a 300 watt pure sine wave by another company.

I also ended up with a xp1100 dyna-lite for use with larger power packs over 100 watts.

--
http://www.richardbrownphotography.com

Richard Brown47498 · Dec 8, 2006

the Tronix recycle time will kill you though.

I did speak with them and they are working on a larger faster unit to use with larger powerpacks.

--
http://www.richardbrownphotography.com

stiksandstones · Dec 8, 2006

Richard Brown said:
the Tronix recycle time will kill you though.
I did speak with them and they are working on a larger faster unit
to use with larger powerpacks.

--
http://www.richardbrownphotography.com

Anyone know if the battery in a tronix is replaceable....I mean, easy to find the batt in states and install your self?

virtuamike · Dec 8, 2006

The Tronix is $295 shipped. It's a decently priced alternative.

It's a 150W inverter (same as Vagabond), which is why you read so many comments about slow recycle times. Here's a review on it -
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7883-7908

The battery is 12V 12AH, and it looks like you need to open it up to replace it. If you can live with a 150W inverter, 12AH, and don't need to change batteries on location, then consider the Tronix. The advantage of DIY is that you can spec it to your needs (plus it's still cheaper).

dipics said:
The Tronix explorer 1200 comes ready made for about the same price
you would pay to make your own. True sine wave.

DIPics

--
Ramen is how I afford my glass
http://www.blindmike.com

virtuamike · Dec 8, 2006

GP 12120

http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=SLA-12V12

stiksandstones said:
Richard Brown said:

the Tronix recycle time will kill you though.
I did speak with them and they are working on a larger faster unit
to use with larger powerpacks.

--
http://www.richardbrownphotography.com

Click to expand...

Anyone know if the battery in a tronix is replaceable....I mean,
easy to find the batt in states and install your self?

--
Ramen is how I afford my glass
http://www.blindmike.com

CharlieDIY · Dec 9, 2006

Richard Brown said:
Thanks for posting,
I have been using one for a while now but put mine in a soft
shoulder pack to use with the ABR800 so I can move around without
any connections to a pack on the floor or plugged into a wall.

I use a 300 watt pure sine wave by another company.

Now there's a thought. I've got a new Delsey bag here that I don't like for photography, but that might be useful for carrying the battery and inverter.

--
Charlie Self
http://www.charlieselfonline.com

C.A.S. · Dec 21, 2006

How important is the grounding for this set-up. The Vagabond comes with the metal spike but those are hard to come by (actually I have one but not sure if its the same material so I am not using it).

I guess the real question is: Will it kill me if I don't ground?

Guillermo Shashte · Dec 21, 2006

Thanks for the info.
--
G. Shashte

Michael Todd · Dec 21, 2006

I had been wishing I'd tagged this post and now I have my chance.

Thanks!

--
peace.

Antonio Cotto · Dec 24, 2006

I ordered a 300 Watt pure sinewave inverter and for the same price by mistake, they sent me a 600 Watt inverter instead. Is there a disadvantage in using a 600 Watt besides it being larger? Does the battery wear out faster?

--
Antonio Cotto
GemPhoto
http://www.myspace.com/gemphoto
http://gemphoto.fotopic.net/
http://ujenatalent.com/photographer/11253.html
http://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=886

Dasher · Dec 24, 2006

No -- The 600 w inverter will just be loafing along. While it may draw a little more power that should not be significant factor in battery hold up time.

martinto · Dec 25, 2006

Great posts
--
Tom

Ricbuchner · Dec 25, 2006

Hello,

I clicked at theSamlex 300w pure sine wave converter link, and the picture shows one single inlet for the strobe cable.

Does it mean that I can only plug one strobe to it? Or I can use an adaptor to put 2 strobes on the same inlet??

Sorry if my questions sounds too dumb, dont know jack about eletronics or power supplies...

thanks!

Ricardo

virtuamike · Dec 26, 2006

You can plug in a power strip or adapter to give you more outlets, but you're limited to 300W. The more lights you plug in, the slower they'll recycle.

Ricbuchner said:
Hello,
I clicked at theSamlex 300w pure sine wave converter link, and the
picture shows one single inlet for the strobe cable.

Does it mean that I can only plug one strobe to it? Or I can use an
adaptor to put 2 strobes on the same inlet??

Sorry if my questions sounds too dumb, dont know jack about
eletronics or power supplies...

thanks!

Ricardo

--
Ramen is how I afford my glass
http://www.blindmike.com

Ricbuchner · Dec 26, 2006

Thanks a lot for the info!!

One more question:

I live in brazil, and I am having a hard time finding the up-to-10Ah batteries.
I can find easilly the motorcycle ones and smaller ones (7,2 AH).

Can I plug 3 or 4 of those of 7,2 ??

Thanks!

Ricbuchner · Dec 26, 2006

How much batteries will I need to support 2 AB800 at full power
for about 300 flashes? just to have an idea...

I read your inicial thread and you said that we might start from a 10 to 12Ah and keep it to a minimum, to avoid overweight...

If I use just 2 bateries of 7,2Ah... will it last long enough?

Why did you use 4 batteries of 5Ahon your project, and not a single one of 20Ah?

Dont know anything about eletronics....

Thanks

Ricardo

virtuamike · Dec 26, 2006

Yes, you can use multiple batteries simultaneously. Rig them in parallel (+ to +, - to -). A pair of 7.2AH should provide you plenty of battery life, but the best thing to do is to build and test according to your shooting needs.

I used 4 5AH batteries because I got the batteries cheap. Otherwise I would've bought a single.

Ricbuchner said:
How much batteries will I need to support 2 AB800 at full power
for about 300 flashes? just to have an idea...

I read your inicial thread and you said that we might start from a
10 to 12Ah and keep it to a minimum, to avoid overweight...

If I use just 2 bateries of 7,2Ah... will it last long enough?

Why did you use 4 batteries of 5Ahon your project, and not a single
one of 20Ah?

Dont know anything about eletronics....

Thanks

Ricardo

--
Ramen is how I afford my glass
http://www.blindmike.com

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