p.1 #1 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
Alien Bees Vegabond II too expensive? or out of stock? Just piece together your own for $170.00 around half the price. I wanted to to have a battery for each light stand so as to keep cords out of the way AND to act as its own weight to keep the stand from tipping over so it serves many useful purposes. Also if one power supply goes out you will at least have more than one on location so worst case scenario you can still power all your alien bee strobes.
p.1 #2 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
Actually, this is roughly equivalent to the original Vagabond 150 (slightly larger battery).
The Vagabond II is closer to an improved version of the Vagabond 300 with an even larger battery, single faster PSU and lower cost. So, bump the PSU (only $40 bucks more if you order by tomorrow!) and battery (11-12$).
Not saying a cheaper unit on each light isn't a great alternative. I like not tripping over miles of cords, too.
p.1 #3 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
Hey, I thought you were a Boca Juniors fan at first.
A couple notes:
10awg isn't necessary. 16awg is a good, safe choice. 18awg is technically sufficient.
The VBII has a 300W inverter, not 600 or 900. If you're going for the same form factor as the VBII, you might as well get the Samlex 300W, which is exactly the same size as the 150W (which speaks poorly for their engineering).
The VBII bag isn't particularly brilliant. It's ugly and the snaps on the back tend to break. If you're not going to use a 300W inverter, you may want to use the Aims 180W, which is very light and tiny and can easily be velcro'ed to an SLA pack or fit in a smaller, lighter soft or hard case.
p.1 #4 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
ericvgill wrote:
Actually, this is roughly equivalent to the original Vagabond 150 (slightly larger battery).
The Vagabond II is closer to an improved version of the Vagabond 300 with an even larger battery, single faster PSU and lower cost. So, bump the PSU (only $40 bucks more if you order by tomorrow!) and battery (11-12$).
Not saying a cheaper unit on each light isn't a great alternative. I like not tripping over miles of cords, too.
ahh yes the 300W version just want on sale to 139 so thats a great deal
p.1 #5 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
bacilonur wrote:
Hey, I thought you were a Boca Juniors fan at first.
A couple notes:
10awg isn't necessary. 16awg is a good, safe choice. 18awg is technically sufficient.
The VBII has a 300W inverter, not 600 or 900. If you're going for the same form factor as the VBII, you might as well get the Samlex 300W, which is exactly the same size as the 150W (which speaks poorly for their engineering).
The VBII bag isn't particularly brilliant. It's ugly and the snaps on the back tend to break. If you're not going to use a 300W inverter, you may want to use the Aims 180W, which is very light and tiny and can easily be velcro'ed to an SLA pack or fit in a smaller, lighter soft or hard case.
yea i saw your build its very clean and def nice but how many pops do you get from it? seems like the battery wouldnt last as long as one of these builds? also ive not heard good things about AIMS thats why i steered clear but people might have gotten flukes! but anyway i def love your build out very clean and nice job
p.1 #6 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
I would get more use out of the smaller battery packs, (one per lighthead) than the Vagabond type. Firstly size, and secondly if prolonged use was required it would be an easy procedure to add or supplement the smaller packages with a larger external battery if needed. Adding an auxiliary battery would be really easy I expect.
I've been using battery portables for over 2 years now, ever since I discovered they could supply greater output than the AC powered units I was dragging all over the world. The same applies to most AC powered units with respect to output. The last thing you need in a high powered portable device is just not being portable.
p.1 #7 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
hows the recycle time on the pelican case portables? also how many flashes can one get out of those? they def look quite interesting I might have a go at building a few
p.1 #8 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
180-200 full power pops from a B800. Recycles a B800 in about 2.5 seconds, which should be faster than what you're currently using. And just 3 lbs total.
p.1 #9 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
bacilonur wrote:
180-200 full power pops from a B800. Recycles a B800 in about 2.5 seconds, which should be faster than what you're currently using. And just 3 lbs total.
You shopping list please. Pretty Please With instructions on making the whole in the Pelican case.
p.1 #14 · DIY Portable Power for Strobes Monolights Vegabond II Alien Bees Build your own
Question regarding the inverter... Pure sine vs Modified,,, I used google because i did not know the difference. how does it make a difference to our strobes that do not require the constant demand like a TV or computer... we take a picture then we wait, then take another, then we wait...
thank you, for the DIY, I will try to follow your steps
With instructions on making the whole in the Pelican case.