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Power Options on Gimbals

Scott Lamoreaux

Scott Lamoreaux

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Hey guys. I have an order in for the Scarlet-W with Base I/O. Other than purchasing the Jetpack expander separately, what are my options with the current kit I have on order to run a v-lock battery on the handle bars of a gimbal or belt clip? I imagine I'll have the same spacial issues trying to clear the Ronin rear arms if I try and mount the brick directly on the back of the body especially how thick the Base I/O looks.

Thoughts?

Thank you,

Scott
 
If your battery has D-Tap/P-Tap, you can get a cheap D-Tap to Lemo cable off eBay...around $35 or so for the right angled one. I've been powering my Epic off that cable for quite some time now. Just get a V-lock plate...rig that to the top cross bar, and run that D-Tap power cable down. Great thing about the cable is it's a no resistance one, so it won't put tension on your gimbal's motors. Just search D-Tap to RED Lemo cable.
 
Chris McKechnie said:
If your battery has D-Tap/P-Tap, you can get a cheap D-Tap to Lemo cable off eBay...around $35 or so for the right angled one. I've been powering my Epic off that cable for quite some time now. Just get a V-lock plate...rig that to the top cross bar, and run that D-Tap power cable down. Great thing about the cable is it's a no resistance one, so it won't put tension on your gimbal's motors. Just search D-Tap to RED Lemo cable.
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris. I have the Switronix XP-L90S bricks that have P-Tap. Which v-lock plate do you recommend that would easily mount to the gimbal bars? Does the cable connect to the battery or the P-tap female input on the v-lock plate?
 
Scott Lamoreaux said:
Is this the right one? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...elemedia_RD1_PWR17_02_12V_DC_Power_Cable.html
Click to expand...

That's not the right cable...that is way too thick of cabling and will put tension on your motors. Here's the correct cable baring that RED didn't change the actual Lemo power port on the Scarlet W: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Angle-V-mou...le-0-5meter-/251976423820?hash=item3aaaf7198c

In terms of the actual plate...get a standalone plate, meaning doesn't have any cables on it. Something like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...m_S_7000S_S7000S_Camcorder_Battery_Plate.html
What you do is take a small piece of MDF/wood and zip tie the wood to the top cross bar. Then use industrial strength velcro, or you could actually glue the V-lock plate to the wood plate and you're golden. No one really makes a nice plate for the top cross bar, so I had to improvise. For the wood/metal or whatever you use, it just needs to be a little bit larger than your V-lock plate. Could even be plastic too.
 
Chris McKechnie said:
That's not the right cable...that is way too thick of cabling and will put tension on your motors. Here's the correct cable baring that RED didn't change the actual Lemo power port on the Scarlet W: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Angle-V-mou...le-0-5meter-/251976423820?hash=item3aaaf7198c

In terms of the actual plate...get a standalone plate, meaning doesn't have any cables on it. Something like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...m_S_7000S_S7000S_Camcorder_Battery_Plate.html
What you do is take a small piece of MDF/wood and zip tie the wood to the top cross bar. Then use industrial strength velcro, or you could actually glue the V-lock plate to the wood plate and you're golden. No one really makes a nice plate for the top cross bar, so I had to improvise. For the wood/metal or whatever you use, it just needs to be a little bit larger than your V-lock plate. Could even be plastic too.
Click to expand...

The Lemo port will be on the Base I/O expander not the body correct? I don't see a huge difference in the cables but I'll take your word for it. What's the difference between P-Tap & D-tap? My battery specs show they are P-Tap. The one you posted is D-tap?

Would this work? I could just clip the plate and battery to my belt or throw it in a backpack to lighten the gimbal load all together.

Thanks!
 
The cable I recommended will work...I wouldn't get the other one a couple of posts above you were gonna buy. Also, I strongly urge you to top mount the battery plate as opposed to putting it in your pocket. Putting it in your pocket tethers you to the gimbal which limits what you can do with handoffs. Also, you'd be surprised at how often you would forget that you're tethered. You'd dock, then walk away only to find your entire setup on the ground. P-Tap/D-Tap I believe are the same thing and work the same. Like mentioned, I've used this cable for quite some time now.
 
Chris McKechnie said:
The cable I recommended will work...I wouldn't get the other one a couple of posts above you were gonna buy. Also, I strongly urge you to top mount the battery plate as opposed to putting it in your pocket. Putting it in your pocket tethers you to the gimbal which limits what you can do with handoffs. Also, you'd be surprised at how often you would forget that you're tethered. You'd dock, then walk away only to find your entire setup on the ground. P-Tap/D-Tap I believe are the same thing and work the same. Like mentioned, I've used this cable for quite some time now.
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris!
 
Scott, i fly Epic on Ronin M ( much lighter then Ronin) on every shot, sometimes up to three batteries (9Hrs), and unless you hang it on easy rig, or similar you want your gimbal be as light as possible, so this thing let's you use this cable and power DSMC from the gimbal's battery, which makes your rig almost 3lb lighter. Doesn't sound like a lot, but when you run it for hours, you'll feel it, plus, unless you will mount red brick in the center , which is challenging, you will feel dis-balance during operation (if handheld)
I can't tell for how long you can run Ronin (M) and DSMC on one battery, i ordered mine two weeks ago and it's on it's way, but whatever it is, it's still be better for me then a brick on the gimbal, and i agree that to be tethered to the gimbal is a pain
 
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