Q: can a battery belt with a single connector power multiple devices? at DVinfo.net

Henry Cho · February 22nd, 2007, 03:49 AM

not sure where to post this, but figure a lot of people use external power sources to power lights. i've been using a cine 60 battery belt with a single 5-pin xlr connector to power an on-camera, 30v ab ultralight dualhead for a little while now. i was wondering if there was any way to share the power draw off the belt with another device, like an external 12v lcd monitor. i was thinking some kind of splitter? i'm not good with engineering at all, so forgive the question if it makes absolutely no technical sense :). i'm just trying to avoid adding a second external power solution to the equation.

any advice is appreciated.

Bill Busby · February 22nd, 2007, 03:57 AM

I could be wrong, but doubt it, but it seems the 30v belt would fry any 12v or lower device.

I do know that this can be done with a 12v belt. I've powered a camera, 12v light & 5" LCD monitor simultaneously before.

Bill

Henry Cho · February 22nd, 2007, 05:37 AM

thanks for that bill.

can i ask what you used to split the power draw off your 12v belt?

Bill Busby · February 22nd, 2007, 05:49 AM

Sure, my belt already has 2 4pin XLR outputs & for the 3rd device I just used a Y-splitter. B&H sells the splitter. I'm too lazy to make my own :-\

HTH,
Bill

Marcus Marchesseault · February 22nd, 2007, 07:19 PM

Henry, I hope you aren't planning to try using a splitter with your 30v battery to supply 12v accessories. Mixing voltages is not possible without burning something. I doubt you could even put a resistor in the line to bring it down to 12v. You would need a power transformer and that defeats the purpose. It would be better to standardize everything on 12v if you want to avoid separate power sources. 30v is not as common as 12v, but you would need to buy a new battery and light.

Henry Cho · February 22nd, 2007, 10:27 PM

the word "resistor" escaped me, but that was exactly what i was looking for -- something similar to a car cigarette adapter that draws 12v from the car battery and outputs regulated 9v to, say, a dvd player, or the anton bauer gold plates that draw 14.4v off a battery and output 7.2v to a camera. that said, i think i will probably go to a new, single power solution, along the lines of an anton bauer setup with multiple powertaps. thanks for the help guys.

ahhh... hawaii ;).

Marcus Marchesseault · February 22nd, 2007, 10:42 PM

Good idea. I hate to throw money at a problem, but there is likely too much difference between 30v and 12v for a simple resistor. BTW, if you want to save some weight, look into Nickel Metal Hydride NiMH batteries. They have greater energy density and should last longer which helps off-set the cost.

February 22nd, 2007, 03:49 AM	#1
Henry Cho Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 516	Q: can a battery belt with a single connector power multiple devices? not sure where to post this, but figure a lot of people use external power sources to power lights. i've been using a cine 60 battery belt with a single 5-pin xlr connector to power an on-camera, 30v ab ultralight dualhead for a little while now. i was wondering if there was any way to share the power draw off the belt with another device, like an external 12v lcd monitor. i was thinking some kind of splitter? i'm not good with engineering at all, so forgive the question if it makes absolutely no technical sense :). i'm just trying to avoid adding a second external power solution to the equation. any advice is appreciated.

February 22nd, 2007, 03:57 AM	#2
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	I could be wrong, but doubt it, but it seems the 30v belt would fry any 12v or lower device. I do know that this can be done with a 12v belt. I've powered a camera, 12v light & 5" LCD monitor simultaneously before. Bill

February 22nd, 2007, 05:37 AM	#3
Henry Cho Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 516	thanks for that bill. can i ask what you used to split the power draw off your 12v belt?

February 22nd, 2007, 05:49 AM	#4
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	Sure, my belt already has 2 4pin XLR outputs & for the 3rd device I just used a Y-splitter. B&H sells the splitter. I'm too lazy to make my own :-\ HTH, Bill

February 22nd, 2007, 07:19 PM	#5
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	Henry, I hope you aren't planning to try using a splitter with your 30v battery to supply 12v accessories. Mixing voltages is not possible without burning something. I doubt you could even put a resistor in the line to bring it down to 12v. You would need a power transformer and that defeats the purpose. It would be better to standardize everything on 12v if you want to avoid separate power sources. 30v is not as common as 12v, but you would need to buy a new battery and light.

February 22nd, 2007, 10:27 PM	#6
Henry Cho Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 516	the word "resistor" escaped me, but that was exactly what i was looking for -- something similar to a car cigarette adapter that draws 12v from the car battery and outputs regulated 9v to, say, a dvd player, or the anton bauer gold plates that draw 14.4v off a battery and output 7.2v to a camera. that said, i think i will probably go to a new, single power solution, along the lines of an anton bauer setup with multiple powertaps. thanks for the help guys. ahhh... hawaii ;).

February 22nd, 2007, 10:42 PM	#7
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	Good idea. I hate to throw money at a problem, but there is likely too much difference between 30v and 12v for a simple resistor. BTW, if you want to save some weight, look into Nickel Metal Hydride NiMH batteries. They have greater energy density and should last longer which helps off-set the cost.