generator power for lights at DVinfo.net

Pete Mander · April 28th, 2005, 07:42 PM

hi all I have a question on powering lights.

i dont know anything about gernorators except that you can get them in 1000, 2500 3000 watts ect.

I have lighting I need for a shoot in the fall and there is no power sourse nearby so I thought a genorator would do the job. and sudjestions on this?.

I have britek light some 250 watt lights up to 2000 watts not that i need all them att once but maby for one scene i will.

is genorator watts the same as light watts?

thanks
pete

Jack Smith · April 28th, 2005, 10:25 PM

Some light manufacturers rate the light based NOT on power consumption but on the illumination.The Britek's are pretty close. A 1000w light would use about 1000Watts.Most generators have 15 amp breakers for each circuit which is just under 2000 watts,so watch what you plug in to each breaker outlet.I have used them many times.
A couple of things about them......
Some don't have very good voltage regulators and can cause fluctuation.
Don't use electronics without a line conditioner
I use Hondas and they are very good
If your recording audio ,get very large capacity extension cords and long enough to be far from the action.
Bring some kind of baffle to go infront of it( styrofoam sheet and something to mount it far enough from the generator(so it does burn)
Get a generator rated a little over the power you need.

Dominic Jones · April 29th, 2005, 07:42 AM

A word of warning - generators *do not* actually produce the rated mount of power at a constant draw - make sure you get a generator with a fair bit of headroom - so if you've got 2k of lights, I would hire a 3k genny...

(Actually, I've just noticed this at the bottom of Jack's post - sorry Jack!)

Also, for future reference, be aware that anything over about 8k is impossible to move without a tail-lift truck, as they are just too heavy to lift - so it may be worth (if you ever need to run >8k) getting two smaller units.

K. Forman · April 29th, 2005, 07:52 AM

You could also try some deep cycle marine batteries, hooked up to a power inverter.

Jack Smith · April 29th, 2005, 09:45 AM

Dominic it was something worth saying twice!
Pete ,if noise is a problem you could also use a power pack as Keith said.But the charge won't last very long.
Like this http://www.4lots.com/browseproducts/xPower-600.HTML
This one is about 250watt hours. a 250 watt load for 1 hour or a 500 watt load for 30 minutes or a 1000 watt load for 15 minutes.
Normally not too practical but quiet.

April 28th, 2005, 07:42 PM	#1
Pete Mander Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 116	generator power for lights hi all I have a question on powering lights. i dont know anything about gernorators except that you can get them in 1000, 2500 3000 watts ect. I have lighting I need for a shoot in the fall and there is no power sourse nearby so I thought a genorator would do the job. and sudjestions on this?. I have britek light some 250 watt lights up to 2000 watts not that i need all them att once but maby for one scene i will. is genorator watts the same as light watts? thanks pete

April 29th, 2005, 07:52 AM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	You could also try some deep cycle marine batteries, hooked up to a power inverter. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

April 28th, 2005, 10:25 PM	#2
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	Some light manufacturers rate the light based NOT on power consumption but on the illumination.The Britek's are pretty close. A 1000w light would use about 1000Watts.Most generators have 15 amp breakers for each circuit which is just under 2000 watts,so watch what you plug in to each breaker outlet.I have used them many times. A couple of things about them...... Some don't have very good voltage regulators and can cause fluctuation. Don't use electronics without a line conditioner I use Hondas and they are very good If your recording audio ,get very large capacity extension cords and long enough to be far from the action. Bring some kind of baffle to go infront of it( styrofoam sheet and something to mount it far enough from the generator(so it does burn) Get a generator rated a little over the power you need.

April 29th, 2005, 07:42 AM	#3
Dominic Jones Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 225	A word of warning - generators do not actually produce the rated mount of power at a constant draw - make sure you get a generator with a fair bit of headroom - so if you've got 2k of lights, I would hire a 3k genny... (Actually, I've just noticed this at the bottom of Jack's post - sorry Jack!) Also, for future reference, be aware that anything over about 8k is impossible to move without a tail-lift truck, as they are just too heavy to lift - so it may be worth (if you ever need to run >8k) getting two smaller units.

April 29th, 2005, 09:45 AM	#5
Jack Smith Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ontario Posts: 445	Dominic it was something worth saying twice! Pete ,if noise is a problem you could also use a power pack as Keith said.But the charge won't last very long. Like this http://www.4lots.com/browseproducts/xPower-600.HTML This one is about 250watt hours. a 250 watt load for 1 hour or a 500 watt load for 30 minutes or a 1000 watt load for 15 minutes. Normally not too practical but quiet.