Redvolt degradation.

[Will Keir]

very sad indeed. I use the time option instead of % to make me feel better. Maybe 35 minutes per volt.

My Redvolt only charges to 78%. Used maybe ten times?
Very sad to hear I'm not alone on this issue.

 

[Nicos Ambatzis]

I never use my Redvolt batteries until now because I am using the good old Red bricks. But I would like to know from your experience how long the four of them last. As the first one goes away automatically during the shooting changes to the next?? In this case can you unplug the empty one and start charging it?? How long it takes to fully ( whatever fully means) to be charged. Thanks in advance for the information you may share them with me.

 

[Tim Bradley]

I have 6 Redvolts and with either a travel charger or the Quad charger I cannot charge the Batteries to over 90%. I have only used the batteries about 5 times each. This makes me think the chargers do not give the batteries a full charge.

 

[Jarek Zabczynski]

In the same boat. Have a 4 pack, none charge past 80% or so.

 

[Mike P.]

I'm sorry, so is there a proper procedure for charging RVs to prevent this? At <80% or whatever, are they still lasting 25minutes-30minutes? Is it just a cosmetic/superficial problem, or are they actually not lasting as long (15-20mins instead of 25-30)?

 

[Stephen Mick]

Same problem here. None of my Redvolts charge past 80% or so.

 

[Nicos Ambatzis]

I would very much appreciate it if someone, answers my questions. Anybody PLEASE!!!! THANKS

 

[Mike P.]

I would very much appreciate it if someone, answers my questions. Anybody PLEASE!!!! THANKS

Hey Nicos, all of the information you requested is clearly covered in the various pdfs/manuals online for the camera/REDvolts.

For the sake of brevity I'll answer you, but it's worthwhile to check that stuff out (especially before you buy/rent the stuff). Each redvolt is supposed to last 25-30mins. They are hot swappable, so if you're using a quad or dual battery module, when one does, you can put it on a charger and replace it with a fresh one without turning off the camera. Four RVs would last ~2hours. Each RV takes 1.5-2 hours to charge fully. This means realistically you'd need 8-9 RVs for continuous shooting (assuming you can charge four batteries simultaneously).

Technically you could get away with only 6 RVs, but you'd be swapping dead batteries with fresh ones constantly every 25-30mins all day, and if you miss a swap you'll probably have a bit of down time... so best bet is to have nine (one for the side handle) and a quad-charger. Kill four batteries in two hours, put them on the charger, swap with the 4 fresh ones (which will take 2 hours to kill, in which time the 4 dead RVs you have charging will be full again and you can swap.) That's the way I would do it, anyway. Conversely, with the dual battery module, you could do the same thing with 6-7 RVs (again, one for the side handle), but then you'd be swapping batteries every hour.

 

[Joe Minuni]

When i used my Redvolts the percentage on camera would only show average 82% at full charge, however they would consistently last about the 25-30min expected times per battery so I paid no mind to the percentage not being at 100%

 

[Nicos Ambatzis]

Hi Mike,

I do appreciate your very detailed mail. I am sorry but I didn't know that I could find all the information on Pdf. I will try to locate them. Sometime you find yourself lost in simple things and your mind (I mean mine) stops. That's where friends come and unblock you. Thanks again for your help.

 

[roryhinds]

I've noticed that if I charge the Redvolt then take it off the charger for a minute and put it back on and keep charging it and repeat this a few times I get a better charged RedVolt that shows a higher percentage of charge.

I had one that was only showing 40% then did the above and got it back up to 100%.
Maybe the chargers need a firmware update.

 

[Jon Carr]

I've noticed that if I charge the Redvolt then take it off the charger for a minute and put it back on and keep charging it and repeat this a few times I get a better charged RedVolt that shows a higher percentage of charge.

I had one that was only showing 40% then did the above and got it back up to 100%.
Maybe the chargers need a firmware update.

I used to do that, or make the 2nd AC do that all the time. But last 2 firmwares I noticed my all my REDvolts saying 100% when in the sidehandle for hotswaping. So haven't really been doing that anymore.