Red Batteries taken by airport security

[HD Hildebrand]

Hi there,

4 of my Red batteries were taken by airport baggage inspectors. Thinking of getting the Swit S-8172 80+80 split batteries as replacements. I used a few on the last show and they seemed to work without issue. Anyone have more extensive experience with them. Appreciate your opinions.

 

[Frank_L]

Do you get them back or something?

 

[Tonaci Tran]

Were you hand carrying them on the plane or checking them in?

 

[HD Hildebrand]

Hand carried and checked some. The checked from one bag were taken. Don't get them back for they will not ship them. I can pick them up though if I fly back to Frankfurt.

Flying in to Frankfurt, then military plane to Afghanistan and back were all fine (as has it been anywhere else I've flown), it's just the last leg in Frankfurt on the way back where I got nailed.

Anyway, anyone have experience with the split batteries?

 

[Nick Gardner]

How were they packaged?

Nick

 

[Tony Lorentzen]

I suggest you look into the Blueshape batteries. Their BV100HD (94Wh, Max 10 Ah/170W continually) battery has no IATA restrictions: http://blueshape.net/batterypacks_bv100hd.asp?lng=

And - it's fully RED compatible with percentage read-out

 

[LukaszPruchnik]

Bricks need to be Carried on the plane. You can't check them in, they will be confiscated.
I would usually have 3 bricks per person as carryon and never had a problem

 

[Stephen Strangways]

Yeah, you absolutely cannot check any lithium batteries that big in your luggage. They must only be in your carry-on. Also, in most cases, you can only carry two batteries per person, possibly with a third installed on a camera.

The reason being is that lithium batteries can catch fire if heated or if the contacts short out, or water gets into them... If it happens in your carry-on, you'll notice it and someone can put the fire out. If it happens in the cargo hold, nobody will notice and could bring the plane down in a really bad way.

It's not just an FAA/TSA regulation in the U.S., it's the same in Canada with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority:
http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/page.aspx?id=5&pname=PermittedItems_ArticlesPermis&lang=en&CategoryID=1

Even if you get your batteries back in Frankfurt, I wouldn't recommend trying to check them in your baggage back to Canada. Just because you got away with it in the past doesn't mean you will in the future, and you could face a hefty fine.

 

[axel ebermann]

Funny enough the new shtick is that they always make me take the batteries out of
the carry on and have me check it in.
Used to be the exact other way around...

There is really no system to the airport security madness...

 

[HD Hildebrand]

This is what I've found too Axel, this is why I covered both options should there be a problem. I had them all individually wrapped and protected so no contact could ever be made, but I guess my approach needs to change going forward.

 

[HD Hildebrand]

Hi Tony,

What's the run time on these batteries? Wait, I just found a posting of yours. Here it is for others to see:

Okay - so I've had the time to do a few tests with the Blueshape batteries...

I had the RED ONE MX set up with 5,6" LCD, the original EVF and a RED drive and here are the running times (in non-recording mode):

The BlueShape 210 Wh battery gives me 2 hours and 21 minutes.
The BlueShape 140 Wh battery gives me 1 hour and 36 minutes.
The BlueShape 100 Wh battery gives me 1 hour and 3 minutes.

So with the configuration above I'm essentially drawing around 1.47 Watts per minute.

I suggest you look into the Blueshape batteries. Their BV100HD (94Wh, Max 10 Ah/170W continually) battery has no IATA restrictions: http://blueshape.net/batterypacks_bv100hd.asp?lng=

And - it's fully RED compatible with percentage read-out

 

[John DeBoer]

Anyway, anyone have experience with the split batteries?

As you probably know, we carry several hundred of the split swits. Service in Canada is great, never had a problem on planes (provided you carry them in your carry on). Several airlines will insist you put them in the cargo, but then you can't be held liable for it. Average life span is 3+ years in the rental game.

At least they did not fine you......the fine is the same for shipping undeclared dangerous goods....varies by country, but in NA its around $100,000. Just a little steep.......

John DeBoer

 

[Ivan Cortazar]

Hi there,

4 of my Red batteries were taken by airport baggage inspectors. Thinking of getting the Swit S-8172 80+80 split batteries as replacements. I used a few on the last show and they seemed to work without issue. Anyone have more extensive experience with them. Appreciate your opinions.

Hello, I own 4 of the switch split batteries. They are great. They last for a while. Only down side is that the remaining battery doesn't show in the monitor. Aside from that I think they are great. I bought them exactly because of travel issues, also they were cheaper than REdones , but since I travel to Europe, I didn't want to run into problems.

I have never use Red bricks so I can't really compare.

If you have the origo, it can warn you how much is left. I did some testing and I think when the red light in the origo starts blinking you have something like 5 minutes or so to change it.

Also I would really advise to buy a p-tap to p-tap cable. They sell them at Able Cine, and eventhough expensive, it is my favourite cable ever. It allows you to switch batteries without powering down the camera. You can even link few batteries so both batteries will give juice!

Hope it helps.

 

[Stuart English]

Batteries

Batteries

Several airlines will insist you put them in the cargo, but then you can't be held liable for it.

At least they did not fine you......the fine is the same for shipping undeclared dangerous goods....varies by country, but in NA its around $100,000. Just a little steep.

Wow, it's great to know that some airlines have no idea what the published rules are. It's pretty straightforward.

Lithium Ion batteries of any capacity may NOT be carried as checked luggage (or as freight) on as commercial passenger airliner.

No restriction on the number of Lithium Ion batteries of under 100Wh that may be carried on a cabin luggage (airlines may charge you of course)

Max of 3 Lithium Ion batteries of between 100Wh - 299Wh may be carried on as cabin luggage - 2 as spares and one on camera / device.

Lithium Ion batteries of 300Wh or greater capacity may NOT be carried at all.


http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

http://safetravel.dot.gov/larger_batt.html

 

[Dylan Macleod CSC]

As you probably know, we carry several hundred of the split swits. Service in Canada is great, never had a problem on planes (provided you carry them in your carry on). Several airlines will insist you put them in the cargo, but then you can't be held liable for it. Average life span is 3+ years in the rental game.

At least they did not fine you......the fine is the same for shipping undeclared dangerous goods....varies by country, but in NA its around $100,000. Just a little steep.......

John DeBoer

We travelled the world with these split SWIT batteries from SIM and carried them on without incident. 30 flights in 7+ countries.

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Wow, it's great to know that some airlines have no idea what the published rules are. It's pretty straightforward.

Lithium Ion batteries of any capacity may NOT be carried as checked luggage (or as freight) on as commercial passenger airliner.

No restriction on the number of Lithium Ion batteries of under 100Wh that may be carried on a cabin luggage (airlines may charge you of course)

Max of 3 Lithium Ion batteries of between 100Wh - 299Wh may be carried on as cabin luggage - 2 as spares and one on camera / device.

Lithium Ion batteries of 300Wh or greater capacity may NOT be carried at all.


http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

http://safetravel.dot.gov/larger_batt.html

Thanks Stuart, I'm printing the pages at those URLs and carrying them in case of argument!

Mike

 

[Dylan Macleod CSC]

Thanks Stuart, I'm printing the pages at those URLs and carrying them in case of argument!

Mike

My super thorough AC Brent Craig went one step further and printed them in different languages.

 

[paul engstrom]

Same great results with the split SWIT batteries and global travel here too.

Regards,
p

 

[HD Hildebrand]

Hi John,

We actually took 8 of your splits to Afghanistan. They worked fine. It's great to hear positive responses regarding long term uses. You mention service in Canada - who sells and services them in Canada?

As you probably know, we carry several hundred of the split swits. Service in Canada is great, never had a problem on planes (provided you carry them in your carry on). Several airlines will insist you put them in the cargo, but then you can't be held liable for it. Average life span is 3+ years in the rental game.

At least they did not fine you......the fine is the same for shipping undeclared dangerous goods....varies by country, but in NA its around $100,000. Just a little steep.......

John DeBoer

 

[Ryan Lalonde]

I have also had the opposite happen to me last week. Had two lithium's on my carry on and was told to check them. No one else with batteries had to do the same though. That doesn't mean much though, I am always the one getting patted down or pulled aside!