Battery Distribution Systems

timapter

timapter

Veteran
Im curious about moving from crummy 9v cells and AA batteries to something with a bit more muscle.

What do you guys use as NP1 style bds systems? which batteries/chargers etc etc can you recommend? im a bit confused about putting a system like this together. how much cash are we talking here?

power draw:
2 wireless (lectro)
1 sound devices 302
1 mini lcd screen (like 4 inches)

thanks.
tim
 
NP1 packs are really good way to save power. You can get nexus x2 charger or x4. There is a adapter called hawkswood from which you can create different connectors. Pretty cool stuff.
 
there a site which sell li-iln 95 w bricks for 125$and np-65 for 80 . do a serch on the net ,
i use the bricks( sony mount) , much better since i dont have to bring the charger to the set and use the camera one
 
Tim,

I just checked my order from B&H -

My li-ion battery was a Switronic and my charger was a Frezzolini (aka Frezzi) overnight charger. Not fancy, but only $100 for the charger and $140 for the battery. And, the battery has the little charge level LED's on it so you can do a quick check on the level.

And, my understanding is that li-ion doesn't have any memory, so you don't need to run it down to zero before recharging (and if I'm wrong here, someone please let me know ASAP!) Thanks!

Phil
 
you cant charge lithium ion bats with ni mh one as long is not suitble for both systems
there are a single chargers for li ion whic quit cheap , around 70$
li ion dont have memory -
 
ah, thanks phil and oleg.. i see this thread was slightly ill timed, but anyway.

ill have another look on B&H tonight and see how much this is gonna cost me.

basically im curious if its not cheaper to just use rechargable batteries (like AA's and such).

phil oleg, dont this systems weigh a SH*T load?
 
Also check out the Tekkeon MP3300 (40 Wh; 3V, 4.5V, 5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V, or 14V) and MP3400 (56Wh, 5V, 6V, 7.5V, 9V, 12V, 14V, 16V, or 19V).
MP3300 about $92, MP3400 about $120, incl. charger.

They are Lithium POLYMER battery packs (even lighter than Li-Ion!); and you can select different voltages depending on what you want to run off them.
They work great!
 
the lithium polimer are not lighter or not significant lighter , they have one big benefit -using extreme amount of current .
the regular litihum-ion usially will last longer if you dont pull more then 70% of the capacity( 100w - 70 w maximum usage )
with polimer you can run 400% , usially these used in flying models where you need light weight and allot of power , for every day normal use the regullar are more then ok .
most of the new equip is able run from 7.2 v so regullar camera batteries could be a cheap solution , you just need the plate to hook it up inside your bag ,
not so good if you run lectrosonics ( exclude the 401) or cooper /wendt mixers, the sd and sqn could run without problem .
the new batteries ( Sony mount only ) could be found with external dc out , so you even not need the plate .
about rechargeable - its nice but i just hate not to have the sentral switch to power all rig with one push
 
I use an NP-65 which usually powers my 442, 744t and two radio mics flawlessly, however on my last shoot I added a OEM wireless transmitter and this proved too much current draw, and two of the four auxilliary outputs on the battery shoe just shut down. This is most probably due to the fact that the 744t is being charged as well as powered. I don't know maybe an NP70 or 80 would have been fine.

Great batteries though, I have two, but one will easily power 442, 744t, 2radios and 2phantom mics all day long. and a heck of a lot easier than all the 9V /AA's i'd have to be thinking about otherwise.
 
the outputs on your shoe shouted down during over current protection , the bigger battery wouldn't change the situation , the 744 pull around 2 amp while it is charging
the mixer and the recievers ( audio ltd ?) are about 600-650 ma together
 
guys, what confuses the cr@p out of me is how many components do i need - the battery, the charger, and a shoe of some kind? oleg you mentioned this...

can anyone direct me to some products I could look at on B&H? even just a search term? Ive typed NP1 and get a whole bunch of stuff im not sure is even relevant.

hmmm.
 
Ah right, cheers Oleg.

TimApter;

The powering is 4-pin hirose based, so you'll need something like an;

'NP-1 Style Shoe with 4 auxillary outputs' NPB-SQN4S (Hawks -Woods)

http://www.hawkwoods.com/site_pages/products/details/printable_version.asp?title=NPB-SQN4S

THis has one fixed cable to 4-pin hirose, and four 4-pin hirose sockets, so you'll need leads to all the units you want to power. i've got a AOCPH-HR4 lead for each radio which powers and carries signal. This is for the Micron radios, but there will be a version for different types.

Then choose which batteries you want, (should probably buy new, and IMO the NP70's are not worth the extra compared with the NP65's. I got a deal for 2x NP65's and an MR-2 Hawks-Woods charger. really nice.
 
scooby , check the hawk site ,each par is fused for maximum 1,5 amp
ill suggest you keep the sd 744 on one and all the others on the other par
the 744 in regular work pull something like 1 amp ,
the best split the dc befor it goes to the shoe , so the supply to 744 would come directly from the battery
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top