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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 :)

Letus Gimbal

From what I know is that the Helix motors / board is powered from the battery, and that the power comes from the LEMO on the 'inside' of the helix is straight power from the battery. And with the correct lemo cable you can power your camera. (depends on your camera if it needs to be regulated) In case of scarlet / epic it won't need to be.
Ofcourse it would be possible to regulate and split this power with an additional power box or cable on the 'inside' lemo if you don't exceed the max rated amps rating of the battery. (I don't know if my terminology is right here), to power multiple devices.
My guess is that the 5V is straight from the basecam board. Because the latest version has a 5V out, and this would be 'piped' to a lemo instead of the SDI port.
But as I said you could keep the SDI port and split the power from the power LEMO. You of course need the right cables / splitter.
I can make it myself... I don't know if Letus is going to make a solution for this... I already pointed them in the direction of this. But Redrock als makes a sort of box for this. But my preference is ofcourse an integrated Letus solution.
 
Terry VerHaar said:
I am going to reiterate my question on the most basic level... then maybe we can work our way up. :smiley:

When I bring a power source into the back power port on the Helix, will it power BOTH the gimbal motors (directly) AND allow for tapping the port on the slip ring (with the appropriate lemo power cable) to supply power my Scarlet/Epic?
Click to expand...
That's what it appears to be looking at the Letus Spec Sheet:
Rear ports: HD-SDI out, Joystick in, 8-18v Power in
Top slip-ring passthrough ports: HD-SDI in, 8-18v Power out (optional HD-SDI replaced with 5v power out)
If you're using a battery belt with a big brick, you'll probably be OK powering both motors and camera from that. However, that's why I asked Hienie in an earlier post what the maximum amperage draw is when performing a mega-torque move (still haven't heard). My feeling is that it would be best to power motors and camera separately; motors with the small snap-in tray LiPo that Hienie described making; camera with volt in Red Side Handle; follow focus powered from aux power out; and wireless video powered by 5 volt derived from aux power out split.
 
From what I know.. from the specs and my experience with gimbals is that if it is proper balanced the Amps draw of the Gimbal motors isn't that much.
And the Helix electronics regulates and compensates for whatever voltage battery you use. (Older gimbal boards don't, you have to adjust the settings with different input voltages)
But how this exactly works out... Hienle, should answer this.
I think multiple batteries is not an option, more weight, more chargers / cables etc. and in this case probably totally unnecassary.
 
Les Dittert said:
Letus's definition of 4th axis is a bit off. The bracket they sell is really not a 4th axis at all, it is a way to mount the Helix onto a common steadicam type spring arm, and that arm helps reduce the 'Y direction" ( up and down ) bob of a walking operator.
It is not an electronically stabilized 4th axis.

@Terry : Yes, you will need a very short 2 pin lemo to Red power lemo cable. I want to see if I can just use the side handle for the power, as my camera would come off and onto the Helix often, along with the top of camera mounted 5" LCD. The camera package is 12 lbs so it should work fine ?
Click to expand...

Thanks. So it's just marketing talk for overhead mount / cross piece. I guess the "5th Axis" would be the dolly wheels, if I'm understanding this right. It's all quite Orwellian/1984 speak to me.
 
Ned Wilson said:
...I guess the "5th Axis" would be the dolly wheels, if I'm understanding this right. It's all quite Orwellian/1984 speak to me.
Click to expand...

Well yes..the original stabilization device was the dolly. Wheels win out over feet.

But no it's not Orwellian speak it's real...There are 2 and 3 axis CNC machines and then
there are 5 and 6 axis machines that make much more complicated shapes.
If you click the links you can see the stuff these 6 axis CNC machines make. Maybe Letus own one.

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/6--axis-cnc-machine.html
 
Terry VerHaar said:
I am going to reiterate my question on the most basic level... then maybe we can work our way up. :smiley:

When I bring a power source into the back power port on the Helix, will it power BOTH the gimbal motors (directly) AND allow for tapping the port on the slip ring (with the appropriate lemo power cable) to supply power my Scarlet/Epic?
Click to expand...
The answer is yes
 
Terry VerHaar said:
Thank you.

Will the cable from slip ring to RED camera be readily available?
Click to expand...

Can someone confirm the Lemo type used in the Red? If I am not mistaken, it's a 1B 4 pins. I need to confirm the pin connection though
 
hienle said:
Can someone confirm the Lemo type used in the Red? If I am not mistaken, it's a 1B 4 pins. I need to confirm the pin connection though
Click to expand...

Hien, I'll double check in a moment for the exact spec and nomenclature, but I'm pretty sure from memory that the Lemo for Epic/Scarlet power uses six (6) pins, not 4. I think I remember reading once that an appropriate 2-pin lemo might be useable for power, but you'd lose the "smart" power features which are apparently provided through some or all of the other 4 pins. Anyhow, let me fetch the exact info . . .
 
hienle said:
Can someone confirm the Lemo type used in the Red? If I am not mistaken, it's a 1B 4 pins. I need to confirm the pin connection though
Click to expand...

I think it is 4 but can't swear to it so... Go Elizabeth!!

EDIT: From manual , it is 6.
 
Last edited:
Elizabeth Lowrey said:
Hien, I'll double check in a moment for the exact spec and nomenclature, but I'm pretty sure from memory that the Lemo for Epic/Scarlet power uses six (6) pins, not 4. I think I remember reading once that an appropriate 2-pin lemo might be useable for power, but you'd lose the "smart" power features which are apparently provided through some or all of the other 4 pins. Anyhow, let me fetch the exact info . . .
Click to expand...
Thanks Elizabeth and Terry.
 
Hien, while we're on the subject, I meant to bring this up before. Since the Epic/Scarlet uses the 1B 6-pin, how much trouble would it be to offer an option for that interface for the main power feed through to the camera platform instead of the 2-pin? That way, those of us who do use smart batteries would be able to retain that functionality for the cameras.
 
Elizabeth Lowrey said:
Hien, while we're on the subject, I meant to bring this up before. Since the Epic/Scarlet uses the 1B 6-pin, how much trouble would it be to offer an option for that interface for the main power feed through to the camera platform instead of the 2-pin? That way, those of us who do use smart batteries would be able to retain that functionality for the cameras.
Click to expand...
Can you please snap a picture of both ends of the power cable that comes with the Red. And the length
 
The AC power adapter that comes with the Epic has a captive cable on the end that ties into the converter and a Lemo 1B 6-pin F on the end that goes into the camera, as below:

AC-Power-Adaptor-150w-Epic.png


Give me a few minutes and I'll try to get some closeups of the lemo end of that cable and of the male 1B 6-pin jack on the camera.
 
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