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Powering Multiple Epics from 12volt Vehicle Power

Phil Bates

Phil Bates

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Any idea how many cameras I can power with a 12 vehicle source (I need to do 5)?
Is the power clean enough, and if not is there some way to clean it up?
Any idea what I would use as hardware (multiple outlets) to distribute the power to the cameras?

Thanks,
Phil
 
Why do you want to power multiple cameras out of that? I would not trust anything than a pro battery to power such expensive camera. just use one AB battery per camera. you will have much more flexibility. plus if your one battery fails, you are screwed.
Just don't do it.
 
12V from a vehicle is not clean power and it is not high enough voltage to provide stable operation.
There are, however some alternatives.

1. You can modify a high-power rated univeral notebook power supply designed for 12V car batteries. They essentially convert fluctuating 10-14V to 15V. You would need one per camera due to power requirements.
2. You can get 12V to 22V adapter to power RED Charger. From Red Charger you can use 2B and 2B to 1B cable to power the Epic.
 
Thanks Pawel and Victor!

What about using an inverter to go to 110, use a voltage regulator and power conditioner to clean it up, then run RED/charger/power to each camera from that?

If worse comes to worse I can use batteries. I am just trying to avoid the hassle.

Thanks again.

P
 
Thanks Peter. The inverter sounds good. I understand they can upgrade the alternator if need be.

P
 
Pawel Achtel said:
1. You can modify a high-power rated univeral notebook power supply designed for 12V car batteries. They essentially convert fluctuating 10-14V to 15V. You would need one per camera due to power requirements.
Click to expand...

I've used this very successfully to run from a Cessna's 12v system when shooting aerials with a strut mount - when it is not possible to turn the camera on again if a battery goes down and I need a longer run-time than a single v-lock gives me. Check that the output power is rated as 'constant' - mine is 150W. Also a cigarette lighter plug / socket combo is inadequate - replace it with a latching 4 pin XLR.
 
I wouldn't use an inverter. Honda genny with Epic power supply would be much more stable.
 
Be very careful !!!
First, remember that one of the ways you void your warrantee is by applying defective power.

Most generators produce a square wave instead of a sine wave. Not friendly to electronics.

That said, some of the Honda generators have a very high quality inverter built in to power sensitive electronics such as computers - actually producing a clean sine wave. The generators that pass this clean power are in the "is" series (such as the eu3000is).

Had one of the Honda eu2000is generators until some Darwin reject decided to steal it. That unit had worked flawlessly for years powering HMI's, sound boards & carts, computers, F900's, video racks - you name it on numerous location jobs and never damaged a single piece of gear.

However, I would suggest that you look at another approach - consider using a larger block battery such as the Anton Bauer VCLX. Very dependable and designed for pro gear. I've got one of mine set up (customized) with (3) 14.4V 4pin power connectors.
With that battery as the power source, you can use a standard 4pin power cable from the RED store - keeps it simple.

Note: The VCLX's normally output both 14.4V & 28V - the mod to (3) 14.4V connectors is easy for A/B to do.
On the other two VCLX/2 batteries I have, I kept the 28V - one with the 3pin XLR, the other with an amphenol. This way I can power Kenyon gyros, HMI DC Ballasts and other related gear.

You are talking about 5 cameras at once? What about the duration?
Other considerations: Brain only or displays, powered glass, motors - add up all of your consumption and you may find a more elegant solution.
Perhaps even stealing from a Meon from the audio guys - have not checked to see if those would handle the current draw - but they just introduced some accessory battery modules that double the capacity... worth investigating.
 
Brian F Kobylarz said:
Be very careful !!!
First, remember that one of the ways you void your warrantee is by applying defective power.

Most generators produce a square wave instead of a sine wave. Not friendly to electronics.

That said, some of the Honda generators have a very high quality inverter built in to power sensitive electronics such as computers - actually producing a clean sine wave. The generators that pass this clean power are in the "is" series (such as the eu3000is).

Had one of the Honda eu2000is generators until some Darwin reject decided to steal it. That unit had worked flawlessly for years powering HMI's, sound boards & carts, computers, F900's, video racks - you name it on numerous location jobs and never damaged a single piece of gear.

However, I would suggest that you look at another approach - consider using a larger block battery such as the Anton Bauer VCLX. Very dependable and designed for pro gear. I've got one of mine set up (customized) with (3) 14.4V 4pin power connectors.
With that battery as the power source, you can use a standard 4pin power cable from the RED store - keeps it simple.

Note: The VCLX's normally output both 14.4V & 28V - the mod to (3) 14.4V connectors is easy for A/B to do.
On the other two VCLX/2 batteries I have, I kept the 28V - one with the 3pin XLR, the other with an amphenol. This way I can power Kenyon gyros, HMI DC Ballasts and other related gear.

You are talking about 5 cameras at once? What about the duration?
Other considerations: Brain only or displays, powered glass, motors - add up all of your consumption and you may find a more elegant solution.
Perhaps even stealing from a Meon from the audio guys - have not checked to see if those would handle the current draw - but they just introduced some accessory battery modules that double the capacity... worth investigating.
Click to expand...

Brian, thanks for your post. What about an inverter with voltage regulator and power conditioner?

Yes, all cameras at once, shot duration is about 2 minutes, with very short breaks.
We will be powering cameras, small monitors and glass. Still, hard to imagine that 1000 watts wouldn't be overkill.

I'll check out the Meon.

Thanks again for your help.

P
 
Phil Bates said:
What about an inverter with voltage regulator and power conditioner?


I'll check out the Meon.

P
Click to expand...

Build quality can be all over the place - best to look at the end output of the components working together on a scope. Cleaner is better. Smooth, even curves.
Since "defective power" is a red flag, I would go with the best solution possible.
If you are using HDSDI displays, they likely have greater tolerance to off voltages than the camera brain. No reason everything needs to be powered from the same source.


Meons have been out there for a while. The new version I learned of was found at this link:

http://www.trewaudio.com/audioflow/2012/04/19/nab-2012-remote-audio-meon-life/

Cannot vouch for it as a solution to your specific needs, but it does seem to have enough outputs for motors and displays.
Let us know what you find out.
 
If you want to keep noise to a minimum you could think about 8D deep cycle marine battery + inverter. They are rated around 250 amp-hour. Make sure it is deep cycle otherwise the battery can be damaged if you discharge more than 60%. Downside, 8Ds weigh 150+...
 
Phil Bates said:
Thanks Pawel and Victor!

What about using an inverter to go to 110, use a voltage regulator and power conditioner to clean it up, then run RED/charger/power to each camera from that?

If worse comes to worse I can use batteries. I am just trying to avoid the hassle.

Thanks again.

P
Click to expand...

You can do this and it should work, just not as efficient as what I suggested above.
I guess I'm trying to makes things as efficient as possible as my little studio runs entirely on solar and there is 12V supplied from led acid batteries. No mains power at all :)
 
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