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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 :)

RED Volt's every thing

J

James Peach

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I keep searching for more info about the RED Volts.
Y not have a post all about them?

I would think people want to know few things about them.
As in best way to use and charge them.
How they compare to different set ups and so on.

My question is whats the life on them over time.
I use and charge in rotation as I use them.
But some show less of a charge over time even tho they show full.

As of to day I took a pic showing V% & time.
 
I can't answer your questions but i will say i like Redvolts. For handheld with side handle or the quad module.. I've been buying up everyones 2nd hand ones at good prices.. seems like everyone else hates them :)
The quad module gives it a nice streamline fit and i'm eventually hoping to build a water housing around it...
 
Got the quad and side handle an a lot of volts and 2 XL's. a few travel chargers and a quad charger.

I made a choice early on not to buy any V - lock batts and go with this new red power solution.

So far I like them, but also there is quite a bit of frustration about using them. We just got the +1 module now, before that we had the pro I/O. But the pro I/O can not power anything so if having remote FF or any other 12V stuff on the camera we needed a to rent V-lock power solutions.

I personally hate the pro I/O. It should be sold with a warning sign regarding the power out saying: does not power just about any camera gear and drains your batteries like mad from just sitting on the camera.

Personally I hope RED comes out with the volt XL module very soon and I also hope for normal "volt mounts" kind of like what we got for Vlock. A battery plate so that we can use the V-locks and XL's also of camera and such.
 
my personal experience is more on the bad / don't like side...
but maybe I'm just spoiled because V-Mount is working so well for us for a long time (and before that; NP-1 and PAG).

should I go on in detail?
 
One thing I find annoying about them is that when they are fresh out of the camera (and hot) they will not charge. But the charger will not give the error message right away.
So you have to wait 5 min or s to charge them, but you won't know if they actually did charge until you get back to the charger.

This is a problem if you only have 4 batteries and 2 chargers like me - if you have 5 batteries I guess you will always have a cold one.
 
Its nice to see every ones feed back.
I like the Redvolts they are very versatile.
I am not stuck with a big brick that weighs more then the side handle with a redvolt in it.
Not sure if the +1 with the quad with 4 vots or 2 XL's is more wight then say a red brick with mount or AB with mount.
Any one test the wight to see and know the shot times vs each?


 
I originally bought 10 Redvolts with 3 travel chargers, but now I use my 4 V-mount batteries almost exclusively because it is just way more convenient than swapping a battery every 25 mins. I keep the Redvolts around as a backup in case my V-mount plate craps out on me or I need to shoot in a REALLY small configuration.

Julio
 
I like that Red volt xl backing that was previewed in a pic from Jarred (from the fan thread). I think it will make the units more compact. I have 6 v-mount and think they are fabulous but I'd rather have something more compact. I can always use the v-mount and mount it somehow on my tripod to use when not handheld (thus giving me a duo system). I do hate how red volts only last 30 mins. That too me is useless. The red volt xl might do a better job with the new backing.

One thing Red has going over the Alexa is that it can be as compact as a DSLR. If only it could be as light as one.
 
Sold all my redvolts , the lack of options regarding powering other accessories helped my decision : they seemed to have been designed to work in a very closed eco system : my cameras need prestons, cinetapes , video senders .... Went back to Anton Bauer and never looked back .
 
Redvolts have their place. A single rear redvolt module or redvolt plate with a d-tap or lemo would be ideal. There could be hot swapping between it and the handle. The quad module is way too big, but the dual module isn't bad. I use it sometimes with one Redvolt to maintain the ability to hotswap while still keeping a light (if not ultracompact) mobile set-up.
I've never had one not charge after letting it sit for 5 min.
The quad charger is heavy, but very nice. It seems less likely to "kick out" a warm battery.
DionicHCs are a sweet though for most applications. Hate V-lock. Bad design.
I'd be interested in people's experience with amperage draws from the +1 module with redvolts. Seems like if there is only a revolt in the handle, and an accessory (transmitter, remote FF) that could be a lot for a little battery to pull. Anyone know the highest recommended amperage for a Redvolt?
 
I have two Redvolts that i sent back to red support for analysis/repair as they only charged to 60% and 65%.

Red suggested I send them in because my bomb squad rep said they should definitely charge more than that.

Here is my 4 test results:

REDVOLT Tests:

Charger used – Red volt Travel charger.

Test one - Epic and RED one EFV and Redmote

REDVolt #1
Start @ 68 % - lasted 18 minutes - went to 0%.

REDVolt #2
Started @ 73% - when at 22% it suddenly dropped to 0% then failed - lasted 16:00 minutes before failure.
--------------------------------------------------------
Test two after charge:

REDVolt #1
Start @ 60% lasted 18.5 minutes

1. Immediately put on charger > orange then flashing red and green. Battery pretty warm
2. Let it cool bit then put back on charger.
3. Flashing orange - charged OK

REDVolt #2
Started @ 65% lasted 20.5 minutes

Immediately put on charger > orange then flashing red and green. Battery pretty warm
Waited until a little cooler and then they charged.

---------------------------------
Test three
Batteries charged and were used in Epic test.
Error - Spaced - Did not record stop times.

Batteries charged successfully after cooling.

---------------------------------

Test four - Epic and 5" touch screen and Redmote

REDVolt #1
Start @ 60% lasted 18 minutes (shutdown at 5%)

Charged right away - charger flashed Red and Green.
Waited 10 minutes
Charger worked normally.

REDVolt #2
Started @ 65% lasted 19:45 minutes (shutdown at 5%)

I'll let you know the results when Red is finished testing them.
 
Despite having some issues with my RV and RVXL I am still sticking with the system. With a single RV in the side handle the camera is as light as it's ever going to get, which is great. But for most setups I use the quad module with one RVXL (on the right side) and two RVs on the left side (since a RVXL on the left side would block access to the SSD). My RVXL give an estimated 1 hr 50 mins each, which is pretty darn good. I have not tested it but it seems fairly accurate.

My issue is that sometimes my batteries won't charge, even though they're cold. It does not happen often and it does seem to work if you just keep taking them out and inserting again. I've had the batteries and charger in for repair but still have the same issue once in a while.

The other issue is that one of my RVs is now down to 44% maximum charge and a few others are in the 60s. Considering that I've only rotated them perhaps 10-20 times, it's not good enough.

That said, the problems are not bad enough to make me want to switch, now that there is the +1 module.
 
Btw, the manual says the +1 module provides 2.0 amps. Is that enough for most accessories out there? I'm thinking of buying this module but want to make sure it really works or else I might just go straight for V-mount or similar.
 
I spent 4K on my Redvolt set-up - Redvolts, quad module and adapter, quad charger... ended up selling the entire lot for less than 2k.

In my case, they limited me way too much.

On a professional shoot, I've never needed to strip the camera all the way down to just the side handle and a lens. I even sold my side handle. I've only ever needed to shoot on some kind of rig ie shoulder mount, sticks, steadicam, gimbal etc.

I've also evolved to the point where I exclusively use a wireless FF on EVERY single shoot and the Redvolts do not power my wireless FF. They barely power the camera and red LCD for very long - by the time you get your shot set up, it's time to change your battery.

Redvolts are useful for people who use the camera like a DSLR, and I never do.
 
Jonas Klittmark said:
Btw, the manual says the +1 module provides 2.0 amps. Is that enough for most accessories out there? I'm thinking of buying this module but want to make sure it really works or else I might just go straight for V-mount or similar.
Click to expand...

It's not enough, especially if you want more than one accessory. Then you need the XL module + the +1 module...
 
Redvolts are completely essential for me when mounting on the Movi, so I've become "revived" about them in a sense. I honestly don't mind swapping them often, and they seem to last a solid 30min for me. However, I always stick with V-lock when on sticks or handheld. Been considering AB batteries though, they seem lighter and power the camera for a similar span.

Fwiw, the redrock microRemote CAN be powered by the +1 module. However, for some reason, you have to have a custom cable made with reverse polarity to power it- the redrock draws little enough to be powered by a volt, but it's 2pin Lemo is backwards for some reason...
 
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