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09/07/2009 06:01:44 PM · #1 |
I have had this idea in my head for over 8 months and I NEED to do this!
I need a small portable battery source that I can plug in some small decorative lights that have a power cord. I don't want to lug a 150 feet of extension cord to power it up and then have to PP the cord out of the shot.
Does anyone know of how I could accomplish this - and at an afordable price as well? Help please. |
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09/07/2009 06:04:53 PM · #2 |
| How many lights, total wattage and voltage of the bulbs? |
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09/07/2009 06:12:54 PM · #3 |
| It's a 150 bulb string...and 71.2 Watts total. |
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09/07/2009 06:34:14 PM · #4 |
Sounds like your best bet would be a portable power supply (or your car's DC outlet) and an inverter. You could also try a UPS, but you'll only get a few minutes of battery time unless you get a really expensive (and heavy) model.
Message edited by author 2009-09-07 18:39:38. |
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09/07/2009 07:07:49 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by CNovack:
It's a 150 bulb string...and 71.2 Watts total. |
Is this a Christmas Light string? Voltage might be an issue if you need to convert battery voltage to 120 Volts. |
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09/07/2009 07:08:26 PM · #6 |
| I seem to recall someone recently who used LED lights with battery instead of the regular string lights, and I know there are some available such as the ones here. A friend who changed all their Christmas lights over to LED (plug-in type though) a couple of years ago said that the cost of keeping the LEDs lit was something like a 1/10th of the cost of the others. Something to consider... |
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09/07/2009 07:55:25 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by LindaLee:
I seem to recall someone recently who used LED lights with battery instead of the regular string lights, and I know there are some available such as the ones here. A friend who changed all their Christmas lights over to LED (plug-in type though) a couple of years ago said that the cost of keeping the LEDs lit was something like a 1/10th of the cost of the others. Something to consider... |
The power requirements of the LEDs is much smaller than conventional incandescent lighting. BUT, the LEDs have a current limiting resistor to prevent them from being destroyed from too much current and this is proportional to the applied voltage. Just taking a LED light string and hooking it to a battery system will not work unless the battery voltage is approximately the same as the household voltage (typically, 120 Volts in the US). As an example, it takes 10 conventional car batteries connected in series to equal the 120 volts in your home. As previously mentioned, the conversion can be done with an inverter. I've also been toying with the ideas of using LEDs to build a constant light sources for macro photography.
Good link by the way, maybe the OP can use these!
Message edited by author 2009-09-07 19:56:29. |
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09/07/2009 09:32:25 PM · #8 |
Depending on what you're looking to do, these folks may be of help.....I shot this stuff from these light kits that a friend of mine installs.
  
These are lit up by 12 volt colored LED lights.....I believe that you can get clear ones, too.
They'll power up with a dinky motorcycle battery, and they provide great light.....(Once you figure out how to set up your camera for the best clarity, SHEESH!!!)
Boogey Lights
Hope this is of some help.....
Edited for fat fingers.....
Message edited by author 2009-09-07 21:33:10. |
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09/07/2009 11:51:59 PM · #9 |
Check with camper and boating supplies for 12Volt LED Christmas lighting. They may have something that will work for your task. If you want to power 12 volt lights, you may have to use two square 6V lantern batteries in series to make it portable. If you just need light for a few minutes, then a 9V battery may power the LED string for 5 minutes or so, although not as bright as it would be with 12V. Some of the RC car batteries are 12V too, and that would work very well.
ETA,
Auto/Boat Christmas Lighting
Message edited by author 2009-09-07 23:55:05.
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09/14/2009 09:34:11 AM · #10 |
| It has been one of those loooonnnggg weeks...sorry I did not get back to all the responses earlier. I did check out everyone's helpful suggestions when I had some free time. One link showed a option I had not thought of ....solar powered lights - that might be the way for me to go. Thanks to all who helped - if and when I do manage to get this shot I will post it:-) |
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