pauldudeck

This is not how I understand it, at least with the Dionic HC's I believe that when they signal this mode they shut down to protect the battery from cross-charging. And a properly specked high-grade diode is really unlikely to fail. Sure it is possible, but as far as components go, low on the list. And if it fails it's an easy field swap or bypass. The reality is that a lot of today's cameras are HD and they like the newer chemistry batteries. Simplicity is great, but not when it comes at the high price of unreliable compatibility. I tried running a couple of HD cameras from my HC's before I put the diodes in and one battery would almost always shut down. I was surprised by this since I did six months with a Genesis (fiber, not the deck) and used two Dionic 90's put in parallel via a Cam-Power & Aux-Power Y-cable before I installed the diodes. -Matt Matt/Jens, Any of the Anton/Bauer Digital batteries will have the single bar displayed across the LCD if it is being backfed by another battery or installed onto a charger that will not recognize it. There will be no damage done, as this is the safety feature. As Jens wrote, as soon as the battery is returned to the charger, all will be well. If one battery is discharging faster than the other, then there is a different issue and it is probably with how the batteries are wired. Current takes the "path of least resistance", so if something is inline with one of the batteries, then it will drain from the other much quicker. Paul interesting, maybe Paul can chime in......Paul?

Hi Cheong, The only thing that I can think of is that Panavision does wire their 3p XLR's different than the standard. Pin #1 (+) and Pin #2 (-), so be sure to check polarity if using your own cables. Paul

Please see Classified section as I have brand new ones for sale

Guys, I still have some ProFormer batteris in stock that are about 1 1/2 years old. They are still warrantied as new, and being NiCad, they have a great life span. I am selling them at $105.00 each, so if you are interested, please email me back at pdudeck@antonbauer.com. thanks. Paul

Jess, $150.00 for brand new ProFormer batteries...............you can't beat that! This was the last price I posted a long while back......... Paul

Hi, It really depends on which mount you have an how old it is, and even then, it might be a guess. However, we have only used two different screw sizes: 3mm (most current) and 6-32 for the older ones. I hope this helps. Regards, Paul

Thomas, That is quite an old charger you have there. I think we stopped making them back in 1992 and I know we don't have the ability to service them any longer. We can't get most of the parts any more. If the fuse keeps blowing, it sounds like there is a problem in the power supply section with some rectifiers. You can try and contact our Customer Support Dept at support@antonbauer.com and see if they have a schematic still available and then you can bring it to someone and have them take a look at it. I hope this helps...........we also discontinued the Compac/Compac Magnum batteries around 1992 also... Paul

Justin, I guess I can answer that question: Yes, they did. Try contacting Dominic Aiello and he can probably guide you in the right direction at PV. thanks. Paul

Justin, Please contact Mike Pedevillano from our Customer Support Group at mpedevillano@antonbauer.com and he will help you through this. Regards, Paul

Thanks Paul. I'm just interested in the longer cycle life and faster charge (Meaning I need fewer batteries!) Eric, Between you, me the wall (and everyone else), the performance of the Dionic HC will outperform this cell. It has a higher voltage and higher capacity per cell, almost double, so you'd get twice the run-time in the same size package. We are always doing life cycle testing on cells and batteries, and you guys will be very happy with the results of the Dionic HC's..........I need not say more. And, this new type of lithium ion battery would mean a new charger for you guys, as in order to charge a battery in 30 minutes, you need a charger with a super-duper power supply in it. As many of you know, we are working with Toshiba and their SCiB cell, which can be re-charged in as little as 20 minutes, but this too would need a new charger. Of course a new charger would still be able to charge all current Anton/Bauer batteries too, so its not that bad of a thing. The only thing is the only cell available right now is only 65wh, so the run-time is not there yet...... Paul

Guys, I would STRONGLY recommend against using any cell inside of a battery, other than what is originally put in by the manufacturer. This goes for any type of battery, not just Anton/Bauer batteries. Recelling a Trimpac 14 with a higher capacity NiCad cell might be OK. But, putting a different chemistry cell inside of a battery that it is not designed for is NOT SAFE. All Anton/Bauer batteries have "nameplates" on them (microprocessor) which identify them to the charger. And, as you know, each chemistry of battery needs to be charged in a specific way. So, if you try and charge a lithium ion battery like a NiCad, you are asking for trouble........most likely in the means of a fire. This is not something that should even be experimented with. Even if you replace the cells, the electronics package will still think it is the original cell chemistry and charge it as such. You can over-charge a NiCad or NiMH cell, but if you go over 16.8v on a lithium ion, you can have a fire...... I can guarantee that any manufacturer will tell you the same. Paul

Hi Guys, Sorry, but I was in Miami on business this past week. The issue with the Dionic 90's is as stated. They have a maximum current draw of 7amps, so if you are around 6.5amps plus, the complete LCD will flash at you indicating that you are pulling too much current from a single battery. There is nothing around this and it really means that it is not the correct battery for the application. A GENESIS is around 60 watts and when you add an SRW-1, you add another 55watts or so. This is 115 watts total, for only the camera and recorder, not any other accessories, which translates to around 8amps of current, and over the rating of the Dionic 90. This is a definite application for the Dionic HC...... Paul "Battery Boy" Dudeck

If you were one of the first to place an order, then your batteries are on their way....a few dealers will have them in stock right away, one being Abel Cine Tech located in both NYC and Burbank, CA. thanks. Paul

Guys, I have a bunch of ProFormer batteries that I would like to get rid of. They usually have a price of $185.00 each, however, I am going to sell them off at $150.00 each. Please email me at pdudeck@antonbauer.com if you are interested. Thanks. Paul

This would only happen if you put the batteries in parallel for 14.4v, not for putting them in series for 24/28v. Paul

Guys, I will see if I can have one of the technicians in back put a diode in a gold mount and show you what to do. It is very simple and only requires a little soldering. As for mixing chemistries, yes, this could be a reason why you may see if more often now. Let me explain; when a NiCad or NiMH battery discharges, it does so that if you graph it, it looks like your leg/knee when you are sitting down. There is some slight "skin voltage", around 16.9/17v, but once a load is applied, that voltage drops until it reaches a nominal voltage of around 14.4v, where it will spend about 80% of its time at discharge. Hence, a 14.4v battery. A li ion is different, and will discharge more linearly than a NiCd or NiMH. So, if you are using two of the same chemistry, and close to in age, batteries, you may not see this issue. However it will still occur at some point. If you mix li ion with NiCad or NiMH, you may see it more because your piece of equipment will automatically be powered by the battery with the higher voltage. Once it reaches the same voltage of the other battery, then they will draw simultaneously. If one battery is a lot older than the other, then the discharge may go back and forth between batteries more often than you realize, because the cell impendance of the older battery is much higher and the voltage will drop quicker. In any scenario, a diode will protect the battery from backfeeding, so I highly suggest that they are installed in your rig. Or, some type of protection against backfeeding. We typically use a 7amp / 20v diode. However, if you plan on powering a RED camera, you will need a higher current diode, like a 10amp, which would be a lot larger..... I hope this helps... Paul

Guys, After speaking with a number of you during CineGear Expo, the most common issue that I heard was "my battery shows a single bar on the LCD". After double-checking here, I confirmed what I thought was happening; when putting 2 or 3 batteries onto a sled, you need to be sure that all batteries are isolated from each other. Otherwise, one battery can backfeed (or essentially try to charge) another battery. You can do this by simply adding a diode in series with the battery. This is not good for the batteries, as the weaker of the batteries is the one that will try and take a charge from the other and this will shorten the life span of it. The single bar on the LCD is stopping the battery from communicating with a false charger, as a preventive measure. So, the battery will still work and the LCD will return to normal once it is returned to the charger.... Paul

Hi Guys, Let me try and clear things up. NiCad and NiMH are different than li ion, but the general practice is the same. Remember, a NiCad or NiMH battery will return to 100% of charge, after it has been left off charge and then returned to a charger. Technically, and the cell manufacturers will tell you the same, if you leave a lithium ion battery off of charge, it will lose approximately 1% of its capacity, which is then "irrecoverable". This is true with all lithium ion batteries, not just a select few. By keeping a lithium ion battery on the charger, it will actually slow down the self-discharge, as there is no "LifeSaver mode" or "pulse charge" that can be applied to lithium ion batteries. This is due to safety reasons.....As opposed to NiCad or NiMH cells which you can put a pulse charge or lifesaver charge on to keep them at 100%. The manufacturers of lithium ion somehow came up with the 40% number as to where to leave a battery off of charge. I don't know how or why, but obviously there is some type of scientific proof that indicates that it will slow down the self-discharge if left around 40%. But, as mentioned above, most of the capacity that it will lose by self-discharge is irrecoverable. Hope this helps..... Paul

Dani, From what I know, he is a shooter, working out of his house, selling knock-offs. Regards, Paul

Hi Guys, I just wanted to update you on the delivery of the Dionic HC batteries. We ran into a few delays with agency approvals, so it looks like we we start shipping the Dionic HC batteries the last week of June or the first week of July. Sorry about the delay... Please see my not about discounted pricing on ProFormers if you need them also...... And, lastly, I will personally be attending the Tiffen/Steadicam Swap Meet and Open House on Thursday, June 4th, so I hope to see you guys there. I will have a prototype Dionic HC with me if anyone wants to see, feel, play with it. And, we will also have a booth at CineGear Expo. Thanks. Paul

Hey Guys, We currently have a bunch of ProFormer batteries in stock and want to move them. I am offering a limited time special offer for them. I have plenty, so there is no limit as to how many you can get. ProFormer $135.00 each (List $185.00) Please email me at pdudeck@antonbauer.com if you are interested. Thanks. Paul

Erwin, I knew there was at least one reason that I liked you! Your pretty smart!!! LOL! The QUAD 2702 is a fast charger, but Sequential. The TWQ is simultaneous, but a bit slower. If you put them side-by-side, and charge them, they will all be done at the same time. But, if you need a battery charged right away, then the QUAD 2702 would be the charger. Now with the new charger, I will be as fast as a QUAD 2702, but will charge all four batteries in that same time period. As for other features, like all Anton/Bauer chargers, it will be smart, but it will not have an LCD or discharge feature. It will have a 70w AC power supply on it and a few other nice features which i can't discuss until NAB. Will I be enjoying your company at NAB? Paul

Simultaneously or sequential? Does this "Insider" have any more details? LOL Oooppsss. Sorry, this is a SIMULTANEOUS charger!!!!

Rumor has it that Anton/Bauer will release a 4-position fast charger at NAB. I got my information from a pretty reliable source...........:)

The current chargers will work, but just may not show up on the LCD properly, but the charge routine will be OK. There will probably just be firmware upgrades for the QUAD 2702 and DUAL 2722 chargers, since they do have an LCD. Since the battery is similar to the Dionic 90 and the charge characteristics are the same, any chargers that do not have an LCD may not need an upgrade. But, I will notify you soon with the exact details. Paul