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Auto-switch to Wall Power Supply when docked? To save on battery..


jb reodica

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is there such a device where you can continue to keep your Rig powered when docked for an extended period of time, during lunch hour, coffee breaks, etc.

 

so I could dock and plug my rig into a standard 12VDC power supply, and walk away for a bit without losing sync to my wireless transmitter, or not having to powering down the camera, or pull the battery out, etc.

 

especially for single battery rigs...

 

(i presume with the big rigs you can easily hot swap batteries since they use more than 1 battery.)

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@Steve thanks. interesting. but i think im more interested in a small piece of kit that i may add on / wire up into the rig instead. Not sure if one like this would even exist unless i make it myself.

 

@Mark thanks. i've got the little Pilot used with an EX3 and a Pro-X Wireless HD-SDI Transmitter to video village for live events... the rig is pretty much maxed out, LOL. I try to keep my signal live at all times in-case i unexpectedly need to run out and capture something...

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What batteries do you have? The Anton Bauer Tandem will allows exactly the kind of hot-swap you are looking for. Sandwich the unit between your plate and battery. When docked, plug in to shore power to keep the rig alive and charge your battery at the same time, or to hot-swap to new battery.

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the new pro docking bracket might have what you need...plus/minus leads on the docking forks to automatically charge the sled's batts when docked. The best feature is the docking stand meter that up until now has only been a fantasy from the much missed mind of uncle Teddy. It keeps track of how long you are in the saddle and calculates rate based on either a per minute or per foot basis (via wifi gps locator mounted on the sled).

 

It also comes in any color you want, as long as it's black.

 

rb

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the new pro docking bracket might have what you need...plus/minus leads on the docking forks to automatically charge the sled's batts when docked. The best feature is the docking stand meter that up until now has only been a fantasy from the much missed mind of uncle Teddy. It keeps track of how long you are in the saddle and calculates rate based on either a per minute or per foot basis (via wifi gps locator mounted on the sled).

 

It also comes in any color you want, as long as it's black.

 

rb

 

More info about this? Photos, link? Sounds interesting and super geeky, like it!

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The charging part in the docking bracket not at unimaginable... With things like charging mats and such.

 

Contacts on the gimbal and bracket, coiled cable (ran inside your stand) that connects the docking bracket to the bottom of your stand that's connected to a block battery or AC power.

 

Now I wouldn't use it to charge your batts but to switch power sources to larger one is not a bad idea... Saves you money, you would have to buy less batts, and your battery overall life would be longer.

 

I have thought about adding a 4-pin and a 3-pin XLR in the bottom of my sled to plug in a block battery so that the camera would be powered from that instead of my batts. For those long lighting setups and stunt resets that take a long time.

 

Also Alan, the Zephyr only has one battery postion...

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Yes there is a 2nd optional battery on the zephyr. But I realized that placing a battery on the back of the Epics I usually fly is easier to balance, plus I have my Hyperdeck under the post. As for hotswap, I Kert the side handle with a small battery inside. I know people have been complaining about hotswap not working sometimes, here I the fix. Unplug the battery plate from the DC plug then hotswap.

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JB,

 

I don't know of any unit for V-lock that functions like the AB unit, but someone else may. You could have your battery plate swapped out for an AB gold mount so you could use the Tandem, or build a custom solution into your existing plate (not hard I suppose if you know what you are doing).

 

Steve, Victor, Alan,

 

I find the second battery hanger for Zephyr indispensable...depending on the camera package. Great for fine-tuning balance and keeping the post short with heavier cameras. Sometimes I mount it without a battery to add just a small amount of desired weight.

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