Possible Swtironix QB Plate Design Flaw?

[Brant Hadfield]

My Switronix QB plate does not provide a positive lock on my GMP batteries. It is quite easy to simply pull the battery right off the plate without pushing the release button. The release catch is a very smooth rounded piece of metal (of some kind), and only spring tension keeps it extended. So when upward force is applied to the battery (the GMP in this case), off the battery goes. In general it is not an issue, though in rough hand held or unpredictable circumstances, it could be a problem. No idea if the Red V mounts would do the same, but I suspect they would. I believe it is a design issue with the Switronix plate.
Could anyone else attempt to duplicate this? I would judge the amount of upward pressure required to release the battery from the plate without pushing the release button as little more than required to do so while pushing the release.

[Vinny Duwe]

Reply from other thread;

We may be able to adjust the tension on the spring so that it makes a more positive lock on the batteries. We put the plates through a variety of tests prior to shipment, with a RED brick and our battery products. Their are so many different brands out there nowadays, it's difficult to insure all the v-clips work the same. I presume their may be others with GMP battery users that are having the same experience, but honestly, you two are the first I've heard. Please email me.

[Brant Hadfield]

Will do Vinny. I think there are a couple issues, spring tension being one possible, and the size, shape, and rounded edges of the retaining dog in the release mechanism. I hope to resolve without shipping back. I performed the same test with the GMP batteries on my charger's V Plate, and I was unable to remove them without the release button pressed. Just FYI. Hope to find a solution.

[Vinny Duwe]

I'll put you in touch with a technician once tomorrow morning.

Who makes the charger's v-plate? Is it ours?

Not getting on the defensive, but I think it is unfair to call this a "design flaw" or even bringing up that term. It's like saying your camera doesn't work with a battery(but works fine with other battery makes), and saying the camera is flawed.

Our plate release works as expected with Sony, IDX, RED, etc.

[Brant Hadfield]

I'll put you in touch with a technician once tomorrow morning.

Who makes the charger's v-plate? Is it ours?

Not getting on the defensive, but I think it is unfair to call this a "design flaw" or even bringing up that term. It's like saying your camera doesn't work with a battery(but works fine with other battery makes), and saying the camera is flawed.

Our plate release works as expected with Sony, IDX, RED, etc.

Well, first, thanks, looking forward to getting it resolved.

Secondly, I called it a possible design flaw, and said that I believe the flaw rests with the release dog design. Because, though I am not an engineer, I can see the release dog on the Swtitonix plate offers very little resistance to pressure, has smooth, rounded edges, and does not extend as far into the locking space as the release dog on the GMP charger plate. It begins to recede immediately with upward force. So my deductive reasoning is that since a battery plate must be designed to accept a number of different manufacturer's batteries, the burden is on the manufacturer of the plate to create a design with a large enough margin of tolerances to work with them. The locking pin looks really short and rounded for what it's supposed to be doing there, given the amount of weight and potential force being applied to such a small pin.

[Vinny Duwe]

Brad,

You can very well make the same case on the v-clip on the GMP battery, since other manufacturers like RED, IDX, Sony batts all lock.

Incompatibility vs. design flaw are two, very different things. But even stating an incompatibility without the whole GMP user base having this issue, is even a stretch. Like I mentioned, the first two cases(yours included) I just learned of on this forum a few hours ago.

Anyway, water under the bridge. We'll see what we can do to accomodate.

[Brant Hadfield]

Brad,

You can very well make the same case on the v-clip on the GMP battery, since other manuf. like RED, IDX, Sony batts all lock.

Anyway, water under the bridge. We'll see what we can do to accomodate.

Good to hear, thanks Vinny. And if a different mount point on the battery itself would solve the problem, it looks like the GMP batteries have their V-Mount attached via small, flush mounted phillips screws (4). Looks like it would be very easy to replace the "V"