Battery Case?

[OldCorpse]

I have accumulated quite a lot of Sony L type batteries that I use to power lights, monitors and the like. The problem I'm having is in storing them neatly when I take them on location, so that they are not just sitting in a sack. I'd like a case where I can see them at glace, and separated between the ones that are already discharged (and so need charging) and ones that are still fully charged. I was thinking of getting a Peli case with pick and pluck foam and one row would be discharged batteries and another row would be still fully charged, but it seems overkill to buy a Peli for that purpose. Maybe some kind of ammunition/bullet belt style inserts? How do you handle it, and/or is there a case of some kind to solve this issue? Thanks!

 

[Trotter G]

Why not just go to a hobby store and pick up a two-compartment see-through case?

 

[OldCorpse]

Yeah, I considered that, I was just hoping for something with a bit more of a snug fit, so that when carrying the case doesn't rattle like a box with rocks.

 

[OldCorpse]

I was thinking something more along these lines:

Tenba Tool Box 8

Tenba Cable Pouch

 

[Paul F]

I think you already know about this case. Maybe it's too big for what you have in mind. I use it for my Sony batteries, chargers, cables. It has dividers and foam. With the foam and dividers, you can customize it quite well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-x-6-in-x-13-in-aluminum-case-with-foam-inserts-69318.html

 

[OldCorpse]

Paul, I have several of those cases - I keep my audio stuff in them But maybe you're right, I should just get another one for the batteries. I was hoping for something lighter and smaller, but well, if there isn't anything, then there isn't.

 

[Paul F]

They have a smaller version. But it doesn't have dividers or foam.

http://www.harborfreight.com/11-x-7-x-4-aluminum-case-69316.html

 

[Mitch Gross]

I would suggest a two-part solution. A Power Case would hold all your batteries as well as the chargers and power supplies. You generally won't be using the chargers or perhaps only one or two during a shooting day, so you don't want to really move them about so much. But you want the batteries with you all the time. I would suggest that the batteries themselves go in some Tupperware type container (perhaps lined with foam or a mouse pad) that can then insert snuggly into the full case. That way you can pull out the battery box and drop it in a run-bag along with other items you need handy. Hard to suggest sizes when you don't mention just how many batteries you're talking about here. 5? 25? If you're talking about using them for lights as well then I could imagine there would be quite a lot. Some little thing from The Container Store or even a simple pencil case could do it.

Back in the day my Aaton kit was designed to be about a dozen or so cases for transport, but when I set up for the day most of those cases were emptied strategically and all I moved about with was a cart that held tripods, monitor, one primes case, one zoom case and one mag case that also held the batteries. Everything else stayed at home base, where the changing tent lived. Whenever I ACed a shoot with rental gear that was more than a day or two I would always reorganize the gear to be as efficient this way as possible. Smart rental houses try to organize this way as well because they know the Acs will just mess up the cases moving the stuff where they want it anyway.

 

[OldCorpse]

Thanks, Mitch - we're talking about 22 batteries. I guess it's possible to jerry-rig some kind of solution here, I admit I am mildly surprised a dedicated solution doesn't already exist, as I imagine with more and more lights (what with LEDs coming into their own) and stuff being powered by batteries, there should be a market for this. Of course, YMMV.

 

[Mitch Gross]

That's a lot of little batteries! I can't imagine you would ever want all of them in your run bag at once -- that would be a major pain. I suggest grouping them in several small boxes that store in a single larger case as I indicated previously. With that many batteries you might need 4-6 boxes, but you do not need to foam between the boxes, just stack the boxes against one another and foam the whole grouping as a single mass. My first suggestion for these smaller interior boxes would be the mini Pelicans, like the 1060 Micro case. It has a rubber interior and a clear top. The main body to these cases come in different colors so you could keep track via color code and depending on what size bricks you used I bet you could get at least half a dozen large bricks to a dozen or more of the small ones in a single case. Last I checked these little cases sold for maybe $12 each. Well worth it in my book. I also like them for little kits like wireless mikes.

 

[daplight]

Ammo cases? They have both metal and plastic available. Compact and comes with a handle. Got mine at a sporting goods type store for less than $8 each.