Need help with v mount plates/cables etc.

[Michael Solomon]

Hey guys.

 

I just bought one of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-15kg-Load-Camera-Video-Steadycam-Stabilizer-Steadicam-Carbon-Fiber-Vest-/140936942966?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20d07f1576

 

And let me preface, I know the feeling towards them here. I would never profess to be a "steadicam operator" and have nothing but the utmost respect for the professionals who have mastered this craft. I bought one simply as a toy if you will to mess around on my own with. I figured since it was so cheap, why not.

 

With that said, I had a question about battery plates and powering the rig. I have a SmallHD AC7 monitor that I was planning on mounting to the rig. As of now, I have it powered off it's own batteries but I would like to get that monitor, as well as any camera that I put on the rig, powered by V-Mount batteries. The "steadicam" I purchased does have a hollow post to run cable up. So I was wondering specifically what I need to look for in a battery plate to make sure I can power both the monitor and camera.

 

I've been looking at IDX's plates http://www.idxtek.com/products/V-Plate%20%2526%20V-Mt%20Adaptors but really can't understand the difference between them and what I would need. Which plate do you think will get the job done? Should I be looking at other brands? Do I need to buy any other special cables to connect the plate to the monitor? (I know I'll need a p-tap to lemo for any RED rigs).

 

Thanks in advance guys! Always love the information on here!

Edited March 21, 2013 by Michael Solomon

[Tom Wills]

Michael,

 

I'm glad to hear you're looking at this product as a cheap way to play around with stabilization, rather than a way to skirt around paying professionals. I suspect once you're up and flying, you may end up having even more respect for what operators do on a daily basis, but that's beside the point!

 

To answer your questions, any standard V-Mount plate will give you what you need. You don't need Digi-View, you don't need Syncron, and you don't need any of the models with built-in regulators for their D-Taps. You will need to do some soldering though, so if you're not confident doing that (and having the results of your soldering power your camera!), you might want to make good friends with somebody at a rental house or who knows their way around electronics.

 

The reason for the soldering is this - you can't power a camera off a D-Tap. Well, technically, you might be able to, but it's a BAD idea. Many D-Taps are fused at way below what any modern camera package would pull, and would just blow rather than powering the rig. Additionally, a D-Tap is easy to pull out accidentally, potentially blowing a take, and there have even been stories of D-Taps being plugged in backwards (how, I do not know, but apparently it's happened) and blowing up accessories. That doesn't sound like the kind of connector I want powering a camera.

 

So, the proper wiring would be to attach to the camera power wires coming out of the V-Mount plate (which should already be there, and handily color-coded red and black), run a reasonably heavy-gauge cable up the post (16 gauge is a minimum here, 14 would be best), and terminate it in the kind of plug you need up top. This could either be a specific RED connector, if you think you're only ever going to fly those cameras, or anything up to a little junction box of LEMO connectors to power cameras, follow focuses, and other accessories.

 

Then, you can either choose to solder onto those same wires coming off of the battery plate to a short cable for your monitor, or just use the D-Tap for that (which is the easier option, and is probably already a cable you have).

 

Hope that helps.

[Michael Solomon]

Ah ok, sorry, I think I mis-typed. I'm not too interested in powering the camera via v-mount. Mostly just accessories like wireless FF, wireless transmitter, and the monitor. I have the p-tap cables necessary for the other accessories. Great info about the plate!

 

So would http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=p-vs2&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= suit all of my needs?

 

what cable to I need to get to run from the plate/battery into the monitor?

[Tom Wills]

This plate is cheaper, and still does the job: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538206-REG/IDX_P_V2_P_V2_V_Mount_Camera_Plate.html

 

The one you linked has Syncron, which is used for turning on and off an on-camera light when you run and stop the camera - no use here. The one I'm linking doesn't have that.

 

To power your monitor, something like this is in order: http://store.smallhd.com/Store/AC7-Accessories/Dtap-Barrel-45in

 

To power everything else, you're still going to need to run some power up the post, but rather than adding on a camera LEMO connector on the end, you could add on one of these, and get 4 D-Taps available for your use. I wouldn't recommend just splitting all of your accessories off of the one D-Tap on the bottom plate though, since again, you may run into the limits of the fuse, depending on what accessories you use. So, I'd still run cables from the red and black wires of the battery plate up the post, and then solder on the Anton Bauer splitter to that.

[Michael Solomon]

You're a god send =)

 

I'm not sure of the proper vernacular. But is there an "extension chord" of sorts for d-tap and what is it called?

Edited March 22, 2013 by Michael Solomon

[James Puli]

If you want to do it properly, Id take the sled to Terry West and get him to wire it up properly.

So that it will not damage the rig or any camera you put on it!

 

From those pics I cant even see any video cables down the centre post as well so you want to fix that as well as putting some decent

power cables in there

 

The only catch with this, is that it may well cost you more money to wire it up then the whole rig cost you initially!

But if your serious about it, its the smartest decision you'll make!

 

JP

[John Stout]

Go see Terry. He will take great care of you and do an awesome job!