Powering Gyros

[Brad Smith]

Just looking at getting some Gyros, and wondering how most people power them? There seem's to be a choice of tethering and using offboard power, but I would have thought setup would be quicker if you can just bolt em on balance and go? When using onboard power what are the options for ac conversion for the gyros?

 

Thanks for any advice

[Anders Holck Petersen]

I always power them from on-board.

GPI makes a gold-mount inverter that fits between a battery and a gold mount. Fits directly on a pro, or other rig with AB mount.

Kenyon makes a very small inverter box that has a 4 pin xlr input.

[Ramon Engle]

Hi Brad. I've flown gyros in both configurations: Backpacked the inverter/Batteries and flown Gyros AND Batteries on the sled. When you're wearing the rig I've found the back pack to help distribute the weight more evenly. If hard mounted then let the Arm take the load of everything.

I still use the old style power inverter box. I pack that and three Anton Bauer batteries in the backpack and away I go. The gyros help fight any influence the umbilical cable may have on the gimbal. It's a good setup that works well. I'll put a KS-6 on top and a KS-6 and a KS-8 on the bottom. It's beefy but the gyros really isolated the sled from any movement from me or wind. Good stuff.

 

Ramon

[Orlando Duguay]

Unfortunately GPI no longer makes the inverters :( , they were great though. I fried mine on a shoot last year and Jack said it was irreparable. Now it looks like the best option is Kenyon Labs (http://www.ken-lab.com/). Their inverters are cheaper, but the mounting options aren't as elegant as with the GPI inverter.

Edited March 2, 2012 by Orlando Giumarra - Duguay