Dolgin vDoubler

L

Lenilenapi

Carbonite Member
I have been trying Alex Dolgin's vDoubler on an extended trial period for a number of weeks recently and just wanted to let mini DV and HD camera, and especially 35mm adapter owners know that it works great and is a good solution for people who want to run an extra 7- 8" monitor that requires Anton Bauer or V mount batteries but don't want to invest in an extra battery system.

http://www.dolgin.net/VDoubler.htm

In my case I was using it with a Panasonic BTLH80W and HVX batteries. Mine took 2 HVX batts and raised the voltage so it could run the monitor and it worked exactly as advertised with good run times.
I also had Dolgin's TC400 battery charger (the best!) so it was a great fit for me. Unfortunately I've gotten rid of my HVX for now so I'm returning mine. I decided to go to a full size battery system and have to spend more than i would like.

Lenny Levy
 
Leny you got PM.

I was just looking at this. There's a SONY version as well. What's the reason you're going full-sized battery instead of just switching over to SONY batteries?
 
I thought he was using the ex1? If he is it's because the ex1 doesn't use regular sony L series batteries. They have too low of a power draw for the energy hungry ex1.
 
ecking said:
I thought he was using the ex1? If he is it's because the ex1 doesn't use regular sony L series batteries. They have too low of a power draw for the energy hungry ex1.
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Lenny, thank you for the feedback!
Ecking, the L batteries and EX batteries differ in voltage, as EX runs on 14.4V. If one owns a EX camera and wants to use the same battery across the board, BP-XX is the only choice. We currently do not offer that configuration, probably will have it in 3-4 months.
 
how is the weight with that unit and does it mount on the back of the monitor? My LH900 is starting to push it on a zacuto arm WITHOUT an A/B batt on the back. I typically run to a battery belt mounted on the tripod or I rig up a make shift A/B mount onto the rails.

My goal is an LH80 supported by a zacuto arm with power. Also, can the dolgin setup run on one battery at a time, allowing continuous operation through single battery swaps?

Thanks for the input.

Edit: Saw the weight info and mounting on the site. So can it power straight off the A/B mount or does it just mount onto it and still use the XLR 4 pin for power?
 
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Can't answer Avenger's question but so you guys know: the Dolgin site reads 2-4 weeks on delivery time but I was informed by Alex that it takes about 2 business days to ship out.

Going to grab one myself tomorrow or monday. I'm still in HVX land (and will be for quite some time) so it works for meeee.
 
Avenger007 said:
... Also, can the dolgin setup run on one battery at a time, allowing continuous operation through single battery swaps?

Thanks for the input.

Edit: Saw the weight info and mounting on the site. So can it power straight off the A/B mount or does it just mount onto it and still use the XLR 4 pin for power?
Click to expand...

The vDoubler uses both batteries to produce 14.4V, so it would not run on one at a time. This is inherently more robust solution than using one 7.2V battery, with an electronic voltage booster offered by BeBob and others. Ours work by sharing the workload between them. You get long run time, no losses due to efficiency of the boost circuit, no startup issues due to overloads on turn on. 2 5400mah HVX batteries working together are almost exactly equivalent to a AB Dionic 90 powering your monitor or camera.

The power goes through the XLR4 cable. If you are interested in the AB native connection, contact Andrew Hoffman at Spec-Comm as they are working on it.
HTH
 
Avenger,
It will mount directly onto the A/B mount but uses a very short connector to get to the 4pin power plug. Regarding weight and a Zacuto arm - I am trying to mount my BTLH80 on a heavy duty Noga arm which seems to work pretty well. I found the Z doubler a little heavy for that . Now a Dionic 90 type is also heavy but probably not quite as bad because it is thinner. Probably best are the 40's made by Sony but they are of course weaker as well. As often as possible I will mount my batt off the monitor itself either somehow on the rails or preferably hanging off the tripod somehow with a 4pin. It is a trade off though. I think if I still used the panny batts I would have stuck with the vDoubler, but it will probably be bit easier to mount on an arm with the Dionic. More expensive though.

Lenny
 
Lenilenapi said:
Avenger,
It will mount directly onto the A/B mount but uses a very short connector to get to the 4pin power plug. Regarding weight and a Zacuto arm - I am trying to mount my BTLH80 on a heavy duty Noga arm which seems to work pretty well. I found the Z doubler a little heavy for that . Now a Dionic 90 type is also heavy but probably not quite as bad because it is thinner. Probably best are the 40's made by Sony but they are of course weaker as well. As often as possible I will mount my batt off the monitor itself either somehow on the rails or preferably hanging off the tripod somehow with a 4pin. It is a trade off though. I think if I still used the panny batts I would have stuck with the vDoubler, but it will probably be bit easier to mount on an arm with the Dionic. More expensive though.

Lenny
Click to expand...
A little off topic.

I bought a Panasonic made arm ($115) and it works ok. Did you try the Panasonic and you like the Noga better?

Another question. I am using a small Bescor battery to power my BTLH80. I used it yesterday on and off for ten hours. I just hang it off the tripod but it would be nice to just power it without being tethered. Wouldn't it be too heavy for an arm to hold it with the extra weight of the two Panasonic batteries?
 
Kholi said:
Can't answer Avenger's question but so you guys know: the Dolgin site reads 2-4 weeks on delivery time but I was informed by Alex that it takes about 2 business days to ship out.

Going to grab one myself tomorrow or monday. I'm still in HVX land (and will be for quite some time) so it works for meeee.
Click to expand...

We shipped a few to Spec-Comm, they have them in stock now.
 
A new V Lock configuration is available now, fully integrated wiring.
vDoubler-Vlock-2-400.jpg

http://dolgin.net/VDoubler.htm
 
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