Your technique for marking dead batteries? (And any other tips!)

[jshbckr]

Just wondering: what is your standard technique of marking dead batteries?

Back in the 7D days, I had little plastic cases that held two LP-E6's, and I would flip dead ones upside down in the plastic case so I could instantly identify them.

Now I've got three FP-970s and three FP-770s that I use on the FS700 and Alphatron EVF. If I happen to have gaff tape handy, I'll throw a piece on a dead battery but I'm just wondering if any of you have a system for quickly marking batteries alive/dead on the fly.

Or if you have any other random tips that you use during production (like the old skateboarder hand-over-the-lens to mark a good take!) feel free to share!

 

[mainstreetprod]

My system is putting all dead batteries in the bag with the camera, while all charged ones are in a pocket on the side of the bag. As long as batteries are put in the correct place (and all AC's are told immediately about the system) it works great.

 

[jleo]

Most dollar stores have these insulated lunch bags with velcro in different colors. good for carrying batteries, lenses and tools. We use red for dead batteries. Black or Green for charged.

 

[Clermond]

quite easy: but a small rubber band around charged batteries. For batteries with a cover like Canon LP E6 it holds also you cover on the battery and you can feel by touching if you pick a charged battery out of your bag or pocket.

 

[morgan_moore]

My system is putting all dead batteries in the bag with the camera, while all charged ones are in a pocket on the side of the bag. As long as batteries are put in the correct place (and all AC's are told immediately about the system) it works great.

Basically I do this. Left pocket full, right pocket flat.

No time for mincing with covers and the like.

--

The bigger picture. Go Vlock, where possible. charge status lights on the batts.

This saves huge time especially in prep. Where (if you have 5d/nikon/nex/SonyNP) just checking everything before the day starts can be a ball ache - even though a batt was charged an nex or gopro batt may be sitting for a month so could go flat.

S

 

[True North]

I do this for my Panny as my FS700 primarily runs on Sony V-Locks. I bought one of those 'Really Useful Boxes';

http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/usa/

I found a size that accommodates 4 batteries. It requires that I use foam rubber, which I had laying around, to make everything snug. Any container that is the right size will of course do, I just found 'Really Useful Boxes' have a lot of size options. I have a total of 5 batteries for my Panny, so one is always in the Camera and the others are in the box. When the batteries are charged and placed in the box they are placed with the label side up. When I place a used battery in the box I place it upside down. It's a very simple and effective system to manage. I hope that helps, cheers!

 

[jshbckr]

quite easy: but a small rubber band around charged batteries. For batteries with a cover like Canon LP E6 it holds also you cover on the battery and you can feel by touching if you pick a charged battery out of your bag or pocket.

I like this. Right now I keep the batteries in my pelican case with the body/lenses/mic (basically an all-in-one package... if I had to run out the door, I could shoot out of that one Pelican case), so I don't have space to separate live/dead. I've got room for a smattering of rubber bands, though!

Basically I do this. Left pocket full, right pocket flat.

No time for mincing with covers and the like.

--

The bigger picture. Go Vlock, where possible. charge status lights on the batts.

This saves huge time especially in prep. Where (if you have 5d/nikon/nex/SonyNP) just checking everything before the day starts can be a ball ache - even though a batt was charged an nex or gopro batt may be sitting for a month so could go flat.

S

V-Lock is my plan once the Odyssey7Q comes out.

 

[Yoyodyne]

The best system I've found:

Put a little piece of white gaff tape over the battery contacts for fully charged batts. That way any "used" battery will have the tape removed, thus any battery without tape is dead. This way even if the batts get mixed up it's very easy to tell which ones are still good. It also has the added benefit of protecting the contacts from making any kind of electrical connections with metal stuff they may happen to come in contact with in the heat of battle.

 

[blackdogdylan]

that's been my technique for years, with the addition that when I put the fresh battery on the camera, I place the strip of tape on the portion of the battery that faces out from the camera (you have to be careful to not have it on a side that will cause the battery to jam.) that way, when it's spent, I can recycle the tape and reapply to the contacts when it has a full charge. no need for new tape (or room for a tape roll.)