Power Pack for HV20 at DVinfo.net

Bob Warner · June 16th, 2007, 02:21 PM

Is there a power pack I can plug in to the "DC IN" jack that will safely enable me to record for longer periods, 2 - 4 hours? Thanks. Bob

Chris Soucy · June 16th, 2007, 02:37 PM

It's called the battery charger/ power pack. The thing that comes with the camera, plugs into the mains one end and the camera at the other. Works for me.

Cheers,

Chris

Tim Haas · June 16th, 2007, 07:35 PM

i think bob might be referring to something like these guys make for when an outlet isn't so available... it doesn't seem that they have one specifically for the hv20 yet, unfortunately...

Chris Soucy · June 17th, 2007, 12:14 AM

Unless Bob can expand a bit on what, exactly, he was talking about, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for on that site.

'Fraid the crystal ball is fresh outa batteries and the guy with ESP just left the building.........

Cheers,

Chris

Bruce Allen · June 17th, 2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Warner

Is there a power pack I can plug in to the "DC IN" jack that will safely enable me to record for longer periods, 2 - 4 hours? Thanks. Bob

Try the Tekkeon MP3400. I bought it as a power supply for that 10" 720P monitor project I keep talking about. I found out that not only does it run my monitor for HOURS and HOURS, but it also makes a fantastic HV20 backup battery...

Sorry about the lack of statistics on hours of usage. Problem is, I haven't actually run it down fully in a single period of use.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

Jason Burkhimer · June 17th, 2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Soucy

Unless Bob can expand a bit on what, exactly, he was talking about, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for on that site.

'Fraid the crystal ball is fresh outa batteries and the guy with ESP just left the building.........

Cheers,

Chris

I see 0% confusion in his original post. I new exactly what he was talking about, in fact I could've used one yesterday on a shoot.

How about you take the batteries out of your sarcasm generator, and use them for your crystal ball....;)

-burk

Mike Dulay · June 17th, 2007, 05:42 PM

I have an idea to use a LiOn or LiPoly 7.4v battery with a high mAh rating with a power connector from radioshack. These are used for R/C craft. If you have a model building shop in town, you can try to give them a visit. They could probably custom make you a small/large R/C pack connector to DC power connector (show them the CA-850 powerbrick to read the +/- side of the connector). So you can charge many racing packs and then change them out as they run out, while using the standard battery as 'backup' power between changes.

http://www.rctoys.com/rc-toys-and-pa...BATTERIES.html

Note that you should be careful about dropping LiPoly batteries or contact with water ... they don't have a solid shell unlike LiOn (which really need it -- can burst into flames 8-). An intelligent charger with automatic cutoff helps prevent overcharging.

Chris Soucy · June 17th, 2007, 11:44 PM

that nobody here accepts that the non - latching concentric 2 pole power connector on the HV20 (and a lot of other equipment - designed BTW for "Static" only use) could not, under any circumstances, be called "safe" for long term, exterior, non static use?

I believe that was part of the original, tho' brief, brief?

Just a thought.

burk?

Hmm.

Cheers,

Chris

Andrew Plumb · June 18th, 2007, 08:16 AM

Chris, it's one of those Americanisms. "Power pack" meaning "external battery pack" not "power adapter".

...and to keep things on topic, if on a budget, pick up an automotive DC-AC inverter and plug the existing camera power adapter into that. Any old 12V battery can then be used to power the inverter, like a 12V cordless power-tool battery.

Andrew.

Andrew Plumb · June 18th, 2007, 08:18 AM

...and using the inverter approach opens up some other options for powering lighting and/or audio gear and accessories.

Andrew.

Bob Warner · June 18th, 2007, 10:08 PM

Thanks for the excellent tips. And let's not be so hard on Chris. Whether he did or did not understand the post he was at least trying to be funny. Bob

Tom Alexander · June 18th, 2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Dulay

I have an idea to use a LiOn or LiPoly 7.4v battery with a high mAh rating with a power connector from radioshack. These are used for R/C craft. If you have a model building shop in town, you can try to give them a visit. They could probably custom make you a small/large R/C pack connector to DC power connector (show them the CA-850 powerbrick to read the +/- side of the connector). So you can charge many racing packs and then change them out as they run out, while using the standard battery as 'backup' power between changes.

http://www.rctoys.com/rc-toys-and-pa...BATTERIES.html

Note that you should be careful about dropping LiPoly batteries or contact with water ... they don't have a solid shell unlike LiOn (which really need it -- can burst into flames 8-). An intelligent charger with automatic cutoff helps prevent overcharging.

The R/C batteries will work, or you could make your own. I originally built one for my PV-GS300, but converted the connection for the HV20 (the connection was easy to find). I used a 6 “C” size battery holder (to achieve 7.2 volts with 1.2 volt NIMH batteries). I had some 5000 mAH C cells that I had picked up from Battery Space for my bike lights, so I used them and it works great. The only soldering that I had to do was to solder the connection wires to the battery holder. With the 5000 mAH cells, I get approx. 4 times the run time of my factory battery. I went ahead and made another one that uses AA cells, with almost double the run time of the standard battery. You could also use 7.2 volt batteries and chargers from RC cars. I also made a small belt pack to carry it in or to hang it on the tripod (You could buy a factory made one that looks more professional).

Pic with the PV-GS300:
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...tteryPack1.jpg

Rikki Bruce · June 19th, 2007, 10:58 AM

H Tom,

I'm too going to build an extended pack similar to yours as it makes a lot of sense, especially as a backup when you can stop at a store and pickup C cells in an emergancy.

Off topic, but do you still use your Panasonic? I truely hated my GS280 (same as 300 without DV IN) due to the CCD smear whenever it was pointed at bright light. Got rid of it the moment my HV20 arrived :)

R

Ian Lim · July 26th, 2007, 06:02 AM

Bruce, have you tried running down fully the Tekkeon on HV20? I'd like to know how long is the capacity. Thanks

Tom Alexander · July 26th, 2007, 01:50 PM

A note on the "C" cells. The NiMH cells are 1.2 volt, so you use 6 cells. If you use Alkaline, as you would if you were to stop at a store to pick some up in an emergency, you would want to use a 5 cell holder as they are 1.5 volts and your voltage would be too high with 6. Someone mentioned that they use a 6 cell holder so that they could use either NiMH or alkaline, with a "dummy" cell (just a wooden dowel with a conductive metal band to bridge the slot) in the 6th slot when using alkaline batteries.

I still use the PV-GS300 as a "B" reel, miles better than any other camera in its price range at the time (maybe I just didn't point it at bright light... :). Too bad they eliminated the external mic input on the GS320, effectively ruining the camera for videography. I also use it in my underwater housing, but I just picked one up for the HV20 as well.

June 16th, 2007, 02:21 PM	#1
Bob Warner Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 35	Power Pack for HV20 Is there a power pack I can plug in to the "DC IN" jack that will safely enable me to record for longer periods, 2 - 4 hours? Thanks. Bob

June 16th, 2007, 02:37 PM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Er, yeah........... It's called the battery charger/ power pack. The thing that comes with the camera, plugs into the mains one end and the camera at the other. Works for me. Cheers, Chris

June 17th, 2007, 12:14 AM	#4
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	Sorry Tim.... Unless Bob can expand a bit on what, exactly, he was talking about, I'm not even sure what I'm looking for on that site. 'Fraid the crystal ball is fresh outa batteries and the guy with ESP just left the building......... Cheers, Chris

June 17th, 2007, 05:42 PM	#7
Mike Dulay Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Somerville, NJ Posts: 304	I have an idea to use a LiOn or LiPoly 7.4v battery with a high mAh rating with a power connector from radioshack. These are used for R/C craft. If you have a model building shop in town, you can try to give them a visit. They could probably custom make you a small/large R/C pack connector to DC power connector (show them the CA-850 powerbrick to read the +/- side of the connector). So you can charge many racing packs and then change them out as they run out, while using the standard battery as 'backup' power between changes. http://www.rctoys.com/rc-toys-and-pa...BATTERIES.html Note that you should be careful about dropping LiPoly batteries or contact with water ... they don't have a solid shell unlike LiOn (which really need it -- can burst into flames 8-). An intelligent charger with automatic cutoff helps prevent overcharging. __________________ DIY, 35mm, HV20: http://www.primitivebuteffective.net

June 17th, 2007, 11:44 PM	#8
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,689 Images: 18	May I take it........... that nobody here accepts that the non - latching concentric 2 pole power connector on the HV20 (and a lot of other equipment - designed BTW for "Static" only use) could not, under any circumstances, be called "safe" for long term, exterior, non static use? I believe that was part of the original, tho' brief, brief? Just a thought. burk? Hmm. Cheers, Chris

June 16th, 2007, 07:35 PM	#3
Tim Haas New Boot Join Date: May 2007 Location: Yorkville IL Posts: 6	i think bob might be referring to something like these guys make for when an outlet isn't so available... it doesn't seem that they have one specifically for the hv20 yet, unfortunately...

June 18th, 2007, 08:16 AM	#9
Andrew Plumb Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 94	Chris, it's one of those Americanisms. "Power pack" meaning "external battery pack" not "power adapter". ...and to keep things on topic, if on a budget, pick up an automotive DC-AC inverter and plug the existing camera power adapter into that. Any old 12V battery can then be used to power the inverter, like a 12V cordless power-tool battery. Andrew. __________________ "The future is already here. It's just not very evenly distributed." - William Gibson

June 18th, 2007, 08:18 AM	#10
Andrew Plumb Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 94	...and using the inverter approach opens up some other options for powering lighting and/or audio gear and accessories. Andrew. __________________ "The future is already here. It's just not very evenly distributed." - William Gibson

June 18th, 2007, 10:08 PM	#11
Bob Warner Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 35	Thanks Thanks for the excellent tips. And let's not be so hard on Chris. Whether he did or did not understand the post he was at least trying to be funny. Bob

June 19th, 2007, 10:58 AM	#13
Rikki Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Glasgow. Scotland Posts: 79	H Tom, I'm too going to build an extended pack similar to yours as it makes a lot of sense, especially as a backup when you can stop at a store and pickup C cells in an emergancy. Off topic, but do you still use your Panasonic? I truely hated my GS280 (same as 300 without DV IN) due to the CCD smear whenever it was pointed at bright light. Got rid of it the moment my HV20 arrived :) R

July 26th, 2007, 06:02 AM	#14
Ian Lim Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 178	Bruce, have you tried running down fully the Tekkeon on HV20? I'd like to know how long is the capacity. Thanks

July 26th, 2007, 01:50 PM	#15
Tom Alexander Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario, Ca. Posts: 121	A note on the "C" cells. The NiMH cells are 1.2 volt, so you use 6 cells. If you use Alkaline, as you would if you were to stop at a store to pick some up in an emergency, you would want to use a 5 cell holder as they are 1.5 volts and your voltage would be too high with 6. Someone mentioned that they use a 6 cell holder so that they could use either NiMH or alkaline, with a "dummy" cell (just a wooden dowel with a conductive metal band to bridge the slot) in the 6th slot when using alkaline batteries. I still use the PV-GS300 as a "B" reel, miles better than any other camera in its price range at the time (maybe I just didn't point it at bright light... :). Too bad they eliminated the external mic input on the GS320, effectively ruining the camera for videography. I also use it in my underwater housing, but I just picked one up for the HV20 as well.