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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 :)

Question to you SIDE HANDLE owners...

Per von Koch

Per von Koch

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Hi, just received the SIDE HANDLE and inserted a REDVOLT (haven't got the EPIC yet).
What I noticed was that it's extremely easy for the REDVOLT to "pop out" again from the red plastic lock-mechanism.
It stays in place one in ten tries and that is if I press quite hard on its upper let corner.
I guess that it will stay firmly in place once the battery door is closed but it would be good to have someone to confirm this since the 90-day warranty has started counting and no EPIC-X :scared:

Merry christmas!
 
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I had a problem with that exact piece...Mine is actually not working very well, most of the time it does not lock in the batteries, I sent RED a email, they want me to send it back, but at the moment if I do that I will not be able to use my EPIC...I will send it back when BACKPACK and the rest of my gear arrives.I think the design on that red plastic piece is not great and very fragile.
I wrote to them telling them exactly that.I think many people are going to end up having problems with that plastic piece.I did not want to be the first to bring this up on RedUser, but as it is starting to get out of the box, I feel comfortable to say something.

This is what I wrote:

"I have just encountered a bad problem with my Side Handle. I try and explain, but if I could do a Skype video call it would be better. When I was changing Red Volts suddenly the Red Volt would not stay in the side handle. What I discovered is that the small red plastic inside the Side Handle has a small head that is not great, and with use gets deformed, and no longer holds the Red Volt in place, I had to take the red plastic out, and gently push the small head back into place. I really think this will become a problem, I am not sure I am the first that this happens to. I am very worried because that small red plastic is now weak and not in great shape, especially the top part, that I would call the head. Sorry for my English and the explanation. Please contact me and I will try and explain better. Any possibility of getting another of those small red plastic bits, as I am afraid it will not last very long."
 
Yeah, I'm a bit worried since you'll change the REDVOLTS quite a lot... But Antonio, you've never experienced any glitches power-wise because of this right?
 
I have two so far and neither of them exhibit any problems such as those you describe. I think you need to get it looked at.

Are you quite happy with the method you are using?

MC
 
Per von Koch said:
Yeah, I'm a bit worried since you'll change the REDVOLTS quite a lot... But Antonio, you've never experienced any glitches power-wise because of this right?
Click to expand...

No, when I am able to make the RedVolts stay in, never had any glitch with power.
 
Costelloe Michael said:
I have two so far and neither of them exhibit any problems such as those you describe. I think you need to get it looked at.

Are you quite happy with the method you are using?

MC
Click to expand...

I know exactly what is wrong, and I have been able to gently push the plastic bit into place, but after some changes it bends again, it is just weak.
in terms of method, well, I do not force the battery in, I gently place in into the battery holder and push it slowly into place, the problem is, that when the small red tab is slightly bent it does not hold the RedVolts in place...so I take the plastic bit out and bend it back into place, but I am afraid it will one day just break completely
 
The little red tab is supposed to lock in the battery, mine does, I haven't had that problem. In fact, at first I had trouble removing the redvolt till I got used to how the tab works. It sounds like your redvolt isn't going in far enough to allow the red tab to drop down and lock it in place. Probably an easy fix for a technician.
 
Mark Andersen said:
The little red tab is supposed to lock in the battery, mine does, I haven't had that problem. In fact, at first I had trouble removing the redvolt till I got used to how the tab works. It sounds like your redvolt isn't going in far enough to allow the red tab to drop down and lock it in place. Probably an easy fix for a technician.
Click to expand...

the revolt does go in enough, the problem is with my red tab does not hold the revolt, it is slightly bent. but when i bend it back into place it holds the revolt down.

Here is a photo of mine, and as you can see the red tab has a small white line that is where it is bending out of place

side handle battery holder downer.jpg
 
After a few months Im seeing the same problem with the tab and my 8 Redvolts.
Bending the tab down a little keeps them in long enough to get the door closed & finish the shoot but its only temporary.

Will send it in when the quad batt module arrives, though as its easily replaced perhaps if the tab is revised it could be posted out to those affected

thx
jas
 
Same issue with ours. Like you, without an alternative right now, we just deal with it and keep on going, but it is not a very positive lock.
 
Hummmm, I see this problem is starting to creep up on people. This piece is not great and I think it should be looked into....

I fear many more people will soon be experiencing the same problem

As soon as I get my Quad, I am sending mine in for repair, but I think a new design is the way to go....
 
Maybe Red can make a revised version out of a different, more rigid material? Or maybe out of several materials for the best combination of rigidity and flexibility where needed? Seems like it should be a simple fix that can be easily put in a padded envelope and user installed.

Not seeing this problem on my side handle btw, just making note of a possible solution in case for future reference.

HTH

Cheers,

Paul :)
 
Same here, the red tab locks the battery in place once the battery is pushed a bit. Then it stays in place whether the door is open or closed. Like in Mark's case, also with my sidehandle have to pay some attention to remove the battery.
 
Yup had this same problem the other day when using the side handle for a hot swap and got a bit of a shock when the camera went dead. Saw that the problem was indeed the red piece of plastic not doing its job of locking the Redvolt into place. It was a very hot day and that probably had something to do with it, but the problem is certainly there. I took the plastic out and was able to reshape it so that it works for now but it's hard for me to trust the side handle at the moment. I don't believe it would be hard to manufacture a more secure locking mechanism, and it would be great if Red did address this.
 
seriously considering cancelling my order until they get this problem sorted as its not going to go away on its own.
 
I sent mine in for repair in late December. But I think it's safe to say that most of the Side Handles work. We're the unlucky ones. At least I hope so...
 
Same for me. Since the beginning back in July we've had some problems. Since I mostly use our Anton Bauer set up, it doesn't affect us that much. That red tab is weak and if you bend it you're just making it weaker.
I think if enought of us are having an issue with it, Red will probably do something to fix it.
 
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