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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 :)

VF | Brook's APU Battery Plates [IDX & AB, REDmote charging cable!]

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This weekend for redmote power, awesome! Can't wait to see this one. It is really great to have innovative support products for an innovative camera.
 
C.H.Haskell said:
New Plate looks great guys, not to get off topic but what AB battery is that photographed (dionic 90?) and about how much time running just epic and LCD do you get...rough guess. Best of luck guys.
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Trevor Meeks said:
They're renderings, not photographs. The only photographs so far don't include batteries.

I'd assume we should see about 90 minutes of run time on a Dionic 90, although HC would be much better due to the power draw.
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I'll have pictures with several different AB and IDX batteries on the plates this weekend or early next week. It's been tricky for me to nail down an Epic that isn't in a 3D rig lately, but all the pieces are coming together. :)

I'll do a report on run time as well.

Thanks for all the support, guys! In case people have missed Curt's post, The APU-AB is live in the store. :)
 
(1) AB-APU ordered. It'll probably be here before my Scarlet... won't know what to do with it till then!
 
Brook Willard said:
The Epic reads voltage directly from the battery, so any battery [AB or IDX or...] will show battery status on the camera. To clarify, this status will be voltage, not a percentage as on the RED Bricks. When the camera gets down to ~12.0v, it's time to change batteries.
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The advantage of the AB battery is the form factor since it clear the top of the camera, BUT the RED Bricks shows the percentage of remaining power instead of voltage. Hard choice!
 
AMAZED with the APU IDX plate, but even more amazed with the outstanding customer service! Curt has been in contact with me in regards to the faulty plate that I received...and beyond. No sweat! I let him know and he shipped me a brand new one absolutely free. No hassle on my part at all. Doesn't get much better than that folks! :)

Anyways, for those of you interested in VF products there is absolutely no reason not to buy from these guys, they rock and so do the products!

Adam
 
Alexandre Desjardins said:
The advantage of the AB battery is the form factor since it clear the top of the camera, BUT the RED Bricks shows the percentage of remaining power instead of voltage. Hard choice!
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The APU-IDX will not show percentage with RED Bricks - they'll only show voltage. That said, I find voltage to be a more useful indicator personally, particularly since I'm often switching between different types of onboards and blocks. When the voltage gets to about 12.0v... time to change!
Adam Johnson said:
AMAZED with the APU IDX plate, but even more amazed with the outstanding customer service! Curt has been in contact with me in regards to the faulty plate that I received...and beyond. No sweat! I let him know and he shipped me a brand new one absolutely free. No hassle on my part at all. Doesn't get much better than that folks! :)

Anyways, for those of you interested in VF products there is absolutely no reason not to buy from these guys, they rock and so do the products!

Adam
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Thanks, Adam! I love hearing stuff like this. :)
 
FYI guys, the AB Dionic batteries do have a runtime indicator ON the battery, which is pretty neat. Don't rely on it, but it gives you a good idea of your runtime based on the current draw from the battery.
 
Did a search for this, but can't find an answer-- does anyone know if the Scarlet (or Epic) defaults to the internal redvolt or external DC if both are present? i.e., can you just keep a redvolt in as a backup for the APU, or is it really only useful to throw it in towards the end of a brick for hot-swapping?
 
Paul,

From our testing we have found that if you keep a REDVOLT in the handle and a external source...i.e. a IDX/AB the camera will use the IDX/AB. When the IDX/AB is removed it switches to the REDVOLT. If I am wrong then you can just read my tag line ;)
 
John Vonbadinski said:
Paul,

From our testing we have found that if you keep a REDVOLT in the handle and a external source...i.e. a IDX/AB the camera will use the IDX/AB. When the IDX/AB is removed it switches to the REDVOLT. If I am wrong then you can just read my tag line ;)
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That's what I've heard too, but I have no real-world experience with this yet. I think you're safe for now, John :)
 
Thanks John! I guess we'll be able to verify this soon enough.
 
We reproduced this effect on an Epic M to clarify.
 
It is true, when power is pulled from the EXT source, the brain switches over to the side handle source flawlessly.

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO is switch to the side handle when the voltage of the EXT source drops too low to power the camera. It still detects power coming in, but it isn't enough to power the camera, but it won't make the switch. I have requested a voltage threshold of 11.8V to Deanan. When the external source drops below 11.8v, it should switch automatically to the side handle. This would also prevent the brain from completing depleting any external battery, which helps with quick recharge times.
 
I am getting trigger happy with this AB mount option...i dont want to get off topic but can someone just tell me this is a good route if my intention is to stay compact?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/729722-REG/Anton_Bauer_Dionic_HC_Twin_Quick.html

I want to keep my side hand redvolts for back up and when switching batteries and seems like this is a great solution.

Thanks Brook and Curt for being on top of all this, look forward to some working AB setup pix.
 
Clayton - that's the exact setup I've been looking at for the same exact reason.
For what it's worth, I haven't found any other option that I think would work better.
 
C.H.Haskell said:
I am getting trigger happy with this AB mount option...i dont want to get off topic but can someone just tell me this is a good route if my intention is to stay compact?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/729722-REG/Anton_Bauer_Dionic_HC_Twin_Quick.html

I want to keep my side hand redvolts for back up and when switching batteries and seems like this is a great solution.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's a great setup. The HCs will handle more draw than the regular Dionic 90, so camera + monitor + wireless follow focus or whatever you're using will work just fine. I have only Dionic 90s right now, but I'm going to use the A/B hot-swap plate to split the load between two batteries at a time. Will get some HCs to add to the collection when the sting of all my other recent gear purchases wears off a bit :)
 
Hi Brook,

I am ready to order the V-lock version. Just a couple of quick questions.

1. I want to get it as quickly as possible, and with the minimum hassle from FedEx. Do you have any UK or European sellers?
2. Are the longer cables available yet? If not, then when? I would like approx 1 metre (to be able to use it with a Glidecam 4000).

Many thanks,
Antony
 
Hey Curt,

Any updates on shipping out the IDX plates? I believe you said fulfillment Tuesday or Wednesday of this week for existing orders, though mine's still listed as processing (ordered on Nov 22). Since RED's side handles seem to be in perpetual backorder, I'm in dire need of mobile power!

Thank you
 
With a standard quick plate our Epic always defaults to the lemo connected power and auto switches tot he side handle redvolt only when the power is interrupted or disconnected. even while rolling with no TC issues which is super sweet.

I recall RED saying at some point you'd be able to set battery priority in firmware so you could choose which power the camera resorts to first. not sure that enabled right now.

Jason
 
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