Powering Alexa From Master Sled

[Neal Bryant 10]

I can't seem to find anything in the search or any literature anywhere on what gauge wiring is inside the Master sled.

 

I used Afton's wonderful instructions to add a second battery to make my sled native 24v, and I've powered several 24v cameras just fine, but I'm a little concerned about the 85w Alexa.

 

Still, the Master has a 15amp breaker. An Alexa at 24v draws roughly 3.5 amps, add another 4 amps for AKS and I should be well within the limits... I've never had a bad experience with my Master wiring, I just want to be triple sure that I don't blow anything up!

 

Whenever I've used the Alexa in the past, I just run an onboard battery, but I would like to shave a little weight.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Neal Bryant

[Brian Freesh 111]

I don't have the answer you are looking for, but I bet Dave Grove, Peter Abraham, Afton, and many others have run 435s at 120-150 fps without issue (granted they don't run that hot for long periods of time).

[Neal Bryant 10]

Thanks for the reply, Brian. I think it would be fine, I just wish I could find out exactly what gauge the wiring is, then at least I could make an educated guess.

 

I have powered Epics (60w) with full AKS, so that's not far behind the 85w Alexa.

[Chris Callarman 4]

Not sure what the gauge is or if this picture helps, but I recently removed the lower I/O panel from my Master sled and this is one of the power cables that I cut that goes up the post from the 24v adapter.

 

 

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C. 228]

That looks like 22 or 24ga a wire and that's what would be called undersized

[Alan Rencher 221]

That pictures shows it's about 1/16" thick, which is about 16 AWG. That should be plenty.

[Neal Bryant 10]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I also had it measured today and was told it was 16AWG. Just doing a bit of research looks like it's well within the limits.

[Neal Bryant 10]

On this job I prepped today it looks like I'm going to keep an onboard battery anyway just to get fore/aft balance. With my Alexa plate from Cinematic Precision and this Fujinon 19-90, a lightweight brick back there is giving me just what I need. Although, it's nice knowing that I could choose to power the camera from my sled should the need arise. Up until now I've been too gun-shy to try.

[Afton Grant 183]

When I overhauled my master rig, I recall the wiring being fairly substantial - I think 16awg. It would power an Alexa, as well as high speed 435 work, no problem.