Ditch the lights and go LED. Then rethink your power source. Mike On Tue, Jul 21, 2015 at 12:52 PM, Christopher Carlton <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Many different configurations of these powerpacks are available with > features like jump starters, and air pumps being typical. AC inverter > equipped models such as the one under consideration are less common and > more expensive. Battery size and amperage from the inverter are the > critical elements for AC operation. Check the specs for battery amps and > maximum output, in addition to run time under various loads. > > > Another thing to think about before buying an expensive inverter power > pack is this. Infrequent use and chronic undercharge will kill the battery > sooner. Battery life under optimal conditions might be a couple years if > you keep it charged. Investigate how easy or even feasible it is to replace > the battery. > > > Might be cheaper to just lug around a big marine battery and separate > inverter you can clip to it. > > > Chris Carlton, Ph. D. > > Director, Louisiana State Arthropod Museum > > President, Coleopterists Society > > Department of Entomology, LSB-404 > > 110 Union Sq., Baton Rouge, LA 70803-1710 > > > > > *From:* Entomological Collections Network Listserve < > [log in to unmask]> on behalf of Doug Yanega <[log in to unmask]> > *Sent:* Tuesday, July 21, 2015 12:34 PM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* PS Re: Alternative to gas generator > > Answering my own question: > > I found some customer reviews, and some quotes of the runtimes, and found > this example: > > "William Toward > <http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2IG7GA537OI0U/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp?ie=UTF8>on > February 8, 2013 > After charging the powerpack, I tested the run time of two small > appliances and one light bulb against the manual’s run times for listed > appliances. > 1. 400-watt heater ran 25 minutes (manual for 300-watts: 23 minutes). > Recharge time: Forgot to time it. > 2. 38-watt incandescent bulb ran 5 ¾ hrs. (manual for 40-watt bulb: 3 ½ > hrs) Recharge time: 22 hrs. > 3. 200-watt hand heater (Lasko’s “My Heat”) ran 59 minutes (no manual > listing for 200 watts). Recharge time: 19 hours. > Based on the above appliance tests, I would say the Duracell powerpack is > operating according to its specifications." > > If it only runs a 200-watt appliance for an hour, and a 40-watt for 5 > hours, that doesn't sound like it would last 3 or 4 hours running a > 175-watt light rig. That's a shame - would've been nice to ditch the gas > generator. > > Peace, > > -- > Doug Yanega Dept. of Entomology Entomology Research Museum > Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314 skype: dyanega > phone: (951) 827-4315 (disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's) > http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html > "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness > is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82 > >