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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
4 inverters tested, Dynalite, Tronix, Paul C. Buff x2
Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 12:50 PM on 01.14.11 |
->> OK, I did what I consider to be a "real world test" just now of four different battery DC power inverters stacked up against each other with consistent variables in the studio. I started by putting a new charge on all the units, going by their recommended charging times, etc. they were all in the same bldg. for 24 hours so they were all the same temperature, etc... The results may or may not surprise you:
I used two Elinchrom 500 w/s heads (no fans) at full power so I was using 1000 real W/S for this test. When you plug these into a regular AC outlet, you get right at 1 sec. recycle at full power. All testing was done at full power on both units.
I'll start with the new kid on the block: The Paul C. Buff Vagabond Mini. I did 100 pops and measured the recycle time at the beginning and at the end of the test. The recycle time at the beginning of the test was exactly 6 seconds for the ready lights to come on on both heads. At the end of 100 pops, it was exactly the same. Getting 100 full power 1000 w/s pops out of something that costs so little and weighs nothing is pretty cool. Good Job Mini!!!
Vagabond II, also from Paul C. Buff: This guy was a champ and performed really well in my test. It started out at 3 second recycle and ended there which was impressive. Don't count this guy out for those of you that often do high pressure portrait work with stress because if you have a limited amount of time allotted, this is a better way to go than the Mini because you're going to get more pops in a shorter period of time. My hope is that Paul won't replace the VII with the Mini because for many, it is probably more useful.
Innovatrox Explorer 1200Ws: This guy started out OK with 6 second recycle but after 50 pops, this dropped to 7 seconds per pop. after just 64 pops, a warning tone started beeping in the pack and after three more pops, it never recycled the capacitors again. In fairness, this was a great and only alternative to the Dynalite unit before Paul C. Buff began making the first Vagabond I back in the day. Also, before I make anybody mad, this unit has been replaced by a more powerful and expensive one but I don't own it. Also, mine is getting long in the tooth so my battery might not be what it once was, etc... But having said all that, this one made me nervous because after about 30 pops, the two Elinchrom heads started making noise. They would sort of emit an electronic groaning sound that pretty much freaked me out. I mean, that can't be good, right? Anyhow, I'm shooting myself in the foot here but this one will be sold asap, now that I have the other three options.
Dynalite XP1100: OK, bottom line, you get what you pay for. Using this unit is awesome and is just like having a portable AC outlet wherever you want to plug in. here are the results of my test. I got 100 pops effortlessly and the recycle was always the same at a very fast 1.3 seconds per 1000 w/s dump. This is really fast people! And because this test took a fraction of the amount of time that the others did, I went for another 100 pops for fun. Recycle still held at 1.3 sec. for both heads at full power. This is way out in front in terms of performance and expense and is clearly the best unit available to date. That it's been around for like ten years is really cool as well.
Summation: The new Paul C. Buff Vagabond Mini is so lightweight and small it's crazy and worth every penny of the $239 they are charging, but be ready to wait exactly twice the amount of time for recycle versus the proven Vagabond II from the same company. For serious shooters doing a lot of location work by car, the VII is the best bet. If you fly a lot and want to take an inverter with you, you can only take ONE battery on board the plane and you cannot check the battery ever.
The Innovatronix time has passed, at least for their base model. the 1200Ws is easily eclipsed by the VII which ships UPS ground from TN, weighs about the same, but takes up less room than the 1200Ws.
The Dynalite XP1100 is still the King of the hill and will outperform any battery powered strobe unit for recycle time and you get to pick what strobe company you want to use it with.
Will I keep my Vagabond Mini? You bet, I'll be on a bus trip with my Macbook Pro next weekend and I will never run out of juice, and besides, I'm a photographer and it's so cool!!!! Hope this helps some of you.
Last, WL products and especially Alien Bees are going to have less current draw than what I used in my testing, so you can expect different recycle times, often much shorter, if you are using their products... |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | usa | Posted: 1:46 PM on 01.14.11 |
->> Patrick, great writeup!
For the past 3 years I've been using a DIY system using this inverter: http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7586 and this battery: http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-PC545-Powersports-Battery/dp/B0002ILK7M
I wish I could come over and put my system up to your exact test to see how it handles. I got the specs from somebody who knows more about electronics than I, and he said it should perform superior to the Vagabond (which at that point was the Vagabond I)
I've put an AB800 and an AB1600 on it, both at full power, and was still truckin away after 200 pops. I've used a Vagabond II and it is subtly heavier but packaged up nicer than my setup--which is willy nilly tossed in a duffel bag.
At any rate, I've been looking at the Vagabond Mini for an even more-portable solution, and your real-world test is a great piece of info. Thanks! |
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