Charger for Globalmediapro batteries

[Txema Zuriarrain]

Hi, everyone.

 

A question for battery techies:

 

I am thinking of buying a couple of 95 Wh Globalmediapro batteries and keeping my Swit battery charger.

Could the batteries get overcharged or have any other problem for not using the Globalmediapro charger?

 

To make it general, are the output amps of the charger what I have to Watch out for?

 

Thanks.

[Peder Torp Mathisen]

Hi Txema!

 

I have roughly the same question. I'm thinking of buying four 190WH globalmediapro batteries, and wonder if they will work fine with my IDX VL-4S Charger?

[Tuomas Viitakoski]

Hi Txema, Peder,

It's usually best to charge the batteries with a same brand charger to avoid issues like warranty problems if something goes wrong. Globalmediapro's Li-Ion batteries use simple charging and will not properly work with intelligent charger like Anton Bauer's. I don't know the software in GMP's chargers but IDX VL-4S is well protected and charges in various stages. SWIT chargers are not visually too much different from GMP's so they might have pretty similar electronics as well so my guess is that they might not be as advanced as IDX's.
I've been able to charge any V-mount battery with IDX chargers (except LE-UB-8/-12 of course). IDX chargers have detected some problems like imbalanced cells in a battery when the original charger have not.

When you mix different brands you should keep eye also on the battery contacts because there are so many different versions & generations of those tiny banana plugs and sockets that they most likely don't match perfectly - but this is the case even with IDX batteries and IDX chargers - so if you see any marks of "welding", burnt or discolored metal (due heat) you propably should not use that combination any more.

To make it general, are the output amps of the charger what I have to Watch out for?

- Yes. These v-mount battery chargers usually charge batteries with 2-3A and I wouldn't charge with any higher Amps. (And you must remember the max output current rating of your battery doesn't mean you can charge it with same current.)
I'd say IDX is safe if not actually the best option, Swit's charging current should be checked from the specs before use.

I'm not giving you the definitive answer but hope this will help you to decide :)

If still in doubt you can send an email to sales[at]globalmediapro.com - they are really nice and will quickly answer your questions.


-Tuomas

[Peder Torp Mathisen]

Thanks Tuomas!

 

I have already sent mail to GMP. They said their batteries are not fully compatible with the IDX charger and it was best if I used the GMP charger.

They also said it would work, but not optimally. GMP: "Using incorrect charge will likely cut the

battery life span in times."

I think I'll try the combination IDX charger and GMP batteries to begin with. And replace the charger if it's not working properly.

[Thomas K. Jensen]

Hi.

I am using four GMP 160wh batts with my Steadicam. And I charge them with both Pro-X and citytek chargers. And at a Tradeshow, where I was showing my rig for the local dealer, we charged my GMP's on their IDX charger - No problems.

[Peder Torp Mathisen]

Sounds good Thomas! Thanks for sharing.

[Nathan Chapman]

Hey Peder, have you had a chance to try the charger/batteries out yet? Did it go well?

[Thomas English]

Basically yes your fine mixing most standard vlock brands except red batteries. The only thing is they won't multi charge but charge one at a time and some of the intelligent information might not come through but don't worry about it. Charge your batteries. When there is no info on an intelligent charger it just reverts back to a basic charging pattern. It's fine.

[Peder Torp Mathisen]

Hi Nathan! I haven't bought any GMP batteries yet. I'm going to buy them in the fall, I think. In the meantime I have two blueshape batteries, which works perfectly with the IDX charger. They also charges simultaneously.

[Peder Torp Mathisen]

Update:

 

The IDX VL-4S works perfectly with the Globalmediapro 190WH batteries.