ULTRA battery, to upgrade or not to upgrade?

[Lohengrin Zapiain]

HI,

 

I've being running my 28v Ultra batteries for 6 years now and they are getting me some grief lately.

 

I can see that a lot of operators are opting for an upgrade to a 2-12v V-lock battery system.

 

This option is considerably more expensive that just re-celling my old batteries so I would like to share some thoughts about the benefits of going to a 12v system

 

thanks

[Thomas Schnaidt]

Hey there -

 

Yeah me too. On the HD jobs I really have only been using my ultra batts for monitor power, and just using onboard IDXs on the F35 and the Alexa to do all the heavy lifting for everything else.

 

I have been getting my ultra batts recelled at the Batteries plus for a remarkable savings over the Steadicam recells, and have had reasonable luck with that, but then sometimes the batts arent being repacked with the same arrangement and therefore have a different CG or Weight altogether. the Steadicubes or power cube system is very appealing, especially since the new mount has the option for dropping down, giving you another balancing option and all. but price...whew. We use the hell out of the IDX batts and they seem to be pretty hardy. the model that seems to be the exact same model as the Power Cube is the Endura H9s I think. My next job may be a film job, so Im thinking I am not going to be able to limp by with my 24v batts and will make the plunge to be ready for it. What have you come up with?

 

best,

 

Tom Schnaidt

 

 

 

I've being running my 28v Ultra batteries for 6 years now and they are getting me some grief lately.

 

I can see that a lot of operators are opting for an upgrade to a 2-12v V-lock battery system.

 

This option is considerably more expensive that just re-celling my old batteries so I would like to share some thoughts about the benefits of going to a 12v system

 

thanks

[Stephen Wymer]

 

the model that seems to be the exact same model as the Power Cube is the Endura H9s I think.

 

 

Those batteries are the Endura E-HL9S for the single sided, and the E-HL9 for the double sided allowing you to stack. Supposed to be the exact same batt as the cube.

 

I've been been opping for the last year or so with 6 of the E-HL9S's. As long as you cycle the charge immediately when changing, it's plenty of firepower for the RED. I haven't used them for any film cameras yet so I have no input there. Good batteries though.

 

Stephen Wymer

[Jess Haas SOC]

Just for the record film cameras require less not more power than the crazy HD beasts we all have been dealing with lately. The only time they will give you any grief is with high speed work, but unlike the HD cameras that power draw is only while rolling.

[Brad Smith]

HL batts are High Load specific, therefore more able to handle the power spike required to turnover film cameras, particularly when shooting high speed. I think you'll find idx designed them (originally) specifically for Tiffen.