DJI RED Cable & Power Distributor with Scarlet-W

[Scott Lamoreaux]

Has anyone tried using the DJI P/D-Tap to LEMO Cable and Power Distributor to power their Scarlet-W or DSMC2 body with a Ronin Battery?

For the life of me mine will not power on or give me even a green light next to my connector on the base i/o expander. I sent back to DJI and they sent me a photo that it powered up an older Epic just fine.

The power cord that came with the Camera works so I know it's not the connector.

Could it be the battery firmware being out of date? I haven't updated that in quite some time.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Stefan Kraus]

Has anyone tried using the DJI P/D-Tap to LEMO Cable and Power Distributor to power their Scarlet-W or DSMC2 body with a Ronin Battery?

For the life of me mine will not power on or give me even a green light next to my connector on the base i/o expander. I sent back to DJI and they sent me a photo that it powered up an older Epic just fine.

The power cord that came with the Camera works so I know it's not the connector.

Could it be the battery firmware being out of date? I haven't updated that in quite some time.

Thanks,

Scott

Have you tried to power something else with the dji power plate to make sure power comes out?
Otherwise it could be the cable. I can't imagine it's a firmware thing, the dji batteries are smart batteries because they monitor
the voltage and amps that are drawn. And it manages itself to charge. But once you switch them on there should be voltage on the outlets unless they are defect, so shouldn't be firmware. It looks like the 4350mha battery in the photo, but the smaller ronin-m batteries might be not enough to run the RED or if so not very long.
Last thing would be has the battery be mounted on a ronin to activate the output maybe?

 

[Scott Lamoreaux]

Have you tried to power something else with the dji power plate to make sure power comes out?
Otherwise it could be the cable. I can't imagine it's a firmware thing, the dji batteries are smart batteries because they monitor
the voltage and amps that are drawn. And it manages itself to charge. But once you switch them on there should be voltage on the outlets unless they are defect, so shouldn't be firmware. It looks like the 4350mha battery in the photo, but the smaller ronin-m batteries might be not enough to run the RED or if so not very long.
Last thing would be has the battery be mounted on a ronin to activate the output maybe?

Hey there - thanks for the reply. It's a regular Ronin Battery not the M battery. What else could I try to power? It should work independent of the Ronin itself shouldn't it?

 

[Jan Balster]

I used this same setup just yesterday and it worked without a hitch.

We used the 4350mha batteries but I've run a Dragon with the smaller capacity 3400mha and don't see any reason why it wouldn't work on the S-W.

One thing you could look at, do you have a the correct charger for the 4350mha batteries? DJI, in all their wisdom, decided to make a different charger for the 4350mha battery. I didn't know this and and tried to charge the 4350mha battery with the 3400mha charger. I believe it will charge the battery but when you attach it to the Ronin and open the DJI iOS app told me that battery wasn't an intelligent battery. Once I got the appropriate 4350mha charger the battery started to play nice. This might be the problem with your setup. So, yes it's a firmware problem of sorts.

Hope this helps,

- Jan

 

[Stefan Kraus]

Hey there - thanks for the reply. It's a regular Ronin Battery not the M battery. What else could I try to power? It should work independent of the Ronin itself shouldn't it?

I was thinking of plugging in a wireless follow focus, monitor or anything else that gets powered with v-locks to see if there is power coming out...
Another way would be to check with a multimeter if there is power coming out, but be aware lipos can be very dangerous if shorted etc. so only try that if you are confident.
Jan has got a good point there maybe it is a issue with the charger?

I'm waiting for the parts to kit out my ronin mx atm.

 

[Scott Lamoreaux]

I used this same setup just yesterday and it worked without a hitch.

We used the 4350mha batteries but I've run a Dragon with the smaller capacity 3400mha and don't see any reason why it wouldn't work on the S-W.

One thing you could look at, do you have a the correct charger for the 4350mha batteries? DJI, in all their wisdom, decided to make a different charger for the 4350mha battery. I didn't know this and and tried to charge the 4350mha battery with the 3400mha charger. I believe it will charge the battery but when you attach it to the Ronin and open the DJI iOS app told me that battery wasn't an intelligent battery. Once I got the appropriate 4350mha charger the battery started to play nice. This might be the problem with your setup. So, yes it's a firmware problem of sorts.

Hope this helps,

- Jan

hi Jan,

im using the battery charger that came with the Ronin. Could this still be an issue? Does the switch on top of the base I/o expander (filled and unfilled star) have anything to do with it? I've tried what I thought was everything. Battery is on but I get no green light when I plug into the Lemo connection in the back of the expander. Could it be the expander itself and nothing to do with the DJI components?

 

[Brendan H. Banks]

hi Jan,

im using the battery charger that came with the Ronin. Could this still be an issue? Does the switch on top of the base I/o expander (filled and unfilled star) have anything to do with it? I've tried what I thought was everything. Battery is on but I get no green light when I plug into the Lemo connection in the back of the expander. Could it be the expander itself and nothing to do with the DJI components?

Going to just hit some troubleshooting I would do if I had this scenario, disregard anything you've tried though.
- Have you powered up your S-W via the wall power adapter before? Getting it to work via AC power will rule out your base I/O being the issue.
- Do you have a V-Mount or other battery solution that has a D-Tap out? if so, try running the camera off of that using the cable once you know the base I/O is not the issue. This will rule out the cable as being the issue.
- Not to potentially overstate the obvious, but is your Ronin battery powered on? For a while after I got my Inspire and Ronin I wasn't totally understanding that the batteries could be powered on and off even while not connected. The Tap (wait) HOLD method that we use to power on the Ronin would be the same in this case. Again, probably already tried but just giving it a go.

So if the base i/o works with AC, it's not that. If the camera powers with your D-Tap connector hooked into another power source, it's not the cable. If you battery works on your ronin but not to power the camera it could be two things -- the battery itself (but I'd doubt that if it powers up your ronin no issue) or the Power Distributor. I'd put my money on the latter.

Best of luck, and once you figure it out, let us know!

 

[Jan Balster]

Going to just hit some troubleshooting I would do if I had this scenario, disregard anything you've tried though.
- Have you powered up your S-W via the wall power adapter before? Getting it to work via AC power will rule out your base I/O being the issue.
- Do you have a V-Mount or other battery solution that has a D-Tap out? if so, try running the camera off of that using the cable once you know the base I/O is not the issue. This will rule out the cable as being the issue.
- Not to potentially overstate the obvious, but is your Ronin battery powered on? For a while after I got my Inspire and Ronin I wasn't totally understanding that the batteries could be powered on and off even while not connected. The Tap (wait) HOLD method that we use to power on the Ronin would be the same in this case. Again, probably already tried but just giving it a go.

So if the base i/o works with AC, it's not that. If the camera powers with your D-Tap connector hooked into another power source, it's not the cable. If you battery works on your ronin but not to power the camera it could be two things -- the battery itself (but I'd doubt that if it powers up your ronin no issue) or the Power Distributor. I'd put my money on the latter.

Best of luck, and once you figure it out, let us know!

The star on the on top of the base I/o expander lets you decide if you want the camera to auto power ON when a current is detected or to keep the camera off until you hit the power button.

Brendan, all really good suggestions!

Scott, if you've tried all the stuff that Brendan suggested my hunch would be to look at the battery/charger combination. I had the 3400mha batteries and the charger that came with it. Once the 4350mha batteries came out, I bought one and tried to charge it with the old 3400mha charger. That's when the Ronin reported a non-inteligent battery and wouldn't power the ronin.

Good luck!

 

[Jan Balster]

Okay, one more thing. I just tested the DJI power distribution plate+p-Tap to Lemo setup on my dragon. It works without being attached to a Ronin (I have the full-size).

Also, and this may seem really stupid but, did you push the Ronin battery ALL THE WAY onto the power distribution plate? I had an AC tell me that something was wrong with the Ronin because it wouldn't power up and it turned out that he just hadn't properly seated the battery on the plate.

Just my ¢2

- Jan

 

[Scott Lamoreaux]

Going to just hit some troubleshooting I would do if I had this scenario, disregard anything you've tried though.
- Have you powered up your S-W via the wall power adapter before? Getting it to work via AC power will rule out your base I/O being the issue.
- Do you have a V-Mount or other battery solution that has a D-Tap out? if so, try running the camera off of that using the cable once you know the base I/O is not the issue. This will rule out the cable as being the issue.
- Not to potentially overstate the obvious, but is your Ronin battery powered on? For a while after I got my Inspire and Ronin I wasn't totally understanding that the batteries could be powered on and off even while not connected. The Tap (wait) HOLD method that we use to power on the Ronin would be the same in this case. Again, probably already tried but just giving it a go.

So if the base i/o works with AC, it's not that. If the camera powers with your D-Tap connector hooked into another power source, it's not the cable. If you battery works on your ronin but not to power the camera it could be two things -- the battery itself (but I'd doubt that if it powers up your ronin no issue) or the Power Distributor. I'd put my money on the latter.

Best of luck, and once you figure it out, let us know!

Thanks Brendan for all your help.

I have tried and successfully used the wall adapter many times before. Lights up Green on the Base I/O as soon as it's plugged in so I know I'm good there.
I have Switronix Bricks which I believe have a D-Tap out on the side of them (never used it before but as soon as DJI sends the cable and distributor back ill give it a try)
Ronin Battery is for sure powered on (white LED lights all it up) -- I have never upgraded the Ronin's firmware in the year + that I've owned it -- this couldn't' affect it correct?

I guess I have to wait and see when I get it all back to start ruling out what's the culprit. Could it be something wrong with my RED or Expander? The DJI guys sent me a photo with my cable and distributor powering up their older Epic Dragon....

Thank you,

Scott

 

[Scott Lamoreaux]

Okay, one more thing. I just tested the DJI power distribution plate+p-Tap to Lemo setup on my dragon. It works without being attached to a Ronin (I have the full-size).

Also, and this may seem really stupid but, did you push the Ronin battery ALL THE WAY onto the power distribution plate? I had an AC tell me that something was wrong with the Ronin because it wouldn't power up and it turned out that he just hadn't properly seated the battery on the plate.

Just my ¢2

- Jan

Hi Jan - Yes I am pretty sure I pushed the battery all the way into the plate but again once I get it back from DJI i will start the process of elimination and do all the above mentioned to figure out what the culprit could be. DJI if you haven't already discovered is not RED when it comes to customer service...Horrible.

 

[Brendan H. Banks]

Thanks Brendan for all your help.

I have tried and successfully used the wall adapter many times before. Lights up Green on the Base I/O as soon as it's plugged in so I know I'm good there.
I have Switronix Bricks which I believe have a D-Tap out on the side of them (never used it before but as soon as DJI sends the cable and distributor back ill give it a try)
Ronin Battery is for sure powered on (white LED lights all it up) -- I have never upgraded the Ronin's firmware in the year + that I've owned it -- this couldn't' affect it correct?

I guess I have to wait and see when I get it all back to start ruling out what's the culprit. Could it be something wrong with my RED or Expander? The DJI guys sent me a photo with my cable and distributor powering up their older Epic Dragon....

Thank you,

Scott

I personally don't know if you would need to update the firmware, maybe? I would say that's a last ditch though.

I also think having DJI test on a DSMC1 camera is not the best way to solve as they're using a different system with slightly different power-draw. What is good is that the system is technically working overall.

I might suggest getting the cam to power via AC, then unplugging AC and plugging in your Ronin brick setup. Just trying to narrow down as much as possible and focus on what the issue could be.

Definitely give those Switronix bricks a try via D-Tap. That should really help.

I feel so invested now....I want to know what is wrong! haha

 

[olivier burri]

This setup works perfectly with my old Scarlet-X (DMSC1). It powers the brain, the paralinx arrow+(via USB) and a Cinegears FF (via PTap), all three from the Ronin battery.
Works with the old and new batteries.
But beware you cannot charge properly the new batteries with the old charger

 

[Ulf Krentz]

The 4350mAh batteries are higher voltage (compared to the 3400mAh) that´s why you have to use the dedicated chargers. The old charger won´t fill up the newer batteries completely, the other way around may be even dangerous. Make sure to read all safety warnings when using Lipos, they can be very dangerous.
It works fine with both types batteries with my old DSMC setup. You will need to have the Ronin GCU Firmware Upgrade to at least 1.2 to run the new batteries with the Ronin. If my mind serves me well the the D Tap output of the Power Distributor is regulated to 12V which might be just be close to the tolerances. Beware of using the other D Tap outputs on the Ronin, someone reported serious issues (probably based on the insufficient wiring to handle a heavy load like the RED).

 

[Scott Lamoreaux]

I personally don't know if you would need to update the firmware, maybe? I would say that's a last ditch though.

I also think having DJI test on a DSMC1 camera is not the best way to solve as they're using a different system with slightly different power-draw. What is good is that the system is technically working overall.

I might suggest getting the cam to power via AC, then unplugging AC and plugging in your Ronin brick setup. Just trying to narrow down as much as possible and focus on what the issue could be.

Definitely give those Switronix bricks a try via D-Tap. That should really help.

I feel so invested now....I want to know what is wrong! haha

Thanks Brendan - can't wait to get the cables back from DJI to figure it out hopefully. I'll let you know when I do with a video showing me testing everything. I need this to work!

 

[Ulf Krentz]

I just checked it, while the battery itself puts out 15,5 Volts the D Tap output on my Ronin distributor is regulated to 12,5Volts.

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

The 4350mAh batteries are higher voltage (compared to the 3400mAh) that´s why you have to use the dedicated chargers. The old charger won´t fill up the newer batteries completely, the other way around may be even dangerous..

not according to DJI, i have an email from DJI tech. support saying that original chargers and new intelligent batteries (4350mAh) are fully compatible.

 

[Ulf Krentz]

not according to DJI, i have an email from DJI tech. support saying that original chargers and new intelligent batteries (4350mAh) are fully compatible.

According to DJI´s FAQ at point 17, no. Sorry that´s German and it says you can charge the new batteries with the original charger, but only up to 90%, old batteries have to be (must be) charged with the old charger:

17. Kann ich die neue Batterie mit meinem alten Ladegerät aufladen, oder die alte Batterie mit dem neuen Ladegerät?
Wir empfehlen die neue Batterie (4350mAh) mit dem neuen Ladegerät aufzuladen, da das alte Ladegerät nur 90% der neuen Batterie (4350mAh) aufladen kann. Die alte Batterie (3400mAh) muss mit dem alten Ladegerät aufgeladen werden.

 

[Stephen Mickelsen]

FWIW, I have both sizes of Ronin batteries, and both types power my Raven just fine using DJI's distributor plate. I'm using Wooden Camera's power D-Tap to Red power cable rather than DJI's

 

[Scott Lamoreaux]

Alright DJI has shipped the Distributor plate and cable back to me. Let's see if I can troubleshoot this one once and for all and find out what's going on. I pray I can make it work because I need this little setup!