Cheaping my way into Anton Bauers.... at DVinfo.net

Jeff Miller · December 8th, 2004, 04:24 PM

I'd like to run my monitor in the field off Anton Bauers, and someday convert my XL2 to run off a brick as well. The battery prices are almost tolerable, sort of, but it looks like chargers are $4-500!!!

Question: can I use my RC-car charger to charge AB packs?
And I know what you are saying, 'no, you can't use the charger for your toy car to fill a $300++ battery'. But without going into a lot of detail, my charger (Supernova) is very high end; I can enter the type of cells, how many, capacity of battery and max charging amps and it will discharge/charge on it's own.

Plus, I have two of them.
Cost to charge two bricks with my equipment: $0
Cost to charge two bricks with new charger(s): $1000

I figure if a brick has any electronics in it though then a non-AB charger is out. Any ideas? I'm very new to the whole brick experience. Thanks!

Rick Bravo · December 8th, 2004, 06:39 PM

Cost to replace two bricks and ultimately buy the proper charger (including the cost of the damaged equipment-$2,000.00

Kicking yourself in the ass over the period of a year or so for saving a nickle while spending a dollar-PRICELESS!

The AB bricks have built in electronics that communicate with the smart chargers. Use the AB chargers, you'll be happy you did.

RB

Jeff Miller · December 8th, 2004, 08:43 PM

Just as I feared - the Super can charge anything that has real positive/negative terminals, but if a pack has brains in there then it's sunk. Oh well, back to the Yuasa's....

Charles Papert · December 12th, 2004, 11:18 PM

I recommend calling Anton Bauer in Connecticut, and inquire about purchasing b-stock gear. They regularly have demo units and lightly used batteries and chargers for up to 20% off. I just bought a whole set of Dionics and two chargers.

Jeff Miller · December 13th, 2004, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the tip. I notice BH also has used stock. Hm.,

Mark Sasahara · December 16th, 2004, 02:41 PM

Buy factory fresh batteries. No telling what you will get with used batteries. Buying a used charger shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps the Anton Bauer B-stock batteries are okay, maybe not.

Used chargers should be okay, as long as they haven't been abused. Be sure they can charge your particular batteries.

Michel Brewer · December 17th, 2004, 02:20 AM

you also might look for a used set that came with the panasonic supercam. Its basically a lifesaver dual charger and 2 digital trimpacs and if you look you might find some at a good price.

the mounting plate will still cost you some but getting a/b s is worth it if you shoot at night at all for the ability to put a real light on the cam. And just a fyi if you can find any halfway decent ebay seller the a/b even at say 70% of lifespan is going to give you hours of use and the counterbalance on the camera is great...

M

Charles Papert · December 17th, 2004, 03:52 PM

The only reason I advocate buying b-stock from AB is that they test the batteries thoroughly and include a printout with the discharge curve for each battery--plus, with some of the models the charger will actually indicate how many cycles have been run. And of course, with lithium you don't have the memory issue of NiCads, so the useage style is not as important.

December 8th, 2004, 04:24 PM	#1
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Cheaping my way into Anton Bauers.... I'd like to run my monitor in the field off Anton Bauers, and someday convert my XL2 to run off a brick as well. The battery prices are almost tolerable, sort of, but it looks like chargers are $4-500!!! Question: can I use my RC-car charger to charge AB packs? And I know what you are saying, 'no, you can't use the charger for your toy car to fill a $300++ battery'. But without going into a lot of detail, my charger (Supernova) is very high end; I can enter the type of cells, how many, capacity of battery and max charging amps and it will discharge/charge on it's own. Plus, I have two of them. Cost to charge two bricks with my equipment: $0 Cost to charge two bricks with new charger(s): $1000 I figure if a brick has any electronics in it though then a non-AB charger is out. Any ideas? I'm very new to the whole brick experience. Thanks!

December 8th, 2004, 06:39 PM	#2
Rick Bravo Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 574	Cost to replace two bricks and ultimately buy the proper charger (including the cost of the damaged equipment-$2,000.00 Kicking yourself in the ass over the period of a year or so for saving a nickle while spending a dollar-PRICELESS! The AB bricks have built in electronics that communicate with the smart chargers. Use the AB chargers, you'll be happy you did. RB __________________ "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra. www.rbravo.com

December 12th, 2004, 11:18 PM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I recommend calling Anton Bauer in Connecticut, and inquire about purchasing b-stock gear. They regularly have demo units and lightly used batteries and chargers for up to 20% off. I just bought a whole set of Dionics and two chargers. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 16th, 2004, 02:41 PM	#6
Mark Sasahara Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 649	Buy factory fresh batteries. No telling what you will get with used batteries. Buying a used charger shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps the Anton Bauer B-stock batteries are okay, maybe not. Used chargers should be okay, as long as they haven't been abused. Be sure they can charge your particular batteries. __________________ Mark Sasahara Director of Photography

December 17th, 2004, 02:20 AM	#7
Michel Brewer Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ventura California Posts: 179	ab on the cheap way you also might look for a used set that came with the panasonic supercam. Its basically a lifesaver dual charger and 2 digital trimpacs and if you look you might find some at a good price. the mounting plate will still cost you some but getting a/b s is worth it if you shoot at night at all for the ability to put a real light on the cam. And just a fyi if you can find any halfway decent ebay seller the a/b even at say 70% of lifespan is going to give you hours of use and the counterbalance on the camera is great... M __________________ milking the celebrity criminal trials thank god for the freaks

December 8th, 2004, 08:43 PM	#3
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Just as I feared - the Super can charge anything that has real positive/negative terminals, but if a pack has brains in there then it's sunk. Oh well, back to the Yuasa's....

December 13th, 2004, 08:42 AM	#5
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Thanks for the tip. I notice BH also has used stock. Hm.,

December 17th, 2004, 03:52 PM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	The only reason I advocate buying b-stock from AB is that they test the batteries thoroughly and include a printout with the discharge curve for each battery--plus, with some of the models the charger will actually indicate how many cycles have been run. And of course, with lithium you don't have the memory issue of NiCads, so the useage style is not as important. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com