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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

*** What is your Best V-Battery Alternative for the R1..?? ***

Ketch Rossi

Ketch Rossi

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Okay,

an other one ;)

As I will start traveling a Tone, once returned to Italy, I need the best Red Battery alternative to power my R1's, and with so many choices I don't know were to begin.

I have used nothing but Red batteries since the beginning, but now with even some of the lights been V-Battery powered, I need to take many Batteries with me in my travels, and want to make sure to avoid all issues during flights.

I know there are also couple of companies that make the HOT SWAP like the Bebob-Rouge, and definitely want a Hot Swap as well, but don't recall the other maker/s, and also Communication with the camera will be nice to have, not an absolute must have, but nice to have.

EDIT
To be more clear, what I'm looking for is for Lithium-Ion alternative V-Mount Batteries ;)


TSA Regulations:

As of January 1 2008, ALL lithium batteries need to be carried on, not packed in baggage,
This is all lithium batteries, from a spare laptop or cellphone battery, as well as camera batteries.

Although the rules can be confusing, here are the basics:

Carry on all Lithium batteries:

Up to 90Wh batteries are in the “any number of spare batteries” category.
Larger than 90Wh batteries are limited to only 2 per person.


EDIT 2:


I decided to go with the Bebob Rouge Li-Mangan ones, and take the 90's for travel and the 140's for local work.

Thanks Everyone ;)
 
Bebob-Rouge definitely and they also they recommend NEW LI-MANGAN BATTERIES WITH 90 AND 140 with it...check it out...
 
Thanks guys,

I should have specified more clearly, that I meant to seek Non Lithium -ION as to avoid Flight Restrictions ;)

If I don't find an alternative, then I'll have to buy all 90Wh Batteries,
since this are the largest ones that can be carried on in any amount,
but even this are still an ABSOLUTE NO on check in.
 
Hey Ketch. The company that makes the RED Bricks is called Blueshape and are actually located in Italy in Reggio Emilia in the northern part of the country. The beauty of their product is that their version of the batteries are fully RED capable (obviously) but also servicable, which is important in my book. I've been told that it's even possible to buy spare parts such as new casings etc. Also - the batteries can be opened and fully serviced if needed. I'm personally looking in that direction as I've had quite a few problems with RED Bricks in the past (3 of my 6 batteries have died on me, but luckily I have been able to fix all of them). In terms of battery mounts I'd go with IDX or Pro-X mounts. The ones that are provided from RED have weak connectors which can cause bad connections resulting in overheated and melted connector-blocks on the batteries. I own the Bebob hot-swap battery pack and I absolutely LOVE it (it has IDX mount on it) and I cannot recommend it enough. Batteries are SOLID on that mount.
 
Hey Tony,

then I'll get the Bebob Hot Swap ;) Was also looking at the Action products Hot Swap,
but what I love about the Bebob is the Alarm ;) and the 120sec time for replacing the Batteries is really nice too.

But still I have no solution of for Unrestricted on board Batteries ;(
 
PAG makes "ZL" (zero lithium) V-mount batteries that are NiMH, and I'm sure there are other companies still making NiCad v-mount batteries. Just don't expect any of them to communicate battery life status to the RED ONE camera, so you'll have to keep an eye on the batteries themselves to make sure they don't die in the middle of a take.
 
Stephen Strangways said:
PAG makes "ZL" (zero lithium) V-mount batteries that are NiMH, and I'm sure there are other companies still making NiCad v-mount batteries. Just don't expect any of them to communicate battery life status to the RED ONE camera, so you'll have to keep an eye on the batteries themselves to make sure they don't die in the middle of a take.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stephen,

that is why I was looking in to the Bebob Hot Swap, with Power alert and 120 sec to change batteries.

B&H has them not sure if they are fully compatible with the R1 and which ones are best as I don't find the V-Mount in large size,
the largest one has only one third the capacity of a Red Brick ;(

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...9315V_ZL_50V_Zero_Lithium.html#specifications
 
batteries

batteries

i would never condone breaking the rules. :wink5:
have flown to over 20 countries with my red and never had a TSA agent look at the back of any of my batteries for the size... just checked them out and half the writing on the back of the battery is gone. how would anyone know what size they were anyhow?
i also carry with me a 4-pack of the IDX batteries w/ charger. i use these to run my LED panels. (last a solid couple hours) this is the smallest setup i've seen... but there may be smaller.
 
Hey Ketch,

I've had similar concerns to yours re: travelling with batteries. Going the lithium route has the problem of requiring small batteries (under the 90watt limit), which then means you're swapping batteries a lot. However, going with the non-lithium batteries means having much heavier batteries than equivalently sized Lithium Ion batteries, which is a bad thing when you're traveling -- and also a pain when you're shooting with them!

The solution I've been using for the last 2 years has been a special battery made by SWIT that breaks apart into two pieces for carryon in the plane. The battery is 160Wh (more than RED), with longer run times than RED bricks. But it breaks apart into 2 80Wh sections for travel and is airline compliant. The bricks are a tiny bit larger in size/weight than REDs, but not by much. That said, the SWIT battery charger weighs less than REDs, so the package of batteries and charger is actually lighter than REDs.

In addition, SWIT batteries have a 2 year warranty--which is longer than most other Lithium Ion batteries.

I've travelled quite a bit with them and been impressed. I also have RED batteries that I use locally.

SWIT S-8172S

Now -- something different to think about...RED has said that Epic will run far more efficiently than R1...so maybe you won't be needing such large batteries after all? 90Wh batteries may be more than adequate?
 
Hi Paul,
These SWIT are also quite affordable. But I'm assuming you don't get the percentage readout on the Red One? Have you tried charging them on the Red charger?
 
Switronix (not to be confused with Swit) makes a line of power products for the RED One. There are 90w and 190w battereis that communicate with the camera, as well as simultaneous chargers that properly communicate with the R1 batteries for efficient and complete charging. Switronix also makes hotswaps and a replacement battery mount (available exclusively from Abel) that also communicate correctly with the camera.
 
Thanks guys,

I have ordered the Bebob Hot Swap, and now need to finalize the type of batteries I'll end up using,
this wil be for the R1 only, not for the Epic, as when I'll get my Epic cameras, they will be exclusively powered with the new Red batteries RED VOLT.

I don't wish to use additional adapters of AB to V mount, as it calls for more possible issues, especially already having the Hot Swap.

Amongs other suggestions I have also looked at both SWIT and Switronix: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._L95RED_V_Mount_Battery_Pack.html#accessories
and the more and more looks like I will have to the 90's for Travel, if I don't find a Non Lithium Solution.
 
Also - I'm getting a BV100HD, BV210, BV140 to test out one of these days. I'll let you know how long it'll run the RED ONE for with EVF, LCD and a RED RAID. I'm also getting the MVQUIK (their hot-swap adapter) and a CTVR2 charger (like the RED, except 2-way with USB connection).
 
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