FlyerLE Power

[Matthew Fleischmann]

I have a FlyerLE rig and I have a shoot coming up in which I will be renting a Preston Wireless Focus System as well as a Modulous 3000 video transmitter. I have worked with these items before however I have used them on a pro rig which had more power ports. The FlyerLE only has on power port on the top camera stage. What solutions are possible for splitting power or adding ports to my rig so that I can support the power needs of a camera, preston, and a modulus?

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Get a rig approiate for the equipment being flown.

[Mark Schlicher]

Assuming the overall power draw is within spec (and you should talk to Tiffen about the sled's limits),

 

You could have a breakout box made to plug into the power port, and velcro or attach it to the camera stage. Terry West has done this kind of work, as has Siggy at Clairmont. Brian Freesh is your go-to guy with experience pushing the Flyer LE limits.

 

I believe that Terry has also done complete re-wiring of Flyer sleds.

 

As for connectors, that's another can of worms as you know. Depending on the cables you already have, and what you plan in the future, you may want your output ports to be PRO, Tiffen, 4 pin XLR, P-tap or some combination.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Mark,

 

Hate to say it but it's a flyer. It's not designed to be a full size type of rig. Not only is the post to small which means the gimbal is too small but the power isn't really designed for 24v power.

 

Honestly you are better served getting a bigger rig

[Mark Schlicher]

If Matthew is pushing the weight limits of the sled, that's a different question, of course. I wouldn't recommend pushing the Flyer LE past it's weight limits. At the physical limits, performance is compromised and damage is risked.

 

But his question was about power distribution, and that's an easy (though custom) fix.

 

Matthew, just be realistic about the weight limits you'r working within with your FlyerLE. Since you said you've worked with a pro rig I assume you understand the issue.

[Matthew Fleischmann]

Thanks Mark, I will check out the re-wiring suggestions you made. As for pushing weight limitations that I don't intend on doing at all in fact I mostly work with weight plates to add weight. As for talking to guys at Tiffen for asking about the power within spec suggestion should I just talk to Peter Abraham? or Frank?

[Mark Schlicher]

Call Michael Craigs at the factory in Glendale. Peter may have that info, too.

 

For that matter, Terry West can no doubt give you an informed and independent opinion.

 

What camera(s) are you planning to fly with the Preston and Modulus?

[Matthew Fleischmann]

I'm looking to fly the Sony F3 for a shoot and want to have at a minimum modulus but would like to also have a Preston. I usually fly the AF100 as well as 5D but always work with locked focus which becomes more difficult.

[Brian Freesh]

Fitting a BFD Rx on an F3 is no fun, no place to put it on the sled after all. A FIZ MDR may be more difficult. I'd say go with a BFD rather than a FIZ. The F3 can power off it's own batteries, and you can split off the one power port to power the remote focus and video transmitter. You could power those 2 and the F3 without issue through the rig. As for how to split power I've seen 2 solutions. Take a cable out of the port into a junction box of some sort, connectors of choice: P-tap, XLR, whatever works for you. Charles Papert wrote an excellent post a couple years ago that you can find in the archives regarding P-Taps. The other option is to wire the junction box to your sled. That's what I did. So while the previos solution takes your initial port away before adding more, my box bypasses that so I don't lose the port. I have 5 power outputs on my Flyer. (not counting the 2 P-Taps on the battery plates, which I have indeed used)

 

Similar answer regarding AF100 and 5D. Although personally I say forget the 5D unless someone's gonna spend the money to turn it into a viable video camera (Charles Papert again would be a go-to to learn how)

[Matthew Fleischmann]

I have a weight plate that I usually use and looking to add rods to it as it has the holes in the front that way I can have more space to put all my accessories. Thanks I am going to look into how to do this and I will look for Charles for more information. Brian if you have a chance upload a photo of your rig would love to see how you setup your junction box.

[Brian Freesh]

You won't want a weight plate with the F3 once everything is attached. You will of course need a rod set-up for it to use the focus motor.

 

Everything you're looking for can be found with a good forum search.

 

Here's my Flyer's power splitter, posted 2 years ago: http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=9944&view=findpost&p=46186

[Matthew Fleischmann]

Thanks everyone for your help. I ended up speaking with Terry West who has made me a breakout box which goes from the single 3pin lemo connector on my stage to (3) 3 pin lemo on a small box about 2x2x1 I will upload an image once I receive the item.

[Matthew Fleischmann]

Received my 3pin lemo breakout box from Terry today. I am uploading you some pictures. He did a great job it is a great size and works great.

[Alex Kornreich]

Terry's the man. Looks like he got that breakout box to you super fast. I've never waited more than 24 hours for him to get a cable to me. Most of the time it's been same day.

[Brandon Thompson]

Brain and Mark have both made great suggestions, but I just wanted to add another option for splitting power on the Flyer or Flyer LE models. Lemo makes a splitter which consist of a male plug one one side and 2 female ports on the other. If my memory serves me correctly the part number for the flyer is: FTG.0B.302.PLFG and for the Flyer LE: FTG.0B.303.PLFG. I have flown the F3 on my Flyer and I use my redrock micro baseplate which allows me to have 15mm rods for the motor and the BFD and downconverter (which i mount behind the camera for balancing). If you have to run sound to the camera I have mounted the Dual channel Lectro to the hot shoe which also helps with balance.