swintronix - powerbase 70 - not working - core can't fix - any suggestions? merci

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kevin baggott

Well-known member
Yeah - at airport security opens my bag out spills the battery - no cracks - but later found out not working. Sent to core - they said "time to retire it."
I bought it new. Used the damn thing about 4 weeks in it's entirety. wondering anyplace that might fix it? I appreciate any feedback.
 
Here's what I was told by IDX when I inquired about rebuilding old batteries:

They can not rebuild them because each battery is factory sealed and needs to remain that way or they lose flight certification. The same would go for repair, and since there may be an internal fuse that can pop, kind of a bad idea. You can probably cut the case open, but it will never be certified to fly again. Would be nice if they gave you a trade in toward a new battery.
 
Thanks Greg - yeah they ain't giving me no trade in - :( I guess onwards. It was just a gentle fall - not a scratch on it - figured it can't be too banged up inside.
 
I've dropped our idx v mounts numerous time on hard floors, they have some marks on them and keep working. We are using the smaller Cue75 model.
 
Greg E - yer probably not blessed with Irish luck as I am. The damn battery didn't take such a hit on the floor. I'm just annoyed that I paid almost 400 bucks at the time and used it for less then a week and Core says time to retire. Anyway...
 
kevin baggott said:
Greg E - yer probably not blessed with Irish luck as I am. The damn battery didn't take such a hit on the floor. I'm just annoyed that I paid almost 400 bucks at the time and used it for less then a week and Core says time to retire. Anyway...
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I think that's kind of not cool on their part. I've actually had a not too great experience with them, too. A few years ago I had my BMCC 2.5K mounted on one of their units and the mounting plate wasn't properly secured, so my camera fell and I lost a lens. IMO their mounting system on their battery unit isn't the greatest. Anyway, I called them just to let them know my thoughts and the guy who I spoke to was pretty defensive and not very receptive to what I was saying.

I could see if your battery fell from the top of Mt. Everest or something, but a few feet shouldn't kill a supposedly heavy duty battery.
 
scorsesefan said:
I think that's kind of not cool on their part. I've actually had a not too great experience with them, too. A few years ago I had my BMCC 2.5K mounted on one of their units and the mounting plate wasn't properly secured, so my camera fell and I lost a lens. IMO their mounting system on their battery unit isn't the greatest. Anyway, I called them just to let them know my thoughts and the guy who I spoke to was pretty defensive and not very receptive to what I was saying.

I could see if your battery fell from the top of Mt. Everest or something, but a few feet shouldn't kill a supposedly heavy duty battery.
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I'd side with them about the mounting plate (but not with not fixing the battery...they should fix it).

The camera/battery plate is actually pretty amazing but if you don't click it in it's like putting a lens in a PL mount and not locking it.
 
If you don't need the 1/4-20 mounts, I'd suggest this battery from IDX https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1076532-REG/idx_idx_cue_d75_v_mount_li_ion.html But I can see why some might want this series of mounting options including the QR plate to attach to the bottom of a camera or tripod.

When I drop them, it is normally coming off the storage shelf or charger shelf, that is a little over 4 feet. Industrial concrete with some form of tile covering (really very hard).
 
Those IDXs have been a budget industry-standard forever, but there are better values out there if you just need a V-mount. The main point (as you mentioned) of the PowerBases is to have the camera sit on top of the battery for a clean set-up. As a regular V-mount, it's overpriced.
 
I feel like there's some missing information here... You said you used it
...about 4 weeks in it's entirety
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and
I paid almost 400 bucks at the time and used it for less then a week and Core says time to retire.
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How long have you actually owned it and did you buy it brand new or used? If you bought it new from a dealer and it's only a few weeks old then that doesn't sound like the Core that I've dealt with before, but if you bought it several years ago and you've only used it a handful of times since then or you bought it used a few weeks ago from someone and it's older than the time you've possessed it, then I have to side with Core, because regardless of how much you'v actually used it, they only have a warranty for so long. Kinda like if you buy a car and it comes with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty and you only drive it one day a month and the engine blows-up four years after you bought it, you may only have a few hundred to few thousand miles on it, but you're still out of warranty.
 
Sorry for the confusion - rereading the above that is confusing. I bought it from B&H a number of years ago maybe 5 years ago. But I only used it for one indy feature - which was a 4 week shoot.
At the time the damn battery with tax was like $390. Anyway - I was not super surprised that Core didn't want to have anything to do with a 5 year old battery - regardless of how much it was used - I was only bitching that I only used it for 4 weeks.
Anyway - I will not be buying another one from them. I had to send in another one at another point to be fixed. Gred E - thanks for the battery suggestion - I will definitely be picking up one of those - merci.
 
Gotcha. I get where you’re coming from. If it had been a “daily driver” and you felt like you had gotten your money’s worth out of it, it would be much easier to just toss it and walk away.

I’ve had issues with CoreSWX batteries before, as well(they were still Switronix, then), but they did step up and take care of it by providing loaners while they figured out the problem and then replaced them/fixed them(software/firmware issue), but they were only a few weeks/months old.
 
A little update - so I pay for shipment of the battery back to me - as i said earlier they can't fix it. The tech guy said "they last 2-3 years."
A week goes by no battery. I give CORE a call just now - oh - we didn't get confirmation that you paid for shipment.
I have a tech on the phone - he now sees that shipping was paid - will send out today. John Brawley scared me over at bmcuser about battery safety after a fall (the battery fell 4 feet at airport while security opened my bag) so I tell CORE to keep the battery - recycle it - whatever they do with it.
The tech asks am I looking at buying another battery from CORE. Maybe we can give you a discount. I say sure. They send me a coupon - it's the same price as B&H. Awesome company. This is the 3rd battery I purchased from them - no more.
 
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kevin baggott said:
Sorry for the confusion - rereading the above that is confusing. I bought it from B&H a number of years ago maybe 5 years ago. But I only used it for one indy feature - which was a 4 week shoot.
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Any rechargable battery that sits for 5 years is going to fail. I wouldn't lay blame on the manufacturer for a low-use old battery. As to customer service, that's another issue.
 
They're actually offering 10% off on everything(I believe) ordered on-line with the code. I just pre-ordered their new fleet battery charger(an old A/B 4-position that a friend swapped out some gear for with me many years ago finally gave up. May see about getting it repaired). Same price at B&H and Core, but get 10% off at Core. Yeah, some manufacturers always sell for 'list' on their own sites, while dealers will discount. I have six of their Hypercore 190's, among others, and B&H sells them for less than Core does directly.

I get it, though. At this level and especially with American Companies, you expect a certain level of service and customer care in this (very small) industry, and if you feel you get mistreated or have bad experiences with their equipment, then it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool Anton Bauer guy from day one(in the 90's), but I finally had to walk away from them about 3-4 years ago, because of continual problems with the batteries I was using and the lack of communication I was getting with their service department. Couple that with their industrial design looking like it was being outsourced to Fisher-Price for all of their new stuff, then, and it made for the right time to step away.
 
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