PL-U95 - Has anybody tried this battery?

Andrew Stone · November 15th, 2009, 02:49 PM

Here's an image of the GripFun PL-U95 battery Bob is referring to...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3RdPHThuWW...320/PL-U95.jpg

As mentioned, it is a lot longer than the Swit but this could be an advantage to some needing to throw weight off the back of the camera for balance and stability.

Bob Grant · November 15th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Post #4 in this thread I have a picture of it mounted in my EX1. That'll probably give you a better idea of how much it'll protrude from the camera. Even though I measured the distance with a ruler before I bought the battery it still came as a bit of surprise once I put the battery in the camera.

John Peterson · November 16th, 2009, 07:17 AM

The only place the GripFun PL-U95 battery seems to be available in the states is from one vendor on Ebay.

Has anyone seen them available from a legitimate vendor in the US?

John

Mark Savage · February 2nd, 2010, 09:29 PM

I have just used the PL-U95 on a feature project and found it to be very reliable.

Yes, it's long, but the length and weight was helpful.

I usually went a full day and got around 7 hours most of the time.

I purchased it off the eBay dealer and have no complaints.

After almost 3 months of use, a satisfied customer.

Greg Charest · August 7th, 2010, 03:03 PM

Hi sorry for dredging this thread up but I have just bought one of these batteries and was wondering at what level does the battery usually stop functioning.
The reason I ask is that it does not show in the time remaining like the U-60 battery does.

Olof Ekbergh · August 8th, 2010, 07:14 AM

I use a couple of the SWits to power the EX1R and NanoFlash. I have had them for about a year now, and no real problems. I get at least 4 hrs of constant on and 90% recording time with NF and camera.

The led lights on the battery don't mean much. I use the voltage indicated in the camera to judge how much charge is left.

I usually switch when the indicator hits 12volts.

I have had a few occasions (2 or 3) when the EX1R will not run with this battery, even when fully charged. I just put it back on the charger and then after a while back on the camera, and then for some reason it will work fine, this is on one out of 3 batteries. It is a little disconcerting but mostly they have been trouble free. I have never had a Sony or IDX battery do this. So I do think you get what you pay for. The next time this happens I will see if I can return the battery for a replacement, when it is in this state.

John Peterson · August 8th, 2010, 08:07 AM

The reason I ask is that it does not show in the time remaining like the U-60 battery does.
====================================================================

Actually the specs for the Sunpow battery indicated that it is supposed to show remaining time on the LCD screen of the EX1.

The remaining capacity of the battery is displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder when the camcorder is powered on.
GripFun PL-U95 battery for Sony PMW-EX1 | Editsuite.com

The battery is no longer shown on the Sunpow website however:

Sony professional camcorder batteries, broadcast camcorder batteries

It's possible that the eBay vendor is selling old batteries.

John

Greg Charest · August 8th, 2010, 02:44 PM

Like the post before last said the indicator only shows in voltage, not time remaining. As far as I know it has never ever been able to communicate time remaining like a Sony cell does.
Something about Sony not wanting other people making cheaper replacement parts might have something to do with that I'm guessing.
Like Epson's ink cartridges saying ink was low when there was 20 percent left in the tank. People got tired of that and started coming up with solutions to bypass that.

Alex Dolgin · August 8th, 2010, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olof Ekbergh

I have had a few occasions (2 or 3) when the EX1R will not run with this battery, even when fully charged. I just put it back on the charger and then after a while back on the camera, and then for some reason it will work fine, this is on one out of 3 batteries. It is a little disconcerting but mostly they have been trouble free.

Olof, what you are describing is the overcurrent circuit breaker inside the battery trips. If you do not overload it by connecting too many devices all at once or using a bad shorted cable, it should not happen. Contact me privately, I will help in replacing the battery.

Olof Ekbergh · August 8th, 2010, 05:08 PM

Alex, that makes sense.

It has happened when my NanoFlash and EXcam are both connected to the battery, and I turn them both on at the same time. I am pretty sure this is when it has happened.

I did think about that the last time it happened, in Arkansas and it was very hot. The battery was hot too, right off the charger. Normally I don't think the NF uses much power, but maybe being very hot both the EX1R and the NF use more power and add to that the fact that the battery is hot too.

The other times it has happened is in the heat in FL and SC I think. So it may be heat related too.

The battery seems fine now in NH, hot here is 85, usually that is.

Alex Dolgin · August 8th, 2010, 05:34 PM

It might be that the ambient temperature played its role. But most likely it is so called "inrush" current that goes in on turn on. You said you turned on both at the same time, increasing the chance of that. Try to give it a few seconds in between.
Regards

August 8th, 2010, 07:14 AM	#21
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	I use a couple of the SWits to power the EX1R and NanoFlash. I have had them for about a year now, and no real problems. I get at least 4 hrs of constant on and 90% recording time with NF and camera. The led lights on the battery don't mean much. I use the voltage indicated in the camera to judge how much charge is left. I usually switch when the indicator hits 12volts. I have had a few occasions (2 or 3) when the EX1R will not run with this battery, even when fully charged. I just put it back on the charger and then after a while back on the camera, and then for some reason it will work fine, this is on one out of 3 batteries. It is a little disconcerting but mostly they have been trouble free. I have never had a Sony or IDX battery do this. So I do think you get what you pay for. The next time this happens I will see if I can return the battery for a replacement, when it is in this state. __________________ Olof Ekbergh • olof@WestsideAV.com Westside A V Studios • http://www.WestsideAVstore.com/

August 8th, 2010, 05:08 PM	#25
Olof Ekbergh Sponsor: Westside AV Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Washington Valley, NH, USA Posts: 1,365	Alex, that makes sense. It has happened when my NanoFlash and EXcam are both connected to the battery, and I turn them both on at the same time. I am pretty sure this is when it has happened. I did think about that the last time it happened, in Arkansas and it was very hot. The battery was hot too, right off the charger. Normally I don't think the NF uses much power, but maybe being very hot both the EX1R and the NF use more power and add to that the fact that the battery is hot too. The other times it has happened is in the heat in FL and SC I think. So it may be heat related too. The battery seems fine now in NH, hot here is 85, usually that is. __________________ Olof Ekbergh • olof@WestsideAV.com Westside A V Studios • http://www.WestsideAVstore.com/

August 8th, 2010, 05:34 PM	#26
Alex Dolgin Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lexington, Ma Posts: 286	It might be that the ambient temperature played its role. But most likely it is so called "inrush" current that goes in on turn on. You said you turned on both at the same time, increasing the chance of that. Try to give it a few seconds in between. Regards __________________ Alex Dolgin Dolgin Engineering Camera DC Power accessories, Fast 4 position Battery Charger http://www.dolgin.net

November 15th, 2009, 02:49 PM	#16
Andrew Stone Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 975	Here's an image of the GripFun PL-U95 battery Bob is referring to... http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3RdPHThuWW...320/PL-U95.jpg As mentioned, it is a lot longer than the Swit but this could be an advantage to some needing to throw weight off the back of the camera for balance and stability.

November 15th, 2009, 03:15 PM	#17
Bob Grant Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,570	Post #4 in this thread I have a picture of it mounted in my EX1. That'll probably give you a better idea of how much it'll protrude from the camera. Even though I measured the distance with a ruler before I bought the battery it still came as a bit of surprise once I put the battery in the camera.

November 16th, 2009, 07:17 AM	#18
John Peterson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 703	The only place the GripFun PL-U95 battery seems to be available in the states is from one vendor on Ebay. Has anyone seen them available from a legitimate vendor in the US? John

February 2nd, 2010, 09:29 PM	#19
Mark Savage Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 49	I have just used the PL-U95 on a feature project and found it to be very reliable. Yes, it's long, but the length and weight was helpful. I usually went a full day and got around 7 hours most of the time. I purchased it off the eBay dealer and have no complaints. After almost 3 months of use, a satisfied customer.

August 7th, 2010, 03:03 PM	#20
Greg Charest New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 21	Hi sorry for dredging this thread up but I have just bought one of these batteries and was wondering at what level does the battery usually stop functioning. The reason I ask is that it does not show in the time remaining like the U-60 battery does.

August 8th, 2010, 08:07 AM	#22
John Peterson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 703	The reason I ask is that it does not show in the time remaining like the U-60 battery does. ==================================================================== Actually the specs for the Sunpow battery indicated that it is supposed to show remaining time on the LCD screen of the EX1. The remaining capacity of the battery is displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder when the camcorder is powered on. GripFun PL-U95 battery for Sony PMW-EX1 \| Editsuite.com The battery is no longer shown on the Sunpow website however: Sony professional camcorder batteries, broadcast camcorder batteries It's possible that the eBay vendor is selling old batteries. John

August 8th, 2010, 02:44 PM	#23
Greg Charest New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 21	Like the post before last said the indicator only shows in voltage, not time remaining. As far as I know it has never ever been able to communicate time remaining like a Sony cell does. Something about Sony not wanting other people making cheaper replacement parts might have something to do with that I'm guessing. Like Epson's ink cartridges saying ink was low when there was 20 percent left in the tank. People got tired of that and started coming up with solutions to bypass that.