In Broadcast - February 2015 - 42

42

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 5 - Issue 2 | February 2015

InTech

Batteries Charge Ahead
While Contributing Editor David Kirk finds it difficult to get excited
about batteries - unless they go prematurely flat - here are some
of the latest developments in portable power supplies for the video
production market...

P

owering a mobile shoot from
batteries saves the inconvenience
of trailing long power cables but
introduces the inevitable risk of a
rogue battery losing power earlier
than anticipated. The most reliable way
to keep out of trouble on an outdoor
production is to use a hot-swap
configuration.
Modern electronic devices operate
on extremely low power thanks to
the extremely high efficiency of
modern integrated circuits. In the
data storage line, solid-state memory
has eliminated the need for electric
motors. No more headwheels, tape
drives or disk packs. On the lighting
side, LEDs have allowed huge savings
in power to be achieved compared
with filament-based heads when
capturing video content on location.
For camera crews shooting during
daytime in warm climates, it is
now perfectly possible to recharge
batteries from solar cells though only
an optimist would power directly
from solar cells. For colder or wetter
regions, batteries are still a safe
option. On a larger scale, mobile
production vehicles typically source
from local mains or carry a diesel
generator where the only battery
needed is the one used to start the
engine.
Consumer camera manufacturers
tend to force customers into buying
a specific shape and size of battery
to fit their products and chargers.
Changes in battery shape and size as
new models are introduced are an
irritation though much less so than the
practice of sealing a battery more or
less permanently inside a product in
the hope that the
buyer

Blueshape's Splash
Granite series has an IP65
water resistance rating

will replace the whole thing after two
or three years. In a genuinely green
world, products of that kind would be
illegal.

Cine 60's BLOQ is a V-Mount battery
with a lithium iron phosphate cathode
instead of the conventional lithiumcobalt oxide. Designed for use with
broadcast camcorders, it has a claimed
charging time of one hour per battery
and is rated to handle 1,000 charging
cycles. The BLOQ charger can charge
up to two batteries in parallel or, with
an optional accessory, up to four. The
charger can also be
used as a 15 volt DC
supply delivering up to
150 watts.

Mobile Power Supplies
Anton/Bauer offers a variety of cell
chemistries, including nickel metal
hydride and lithium-ion. Anton/
Bauer's Digital and Logic Series
batteries
can
be used with
the
company's
Performance
and InterActive
chargers.
DSM Power offers a
The batteries
wide range of batteries
can communicate
including the 84 wattdata to all Anton/
hour DSM-U84 for use
Bauer chargers
with Sony PMW-100,
and select a
150, 160, 200, EX1,
charge routine
EX1R, EX3, F3, F3K
specifically
and F3L cameras.
designed for that
Features include IC
battery's
cell
controlled protection
chemistry. Each
against short circuit,
Digital and Logic
over-charge, underSeries
battery
charge and excess
Cine 60's BLOQ V-Mount battery
incorporates
a
temperature.
processor that calculates its capacity
and remaining run-time data. This also
Hawk-Woods has extended its
calculates the battery's capacity over V-Lok V-Mount product range with a
time. The Digital Series battery display simultaneous two-channel fast charger
indicates the run-time in hours and and power supply unit weighing less
minutes when attached to a device. than 1 kg. The VL-2X2 has a carrying
The display automatically changes to handle and folding stabiliser arms at
show battery charge as a percentage its base. An LED display indicates when
of full when not attached to a device or charging is complete on each channel.
when no load is placed on the battery. A switch on the rear of the unit lets
All Anton/Bauer batteries are housed the user select between charging and
in a case made from high-impact the VL-2X2's other function: a mains
polymer; the same material used in power supply unit capable of providing
motorcycle helmets.
Blueshape produces a wide range
of V-Mount lithium-ion batteries. The
Splash Granite series is claimed
to be unique in having
an IP65 water resistance
rating. Three models
are available: BV100HD,
BV190HD and BV270HD.
The BV100HD has a 10.8
to 16.8 voltage range and
94 watt hour capacity. Weight
is 1.19 kilogrammes.

Hawk-Woods' VL-2X2
features a carry handle and legs

60 watts at 15 volts via a four-pin XLR
output.
IDX's recently introduced Endura
CUE lithium-ion battery range consists
of three V-Mount models: CUE-D75,
CUE-D95 and CUE-D150. Each of these
batteries has a DC output connector
allowing peripherals to be powered
direct. A discharge cut-off prevents the
batteries being damaged by products
without a voltage sensing shutdown
mechanism.
Four power status LEDs provide
a quick check of remaining power
capacity. IDX uses cells selected and
matched by Sanyo. Additional features
of the Endura CUE range include
battery circuit protection. This guards
against the common causes of battery
misuse
including
overcharging/
discharging and exposure to high
temperatures.
With a P-V2 or a P-VS2 adaptor
plate (available separately from IDX

IDX Endura CUE batteries feature a cut-off protection system
http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.hawkwoods.com/Prods/Product/VL-2X2 http://www.cine60.de/en/bloq http://idxtek.com/product-category/endura-batteries/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xglPbyu6SR4&x-yt-cl=85114404&x-yt-ts=1422579428
In Broadcast - February 2015

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