BC-U2 to power F3 at DVinfo.net

Ron Wilk · June 25th, 2012, 12:32 PM

I am using the above charger to power my F3 via a Vortex Media cable. However, the camera presents with a low voltage warning? Any ideas?

Doug Jensen · June 25th, 2012, 01:23 PM

There's probably something wrong with your BC-U2. I use the same configuration and don't get any low-voltage warnings. Can you test the output voltage?

Rudy Wilms · June 25th, 2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wilk

I am using the above charger to power my F3 via a Vortex Media cable. However, the camera presents with a low voltage warning? Any ideas?

I use the same and it works perfect

Ron Wilk · June 25th, 2012, 04:11 PM

Good to hear that it should work ... guess I'll drag out the old multimeter.

Ron Wilk · June 25th, 2012, 05:36 PM

I checked the voltage output from my BC-U2 and it reads a steady 12.2 volts. My connection to the F3 was via a 4 pin XLR adapter cable, and I wonder if the problem could lie there within. I have no way of testing the cable and have just sent off an email to the supplier to see what they have to say.

Chong Pak · June 25th, 2012, 07:53 PM

isn't there something in the menu where you can set your power warning, just change the voltage to a lower voltage.

Ron Wilk · June 26th, 2012, 07:16 AM

QUOTE: "isn't there something in the menu where you can set your power warning, just change the voltage to a lower voltage."

If it's even possible—haven't come across that menu option—and if the camera's warning is accurate, changing the voltage will only serve to squelch the warning. I suspect that the camera's reading is accurate because it went to battery power while I was updating to firmware Ver 1.4, and I can confirm this by the drop in battery charge after the process was complete.

Leonard Levy · June 26th, 2012, 12:09 PM

On a cheap analog voltmeter mine looks like it registers around 12.6 V or so.

Alister Chapman · June 27th, 2012, 03:50 AM

Your really pushing the limits of the BC-U2 if you have the A/B SDI outputs on. The F3 draws 2 amps when everything is on, while the BC-U2 is rated at 2 amps, running power supplies flat out like that is never good long term. I use a 3 amp supply with my F3.

Ron Wilk · June 27th, 2012, 07:17 AM

Hi Alister,

Yes, I agree. I found that the camera read the BC-U2's output as 11.9 volts at rest—no camera activity. And I assume that it called for more amps than the unit could supply during the firmware update. I just ordered an IDX power supply—4.4 Amp, 13.5 volts, 60 Watt— that will hopefully do the job.

June 25th, 2012, 12:32 PM	#1
Ron Wilk Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Parkland Florida Posts: 407	BC-U2 to power F3 I am using the above charger to power my F3 via a Vortex Media cable. However, the camera presents with a low voltage warning? Any ideas?

June 25th, 2012, 01:23 PM	#2
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,450	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 There's probably something wrong with your BC-U2. I use the same configuration and don't get any low-voltage warnings. Can you test the output voltage? __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

June 25th, 2012, 04:11 PM	#4
Ron Wilk Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Parkland Florida Posts: 407	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 Good to hear that it should work ... guess I'll drag out the old multimeter.

June 25th, 2012, 05:36 PM	#5
Ron Wilk Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Parkland Florida Posts: 407	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 I checked the voltage output from my BC-U2 and it reads a steady 12.2 volts. My connection to the F3 was via a 4 pin XLR adapter cable, and I wonder if the problem could lie there within. I have no way of testing the cable and have just sent off an email to the supplier to see what they have to say.

June 25th, 2012, 07:53 PM	#6
Chong Pak Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 50	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 isn't there something in the menu where you can set your power warning, just change the voltage to a lower voltage.

June 26th, 2012, 07:16 AM	#7
Ron Wilk Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Parkland Florida Posts: 407	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 QUOTE: "isn't there something in the menu where you can set your power warning, just change the voltage to a lower voltage." If it's even possible—haven't come across that menu option—and if the camera's warning is accurate, changing the voltage will only serve to squelch the warning. I suspect that the camera's reading is accurate because it went to battery power while I was updating to firmware Ver 1.4, and I can confirm this by the drop in battery charge after the process was complete.

June 26th, 2012, 12:09 PM	#8
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 On a cheap analog voltmeter mine looks like it registers around 12.6 V or so.

June 27th, 2012, 03:50 AM	#9
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 Your really pushing the limits of the BC-U2 if you have the A/B SDI outputs on. The F3 draws 2 amps when everything is on, while the BC-U2 is rated at 2 amps, running power supplies flat out like that is never good long term. I use a 3 amp supply with my F3. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

June 27th, 2012, 07:17 AM	#10
Ron Wilk Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Parkland Florida Posts: 407	Re: BC-U2 to power F3 Hi Alister, Yes, I agree. I found that the camera read the BC-U2's output as 11.9 volts at rest—no camera activity. And I assume that it called for more amps than the unit could supply during the firmware update. I just ordered an IDX power supply—4.4 Amp, 13.5 volts, 60 Watt— that will hopefully do the job.