Powering Your Shoot: A Guide to Electricity and Generators in Remote Egypt

For a film crew, power is the invisible lifeline. In the heart of Cairo, it's a manageable challenge. But when your set is at the foot of the Great Pyramid for a night shoot or deep in the luminous silence of the White Desert, a reliable power source becomes your most critical piece of equipment. A power failure in a remote location doesn't just mean a delay; it can mean losing the perfect light, compromising food safety, and halting production entirely.

This guide will help you navigate Egypt's electrical landscape and ensure your remote shoot has the robust, dependable power it needs to succeed.

Part 1: Understanding the Grid: The Egyptian Electrical Standard

Before you plug anything in, it's essential to understand the local standards.

• Voltage: 220 Volts, at a frequency of 50 Hz. This is the same as in Europe but different from North America (110V).

• Plug Types: Sockets most commonly accept the European two-pin round plug (Type C) and the three-pin round plug (Type F). British-style three-pin rectangular plugs (Type G) are also found, but less commonly.

Key Implications for Your Production:

• Transformers are Crucial: All equipment from North America (110V) will require a step-up transformer to avoid being instantly destroyed. We can advise on the correct power rating and source these for you.

• Adapter Kits: Ensure your crew brings international adapter kits. We also recommend bringing a few high-quality, multi-socket power strips to create a central charging station at basecamp.

• Grid Reliability: In cities, the power grid is generally stable, but brownouts can occur. In remote areas and oases, the grid can be unreliable or non-existent. Never plan to rely on local grid power for a remote shoot.

Part 2: The Heart of Remote Power: Generator Solutions

For any location outside a major urban center, a generator is not a backup; it is your primary power source.

Choosing the Right Generator

The size and type of generator depend entirely on your load.

• Calculating Your Load: You must provide your Gaffer with a complete equipment list to calculate the total wattage (W) or amperage (A) required. Remember to account for in-rush current, the brief surge of power when electronics like HMIs are switched on.

• Standard Recommendations:

  • Small Documentary Crew (LEDs, small camera): A 5-8 kVA silent generator.

  • Mid-Sized Commercial (HMIs, camera, monitors, DIT station): A 20-40 kVA silent generator.

  • Large Feature Film Shoot (multiple large HMIs, extensive basecamp): Often requires multiple 60-100 kVA generators run in parallel.

The "Silent" Generator: A Non-Negotiable for Film

Standard construction generators are incredibly loud and will ruin your audio. You must rent "super-silent" or "whisper" generators. These are housed in sound-dampening enclosures and are essential for any location where sync sound is being recorded.

The Egy-Docs Advantage: We have pre-vetted relationships with the best equipment rental houses in Egypt. We secure the correct, well-maintained silent generators for your specific power needs and ensure they are delivered to your remote location.

Part 3: The Logistics of Fuel and Maintenance

A generator is useless without fuel and proper care, especially in the desert.

The Fuel Equation

• Fuel Consumption: Know your generator's fuel consumption rate (liters per hour). A 40kVA silent generator can consume 5-8 liters per hour under load.

• Calculating Your Needs: For a 12-hour shooting day, a 40kVA genny will need 60-100 liters of fuel. Now multiply that by the number of shooting days. You must also factor in fuel for your support vehicles.

• The Fuel Run: In remote areas like the Western Desert, there are no gas stations. You must transport all your fuel with you in approved jerry cans. We calculate the total fuel requirement and arrange for its safe transport as part of our logistics planning.

On-Site Generator Protocol

1. Placement: The generator should be placed downwind and as far from set as your cabling allows (50-100 meters is ideal). This minimizes noise and exhaust fumes.

2. Cabling: Use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated banded cable ("banded five-core"). Ensure cables are run neatly and safely, away from vehicle paths and foot traffic to prevent tripping and damage.

3. The Dedicated Operator: Your generator should never be left unattended. A dedicated genny op (often provided by the rental house) is essential to monitor fuel levels, perform basic maintenance, and troubleshoot issues before they become crises.

4. Spare Parts & Filters: The desert sand is fine and pervasive. Carry spare air and fuel filters. A clogged air filter can shut down your generator in hours.

Part 4: Special Considerations for Extreme Environments

• The Desert Sand: Sand can infiltrate fuel tanks and air intakes. Ensure all caps are secure and check filters twice daily.

• The Heat: Generators are air-cooled. Ensure they have plenty of clearance and are not placed in a confined, hot space, which can cause overheating.

• Battery Power: For small, run-and-gun shots away from basecamp, high-capacity V-mount or Gold mount batteries and portable power stations are invaluable. We can advise on local rental options.

The Egy-Docs Difference: Your Guarantee of Power

A power failure in the desert is a logistical nightmare. We build redundancy and expertise into your power plan.

When you partner with Egy-Docs.com, you get:

• Accurate Power Planning: We help you calculate your load and secure the right generator, transformers, and cabling from the start.

• Fuel Logistics Mastery: We handle the complex calculations and safe transportation of all the fuel you'll need for your entire remote expedition.

• Vetted Equipment & Operators: We provide generators from reliable rental houses and can source a qualified operator, ensuring your most critical asset is in expert hands.

• Comprehensive Contingency: Our planning includes backup fuel and a protocol for rapid response if a generator fails.

Don't let a power outage darken your epic shot.

Let Egy-Docs.com handle the current, so you can focus on the creative.

Contact Egy-Docs.com for a Power & Logistics Consultation – Provide us with your equipment list and remote shooting schedule, and we will deliver a detailed power and fuel plan.