Photographer Needs Power Help (Goal Zero Setup or Dual Battery)

[lhoy]

Hey folks,

I just bought a 2001 Toyota Tacoma for extended photography trips into the backcountry (first trip is to Colorado late Sept/Early Oct for 3 weeks for Elk rutting and fall foliage). It doesn't have a dual battery system, nor do I presently have any solar powered systems. I am not really a do-it-yourself guy when it comes to vehicles, but I can do a project if necessary and understand the key elements.

Here are the key power elements I need:

1) Ability to recharge camera batteries. Charger specs are (Input: AC100-240v 50/60Hz 21VA (100v)-27VA (240v) Output: CD8.4V---1.2A
Input: 0.21A (100V)-0.115A(240v)
2) Ability to recharge iPhone.
3) Ability to run a 17" iMac for maybe couple of hours a day or so.
4) May run a small fan at night if necessary.

I do not have nor plan on having a frig nor do I need to power an a/c unit or the like. i was wondering if a Goal Zero setup like the 350 with a Boulder 30 panel is more than sufficient for me or do I need a dual battery setup? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lee

 

[wrcsixeight]

I am not familiar with the goal zero product so no help there.

Your big power usage is going to be the Mac. A few hours a day post processing photos can eat up a good portion of a large battery. Computers consume more juice when doing intensive tasks and post processing photos might be considered intensive.

I'd go for at least 100 watts of solar and a secondary battery no smaller than a group 24 at ~85 amp hours capacity.

Of course shaded campsites throw a wrench into the calculations. And while most people think that a 100 watt panel makes 100 watts whenever the sun is up, it is more like 80 watts for 2 hours on either side of solar noon with significantly less outside that sweet spot. moving the panel multiple times a day only helps so much when the sun is low in the sky and the days are shorter.

 

[Hilldweller]

I agree.

And I'll add that you should do your battery-intensive work during the day or plan to run your truck while you're doing it at night. Never let your battery get low and you'll never have a problem.
Use more dc than ac via an inverter; more efficient.

I have a usb fan that I use in the cabin of my trailer. It's got the lowest power need I've found at .4 amps. Other fans I've found that are dc have been power pigs...

 

[lhoy]

Thanks guys! I purchased an Ark Pak for the portability, the ability to go as high as a 130 ah battery, 12v and inverter power and ability to directly connect a solar panel quite easily! I was really stressing about trying to do a dual battery setup myself and the Ark Pak takes care of that problem!

 

[unseenone]

If you need any more help, let me know you're fairly close to me.

 

[lhoy]

Hey there unseenone!! I am close and will definitely keep you in mind for other taco questions!

 

[Scott Brady]

I am working with a Goal Zero Yeti for my trip to Utah this week. It will perform charging duties, etc. and also power the fridge. I will charge it while driving and let the unit power everything at night. I like that it is comprehensive and also easy to remove. Will report back on how it works.

 

[MINO]

I've set-up my rig to be a mobile studio - both extended back country and as a portable power for my 4 Elinchrom BXri strobes.

Current set-up:
205AH Full River Deep Cycle Battery
Xantrex 2000w Pure Sine Inverter (important for sensitive electronics)
4 12v outlets
320W of Solar
12v magsafe adapter for my Macbook Pro
Battery isolator.

I'm also running a fridge for cold drinks and a vent fan when on location - thus I'm using a lot more solar and battery than you may need.
The 4 12v outlets can be used for smaller inverters (200w) and 12v USB adapters for phone chargers.
Pure Sine inverter power is very important for your iMac. The Goal Zero 350 is a modified sine.

My old set-up was a 100AH battery and a single 60w solar panel.
It got the job done, but I found that my battery would run down to about 12.2v by morning if I was doing a lot of editing.

I would not recommend the Goal Zero 350 / 30w panel. The GZ Yeti 400 has a pure sine inverter but at 33AH, I'd pass.

Good choice on the Ark Pak but make sure you have a pure sine inverter for the iMac.

 

[Kevin Braun]

Guys after my own heart. Same situation here and was wondering some similar things.
I'll be running more aux gear outside of photography though.

 

[dwh]

Actually, computer power supplies - both built-in in desktop systems and power bricks for laptops - don't generally have any problems with a modified square wave inverter.

(There's no such thing as a modified sine wave inverter. If it makes a sine wave - why modify it?)

If anything, I'd be worried about the camera battery charger having a problem with the MSW. Some battery tool chargers burn right out when fed MSW.

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Hi

I have not used my Yeti 400 so much but wanted to use it to charge my camera batteries, fridge and mobiles. As I offen use my vehicle as a mobile blind I can charge my Yeti in the 12v outlet when driving.

I charge my fridge over night in my vehicle with the yeti 400.

I like the arkpack, but it take so much space and is heavy and cost more than the Yeti 400. The yeti 400 is more portable and can easely be moved to the tent or similar.

I have not used it for powering any laptopp.

Some pictures, I have a 2013 unlimited Jeep Wrangler


Powering some Goal Zero lights at night

Here I show my my Goal Zero 400 Yeti and lamps in my movie with bad swedish-english:wings:

See it in 1080p

 

[NEPolarbear]

I am also a photographer that is in the process of setting up for on location power.
Would a small gas generator work to charge up the batteries during the day when solar wouldn't be enough?

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Hi

Gas generator, no clue, noisy?

Anyway a batteri charge do not draw so much. So if you charge your camera battery with the yeti 400 every second day you can be out in the field about in 40 days.

See here under "What it powers"

http://www.goalzero.com/p/165/goal-zero-yeti-400-solar-generator#what-it-powers

 

[NEPolarbear]

Many different types of generators of power and noise dampening features.
I'm still researching for my specific needs and budget.
Only run it as a last resort to charge up everything.

 

[robgendreau]

I've always thought those Goal Zero products had nice packaging and all, but very expensive compared to a DIY setup. But if you're not the DIY type, conside the Grape Solar kit that CostCo has: the Grape Solar RHYNO. I use a Grape Solar 100W panel, and it's a sturdy and reliable panel. The RHYNO kit includes a foldable 100W panel (a lot more oomph than the Goal Zero) with a 500W inverter, controller and a 40AH LiPo battery. That's not as big as the 100AH with the Goal Zero, but you can discharge the LiPo further, so the difference is kinda sorta about 32AH vs 50AH. I would think the LiPo would get up to full voltage faster, as well, especially since that's a much bigger panel. It also weighs about a third of the Goal Zero. Goal Zero is $1575US, RHYNO $1300, both at Costco (RHYNO is that price at Amazon too). I would think that you might be able to wire up the battery to charge from 12v, although its specs list just solar and AC charging. Worth a look see.

That being said, if I had to run something like an iMac I'd go with a Yamaha or Honda gennie. It has the inverter, and could power all that stuff easily. Maybe a couple of smaller lithium batteries for the iPhone charger (I use a 15000mAh USB RAVPower) which could also serve to run a small fan at night via USB.