Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

HELP, POWER MATTERS: CHAINING MULTIPLE QUAD BATTERY MODULE ON EPIC-X

B

Bertrand LOYER

Active member
Joined
May 16, 2012
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Marseilles, France
In order to power a deep sea (1000m water resistant) housing for the EPIC, we are looking for simple ways to power the camera and give
it as much autonomy as possible.

Therefore, has anyone tried to chain two quad Pro Battery Module (which should give us an healthy 8x37Wh= 296 Wh of power supply) ?
deep down, in a cold environment, this should translate in approximately 2h15' of autonomy.
But has anyone detected any bugs associated with chaining Quad Pro Battery modules ?
 

Attachments

  • photo-1.jpg
    photo-1.jpg
    52.4 KB · Views: 0
  • photo-2.jpg
    photo-2.jpg
    86.7 KB · Views: 0
...or get a couple of 230Wh global media pro batteries and build your own chained V-lock system (or ask a technician of your choice — there are also some vendors that have dual v-lock systems for RED cameras. Here's one I found after a quick google.).

(If you are even more of a DIY guy, you might get a couple of power-tool lithium Ion batteries and build a powerful array.)

Disclaimer: I don't know anything about deep sea diving, and don't know how hot or cold it gets inside the housing with the camera running. I remember when reading about the space dive, that their main problem was *cooling* the cameras, as they get quite hot, despite the cold surrounding. You might want to post your question to the Gentleman's Bubbleblower Thread.)
 
Last edited:
Hi Martin, even if charging time for these batteries is around 8 to 10 h/ battery, this seems to be the way to go, especially if we use the dual
design from Bescor you suggested... it will give us a 460 Wh autonomy, which is way beyond what I'd hoped. Their design seems ideal, and these 2 batteries
will fit inside our housing. My only concern is how to switch from one battery to the next ? does it switch automatically... my German is a bit rusty to understand Bescor's presentation page. I might ask some German friends, but I guess we should start ordering and testing their system next week.

BTW, our housing was manufactured in Switzerland, by the company called Subspace, which also designed some housing for Galatee when they shot "Ocean". They never had any issue with heating with F90. Recently, they designed one for 2 Scarlets side by side which was send to 1000meters: no issues with heating as well.
 
If you wanted to go with a RedVolt system, use the XL's instead of 4 Singles. You'll gain 30% runtime. Also, you could piggyback a V-Lock system on the back of the Quad Module with the power running in through the cable. That could give you a whole lot of runtime in a compact package... proll 5.5 hours at normal temps.
 
Hi Chris, thanks also for this advise. We'll do our home work in the next week, and I will post the results on this forum. Thanks all for your tips.
 
I believe ET also makes a dual system. Just google "red v-lock dual" or something to that effect. You can also build it yourself, if you feel comfortable with a soldiering iron; nothing too complex.

I think there are usually two different systems: either automatically switiching from the discharged battery to the full one, or one that simply uses both batteries at the same time. The former is more complex, more expensive and more prone to failure, and only necessary when you want to be able to swap batteries without losing power. In your situation you just need a system where both batteries are discharged at the same time (which also lowers the draw on each individual battery and should cause less thermal heat.)
 
Martin, do you happen to know if those pagLink batteries can be charged by the Red brick charger, or do we have to buy their charger as well?
 
Hi Chris, we've been working on your last suggestion, but are rather unclear of how you "piggy back" a RED BLOCK at the back of the Quad Module, and run the module through the cable; were you thinking of the backpack quickplate (http://www.red.com/store/products/backpack-quickplate-m) ? have you tried it before simultaneously with the Quad Module ? how did you came up with the 5.5 hours autonomy ?

All the best, B.
 
Last edited:
Tom Hamilton said:
Martin, do you happen to know if those pagLink batteries can be charged by the Red brick charger, or do we have to buy their charger as well?
Click to expand...

I think only PAG themselves could answer the question definitively. PAGLink batteries are "smart" batteries with circuitry to allow piggyback charging, so almost certainly will not work well with non-PAG chargers.

However, I suspect PAG would err on the side of caution whatever, and say you need to use their chargers to be sure your batteries weren't damaged or had their lives shortened.
 
Bertrand LOYER said:
Hi Chris, we've been working on your last suggestion, but are rather unclear of how you "piggy back" a RED BLOCK at the back of the Quad Module, and run the module through the cable; were you thinking of the backpack quickplate (http://www.red.com/store/products/backpack-quickplate-m) ? have you tried it before simultaneously with the Quad Module ? how did you came up with the 5.5 hours autonomy ?

All the best, B.
Click to expand...

I think he just means adding a normal V-Lock plate and Lemo power cable into the mix. In theory the camera should switch between Redvolts and cabled power and Side Handle power seamlessly (in theory!).
 
All right, folks, we have done our homework and tested various solutions. If you add the RED BLOCK to the Quad Module, there is no "hot swap" what so ever. In terms of autonomy, we will gear toward the hot swap system from Switronix http://www.switronix.com/products?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=71&category_id=38 with Bricks; the action product equivalent (http://www.actionproducts.ch/portfolio_item/swappack-12v24v/) would be interesting for those who'll use it in an "open air" (instead of a silly 1000m deep u/w housing like us).

Now, the ultimate rechargeable V-locks seems to be the Global Media Pro. So...
@ Martin: have you tested the 230 Wh global media pro batteries with an EPIC ? what sort of autonomy does one of these batteries give you ?
 
What about using a 14V V-Lock Hot Swap plate - "shark fin" ?

This would allow you use two 190-230Wh batteries. - when one depletes, the other takes over? No?
 
Hi Michael, this is what I meant, the Switronix hot swap is what you nickname the "shark fin". I just need to know if anyone tried these Global Media Pro 230Wh batteries on the Epic before, and the kind of autonomy it gives to the camera, at ambient temperature, in "record" mode.
 
Bob Gundu said:
That won't work. CHeck out the pagLink system.

https://www.paguk.com/landing/PAGlink


https://vimeo.com/48406441
Click to expand...

Is it confirmed by red that dual quads does not work?
If so it seems like that would be something that red easily could fix.


I like the Redvolts and the Red volt XL's and an extra quad is not that expansive to pick up used. Would be nice for long timelapse takes etc.


Also really want red to make a cheap redvolt plate. with built in output connection. For other usage than just on the camera.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top