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Camera rebooting while recording, 3 cameras, different cables,etc..getting frustrated

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Vladmartins

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Hi everyone,

I hope somebody can help me, this is getting really frustrating...

On a feature film at the moment in Glasgow and this is our kit:

Red Camera
Red Craddle
Drive cable
320gb Red drive
Red LCD
Red EVF
Lockit box connected
Radio mic connected
Cinepower Block Batteries 13.2V
IDX 14.8v batteries

Using RC36, 4K 16:9, Fan setting Silent, Build 18 (we used 17 last week same issues)

After recording for a while camera reboots itself, no warning no nothing, just reboots...we changed body now twice and still the same, changed drive cable, using 2 red drives and both happen the same, using onboard batteries (IDX) happens the same as block ones, trying now without lockit box connected.

Running out of options...anyone can help? I'm working as a 2nd AC but have a broad knowledge of RED as i have been a DIT throughout last year and this year...

Anyone??

Thanks.
 
I've had some problems with third party batteries dropping in voltage too fast and batteries not being seated properly causing reboots.
 
The only reboot issues I've ever had have been due to dodgy battery pin connections on the cradle. That would be my first port of call for the IDX part of the equation. Never used blocks with a Red, so no help there I'm afraid - although that said it seems strange to get the same power problem from two different sources...

Have you tried mains power?

I would suggest, if possible, you try the following:

1) Strip down everything off of the camera, except EVF. Use CF cards instead of drives. Disable any and all audio recording. Perform a black shading.

2) Source a new cradle and some Red-brand batteries.

See if this works. If it does, then you're getting somewhere... Now start adding back kit (I'd suggest you try drives first, audio second, then LCD and finally power) until you re-create the issue.

If it doesn't work on any of your bodies, then I'm truly stumped.

Hope that helps, good luck - horrible situation...
Dom.
 
I sent you a PM. Please feel free to contact me directly as well.

Sean Ruggeri
sean at red dot com
949-206-7900 ext. 7922
 
Not using 7inch LCD, just the basic red LCD, 5" right?

Yes, craddle sometimes can get faulty but in this case it happens with blocks as well.
In the beginning I thought it could be from the blocks when it drops to 13.2V as a fresh block was going fine but this problem happens now and then, never at a specific stage...

Going to try tomorrow using just 16Gb CF cards all day and see if that works.

Want to get Red-brand batteries but camera company doesn't have any and keeps insisting that is not the battery power and that they never had a problem before with other clients...

Dominic, those tests i wish i could do them but we are having about 25 to 30 setups a day which makes already the DP stressed out and everyone on set so i can't take the camera away from them...i tried many times outside the set with another one and it works but once it jumps on set reboot can happen any time...so confusing.

My theory is either red drive or cable (although two of them) and if that isn't then changing to RED brand batteries.

i love RED's but one little thing that happens on a production they always hate the RED after...i wish camera companies could be more helpfull...

Thanks.
 
Vladmartins said:
My theory is either red drive or cable (although two of them) and if that isn't then changing to RED brand batteries.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good plan to me, definitely. Try and negotiate a replacement/spare cradle as well. I know you're having the problem with the blocks, so it's an unlikely source of problems but maybe, just maybe, you've got two different power problems and that's what's causing the confusion. Try to narrow down any and all room for error in the system.

If you haven't already, definitely try stable mains power as well...

It's difficult to do any real testing in a production environment for sure. It's also so difficult when you've got intermittent problems like that. I do feel for you mate, hang in there and just keep on working the problem, you'll get it sorted in the end.

Hope tomorrow's a better day...
Dom.
 
Vlad as mentioned previously, power source and battery connections have been a somewhat common occurrence of failure.
But you mention using 3 cameras in your post.
Is the re-boot happening only on 1 camera? all 3? or randomly?
 
all 3 have the same issue...

it could be craddle as well as Dominic says, lets see the cards for one day tomorrow and hopefully i get more conclusions, will get red batteries and new red craddle...

have to be optimistic...i hope the producer will think the same though.

Thanks for your support, will let you know the outcome.
 
Is it shutting down or rebooting?

Power interruption or undervoltage results in a shutdown, not a reboot.

Are you seeing a blue LCD image after the problem?

Are you running Build 18?

Are you using the /i enabled PL Mount?
 
I have had this problem on a couple of occasions with original RED batteries and IDX...I also had the same issues with the D900 up converter v-lock cradle... Only solution is gaffer tape them in place. Crude but it works and ensures the batteries make contact. The rebooting is due to bad contact and wear on the v-lock system. Since I been gaffer taping em in place no more issues....
As for your block battery rebooting I have no answer and have not experienced this as:head_explode: yet..
 
Definitely try powering your defective Red(s?) via mains even if it means taking it back to the hotel and staying up late! If the problem persists on mains without any of the cradle, IDX batteries in the equation then a) I'd be very surprised & b) I think it should be down to the rental company to provide a replacement camera (you're paying good money for this, right?).

Have the camera(s) had the audio board upgrade? They replace all the battery pins on battery plates & chargers so most booting, re-booting problems should disappear. Ask your camera rental company if they've had the upgrade.

I wouldn't use the IDX batteries personally - are they the ones where you have to piggy-back two together to get the required power (if so that's a recipe for disaster IMHO - I think in this case one of the batteries will drain before the other and cause the camera to shut down unexpectedly if you're not closely monitoring them all day...which is hard on a kick-bollock-scramble shoot).

It's not really a good enough excuse for a rental company to say "we've never had any problems with the kit before", so if I were you I'd insist at least on Red batteries as well as battery plates/cradles/chargers with upgraded pins (even if they have to cross-hire them in, it'd be worth doing for say a week to see if that solves your problem).

Let us all know what happens and if there's any solution/resolution.
 
I would be curious how all your batteries will do on a drain test with a 4 amp load or more. 13.2 volts is not the best for the Red. I have tried before and camera boots up and then shuts down. If it isn't the battery plate pins being faulty then I would suspect a battery problem. When you load up the Red with all the goodies, it is very demanding for power.
 
WHY do you have the fan setting on SILENT. Could your reboots be a heating issue?

Is the camera hooked up to a video assist cart? If yes, check every power cable the video guy is using. If you find any with broken-off ground pins, slap him then solve the problem.

I have found Reds crash/reboot MUCH more frequently when they are connected to video assist. It could be grounding issues, stray voltage, something coming back down the SDI line, whatever. I just know R1's are almost bullet-proof when used stand-alone, and become much more crashy when hooked up to the rest of the world!
 
My hunch would be the battery mount pins as well if they are not the upgraded battery plates. The 'no problems till now' attitude of the rental company suggests the male power connection 'pins' have been fine, nice and springy 'till now', but unfortunately on your set they are showing the wear and are losing their ability to spring wide to touch the sides of the female battery recepticles .

This is all just a hunch from our own personal experience with shutdown problems. Sounds like it could mean a midnight run down to Pinewood and the Red Service Centre if they allow it, or a call to Ronx near you in Yorkshire to see if he can swing by with his gear to troubleshoot the fault. I recall he has rented Red to a Hollyoaks set and may have some better advice. Just and idea.
 
I was wondering about the SLIENT mode choice as well.

Keep an eye on the temp warnings, as that may be your problem. What it the temp currently where you are?

Does it shut down or reboot? Those are two very different things.
 
Rebooting

Rebooting

Hello all

Was shooting a few test today on time lapse and rebooting happend during playback on the LCD.

I will try a few of your suggestions and see if i can solve it. Have any of you had this problem. Can it be the soft wear maybe??

I am a new user but like it so far.

Let me know what you guys think from a very warm Dubai.

Regards and Thank you.
 
I will explain all the tests i have made and conclusions but i found the problem. both red-drives...will text later tonight...
 
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