Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted April 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Lithium-Ion... The more I learn about the latest developments in battery Technology the more I'm intriged to look into a switch. Especially with the power hungry HD Cameras (like the Genesis) but also the out look of running up to 15 or 20 mags of 35mm Film before changing the battery... The latest I have seen, at NAB, are the Batteries that Tiffen developed for the new Ultra 2. In conjunction with IDX they developed the power cube. So, if you are in the market maybe check out these batteries... Some facts: Capacity: 110 Wh/ 6 Amps Voltage: 14.8 V Size: 142mmx85mmx50mm Weight: 750g (1.65 Lbs) I was assured that they comply with FFC regulations and you can fly with up to 10 batts per case. More: http://www.steadicam.com/images/content/St...owercube_SS.pdf Limitations: (I'm an Anton Bauer guy...) -V-Lock mounting only -New Style Chargers -Price???? (Was not able to find one) -Only sold by Tiffen. Is that the solution? Is that the future? Erwin"powerless"Landau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted April 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 don t worry Erwin, Not wanting to belittle the technological advances of tiffen or IDX which I reckon are great companies. Let s face it they all buy the same cells off the same massive factories in asia. These Lithium hi ampage cells will become available to PAG and AB soon enough. I bought off vlock a conversion plate for 200 dollars a little ago so I can use the crews lithium batteries on my PAG sled and save my batts on tape jobs. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Rubin Posted April 29, 2006 Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Tiffen claims that two of those batteries will run a 435 @ 150fps effortlessly, but do they mean the 435ES which draws so much more power at start-ups, or the Advanced and Extreme models ? Remember, there are 50 435ES cameras for each Advanced/Extreme out there. And has somebody actually used those batteries with a 435ES running film (and not empty magazines), a Preston with 2 motors, stiff Primos, video transmitter, on-board recorder, a pair of KS-6 gyros and a Cinetape/Panatape IN COLD WEATHER ? Jordan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Imran Naqvi Posted April 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Tiffen claims that two of those batteries will run a 435 @ 150fps effortlessly, but do they mean the 435ES which draws so much more power at start-ups, or the Advanced and Extreme models ? Remember, there are 50 435ES cameras for each Advanced/Extreme out there. And has somebody actually used those batteries with a 435ES running film (and not empty magazines), a Preston with 2 motors, stiff Primos, video transmitter, on-board recorder, a pair of KS-6 gyros and a Cinetape/Panatape IN COLD WEATHER ? Jordan If you take a look at this thread Jerry Holway has been using them on a feature with the Genesis, and give's a lot of info about their performance that might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jerry Holway Posted April 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Tiffen claims that two of those batteries will run a 435 @ 150fps effortlessly, but do they mean the 435ES which draws so much more power at start-ups, or the Advanced and Extreme models ? Remember, there are 50 435ES cameras for each Advanced/Extreme out there. And has somebody actually used those batteries with a 435ES running film (and not empty magazines), a Preston with 2 motors, stiff Primos, video transmitter, on-board recorder, a pair of KS-6 gyros and a Cinetape/Panatape IN COLD WEATHER ? Jordan Jordan, The production batteries became available on Monday of the NAB show. Therefore, no such tests yet. But check my post on them under general discussion>genesis today and the specs on the Tiffen website. (the specs come from IDX's extensive tests, standards etc.) One bit not covered in my posts: we were shooting in cold weather; usually between 15 and 30 degrees F most of the time.. So my numbers were not generated at the standard 20 degrees C. More like 25 to 35 degrees F. If ANY battery can handle the loads, at any humanly reasonable temperature, this one will. BTW, Tiffen did some their initial tests with an "older" 435 ES camera and film at 150fps and pre-production batteries before I got to the Genesis and the first two "production" batteries. no problems. The batteries handle 10 amps continuously, up to 20 amps for short periods of time, and cut out at 24 amps. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Guido Lux Posted April 29, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 29, 2006 Hi guys! Jerry,I actually like the idea of a switch to Vmount !Will you make the powercube also in the dockable version (like idx does withe theirs).I think that this would make your powercube even better! Btw, glad we got to meet again! Guido Lux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jerry Holway Posted April 30, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 30, 2006 Hi guys! Jerry,I actually like the idea of a switch to Vmount !Will you make the powercube also in the dockable version (like idx does withe theirs).I think that this would make your powercube even better! Btw, glad we got to meet again! Guido Lux Alas, it's my understanding that IDX does not want to make them that way now. The dockable ones also have more advanced battery metering (which can easily be displayed on screen...) perhaps in the future. I also like the V-mount. Easy to use, doesn't wobble in the mount. And good to see you and all the other ops at NAB. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Rush Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 The first shipment of Steadicam Power Cubes will be received in early August 2006 from IDX. The price has been established at $625.00 for each battery. If you own a standard IDX battery charger then it will work fine. We will offer a Package Price for various battery quantities and chargers. Just call with your requirements. A few batteries are out for limited test. If you are in the Los Angeles area and want to try them for one of your shoots then we will make some available. Just give me a call. Frank Rush 1.205.229.5572 frush@tiffen.com Hi guys! Jerry,I actually like the idea of a switch to Vmount !Will you make the powercube also in the dockable version (like idx does withe theirs).I think that this would make your powercube even better! Btw, glad we got to meet again! Guido Lux Alas, it's my understanding that IDX does not want to make them that way now. The dockable ones also have more advanced battery metering (which can easily be displayed on screen...) perhaps in the future. I also like the V-mount. Easy to use, doesn't wobble in the mount. And good to see you and all the other ops at NAB. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted June 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 so many good reasons to change over to Vmount if these power cube batteries are good, - Use the hire firm batteries instead of trashing your own on tv jobs - Have a variety of different sized vmounts for different weight setup cameras - vmounts are cheaper due to volume and there are insanely cheap knock off batteries made - firm fitting I guess you could get away with only having 2 power cubes on 435 jobs? Is it cool to run the camera on one powercube and one regular vlock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Smith Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 Guys, What am I missing, apart from the branding what is the difference between a regular idx battery and the "Steadicam Power Cube". I opted to go with Idx when I bought my rig because I thought they where the best value for quality Li Ion system I could buy. Plus their chargers are backwards compatible with other chemistrys. If or when I start to get work on 35mm film jobs, I can just buy a third party Ni Cad V lok battery, use it in conjunction with my idx LI Ion and I should be apples for any hi speed 435 etc. Can anybody please clarify for me, do the specs on the Power Cube mean it can handle a higher draw than the regular IDX batts. I'm using the E10s http://www.idxtek.com/endura.htm Thanks in advance anyone who can do the maths! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jerry Holway Posted June 30, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 Apart from the branding, the Power Cubes have radically different chemistry and circuit boards, so that they can continuously handle 10 amps ( from -4 to + 113 degrees F!), and handle higher loads for briefer times. I believe they trip quickly at about 24 amps, and don't mind short loads of 20 amps or so. They weigh 750 grams and charge on regular IDX chargers. And they are still IATA compliant for transport. So compared to the 10's and Dionic 90's and the like, they work better when cold and handle much much higher amp draws. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Smith Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 Thanks for clearing that up Jerry,that's pretty cool, now I'll just have to get a couple of power cubes when those big film jobs start rolling in! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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