Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Esben on June 09, 2006, 10:34:54 pm

Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: Esben on June 09, 2006, 10:34:54 pm
We are looking for a new solutions to power our Mac powerbooks and Leaf backs on-location meanwhile shooting tethered.
So far we have used a gas generator but it's heavy and a less mobile option.
There are a lot of battery options on the market but we need a solution that can keep going all day and can power laptop, DB, FW-powered harddrive an optional a small printer.

Best,
Esben
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: erikhillard on June 10, 2006, 02:04:46 am
Esben,

I have seen pics of large batteries that lie underneath a laptop.  The 5 Leg Digital guy seems to have one in his website pics.  I imagine it is custom made.

http://5legdigital.com/images/full/Rosa1.jpg (http://5legdigital.com/images/full/Rosa1.jpg)

I've got 6 batteries for my laptop and can last all day with them.  I always detach my bus powered items when not in use.  However I am mostly doing card workflow when in extreme location.

Personally I have a small Honda generator that I use to power my Tower on location.  Its a 2000W that is lightweight (less than 50 lbs) and runs about 6 hours on 1 gallon of gas.  There is a 1000W that would be fine for a laptop and is even smaller (26 lbs).  You do have to deal with gas, but what do you do when your big battery goes dead???  Here's a link to the Honda generators:  http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gensup.asp (http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gensup.asp)

I've got a feeling you may be the Esben my old friend Theo has told me about.  Anyway, if so, I'm Erik out in LA.  Theo has likely mentioned me to you at some point.
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: MarkKay on June 11, 2006, 01:41:52 am
what about the Quantum turbo 2x2 or the Digital Camera Battery?  I know the later can be used to run a computer as well as a digital camera.


Quote
Esben,

I have seen pics of large batteries that lie underneath a laptop.  The 5 Leg Digital guy seems to have one in his website pics.  I imagine it is custom made.

http://5legdigital.com/images/full/Rosa1.jpg (http://5legdigital.com/images/full/Rosa1.jpg)

I've got 6 batteries for my laptop and can last all day with them.  I always detach my bus powered items when not in use.  However I am mostly doing card workflow when in extreme location.

Personally I have a small Honda generator that I use to power my Tower on location.  Its a 2000W that is lightweight (less than 50 lbs) and runs about 6 hours on 1 gallon of gas.  There is a 1000W that would be fine for a laptop and is even smaller (26 lbs).  You do have to deal with gas, but what do you do when your big battery goes dead???  Here's a link to the Honda generators:  http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gensup.asp (http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gensup.asp)

I've got a feeling you may be the Esben my old friend Theo has told me about.  Anyway, if so, I'm Erik out in LA.  Theo has likely mentioned me to you at some point.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=67832\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: genesplitter on June 11, 2006, 01:47:46 am
Here is an article about using a Toyota Prius as a home UPS.

http://www.priups.com/riddle/answer-1.htm (http://www.priups.com/riddle/answer-1.htm)

This should power a laptop for several days.
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: Bobtrips on June 11, 2006, 02:42:50 am
Quote
We are looking for a new solutions to power our Mac powerbooks and Leaf backs on-location meanwhile shooting tethered.
So far we have used a gas generator but it's heavy and a less mobile option.
There are a lot of battery options on the market but we need a solution that can keep going all day and can power laptop, DB, FW-powered harddrive an optional a small printer.

Best,
Esben
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=67823\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I'd consider a sealed deep cycle battery and pure sine wave inverter.  

You could easily mount the two items in a small cart (think carry-on suitcase size) and recharge from the main/grid or from a vehicle.  A sealed battery would eliminate the need for fuel/noise/fumes and could be transported by plane if needed.
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: nigeldh on June 11, 2006, 01:54:17 pm
www.statpower.com aka www.xantrex.com. Xantrex offers portable battery packs with AC inverters in a number of sizes. I saw someone at a recent craft show using one of these battery packs to power their cash register and credit card terminal.

www.jadoopower.com offers fuel cell power units.

An other use for these portable battery packs to to recharge cordless tools on a construction job site: roof or before electricty is run - I first learned about them from a builder.
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: paul_jones on June 14, 2006, 03:24:48 am
heres a couple of powerbook options (but i dony know of anything working with the new itel magnetic plug yet though)-

laptop case with intergrated batteries

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=224 (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=224)

laptop batteries that fit under the laptop-

http://www.brilliantstore.com/battery/lapt...g4-titanium.htm (http://www.brilliantstore.com/battery/laptop-apple/powerbook-g4-titanium.htm)


paul
Title: Power for laptop and DB on-location
Post by: Sami Kulju on June 15, 2006, 08:02:10 am
Hi!

I can also recommend Tronix as a mobile power supply.
We have 4 sets of these and one is usually used for laptop and the rest power up the flashes.

For a 12" PB this gives up to 4-5 hours extra + the usual 2-3 hours with the PB:s own battery...

We use Elichrome-flashes and I have used these without problems from 250W -1000W compacts.

http://www.innovatronix.com/cgi-bin/productcatalog/index.asp (http://www.innovatronix.com/cgi-bin/productcatalog/index.asp)

I have found these reliable and cost-effective solution for us.

( I also have bought couple sets of the Elichrome Rangers and if these Tronix would have been available at that time I would have saved thousands of euros... :-(

sami