Powering your Camera from your Pilot at DVinfo.net

Joe Lawry · November 1st, 2008, 04:21 AM

Here are the details and photos of how i am powering my Panasonic HVX off my Pilot Sled.

Its a frezzi product. Made for the Frezzi Stable Cam shoulder mount to go from the VLock/AB mount on the back to the DV camera your supporting. I've just cut the ends off and soldered on the correct plugs. I've got around 8v coming out the end.

You can buy it from here - Frezzolini | 99106 PC-P2 Adapter Cable | 99106 | B&H Photo Video

Mine looks different, however they have the same model number so maybe frezzi redesigned them, Theres also one on there for the Z1, DVX, and a couple other cameras. All you'd need to do is cut off the end that normally plugs into the Stable Cam, solder on a new 2.1mm positive center connector to plug into the pilot sled and away you go. I hacked off both of my ends because mine was originally for a PD170.

See attached photos. You can see with my sled that because i've got a QR plate on there there is a nice little spot inbetween the camera and the top of the stage to gaff it in.

I've only just finished this addition.. time to completely rebalance the sled! its so out due to the missing weight of the battery.

Joe Lawry · November 11th, 2008, 05:05 PM

An update on this - I've scrapped it. Back to batteries.

It works, but sometimes its unreliable and the camera randomly switches off. I think its to do with the basic plugs. I also started getting major hum on the Pilot monitor when running power off the sled, there isnt enough isolation on the sled to stop this from happening, The power cable is touching metal somewhere..

I think all in all its easier to run a small rig like the pilot off the batteries, or, if your flyin an Ex1 or Ex3 just make the correct cable and you wont have to worry about dropping power down to 7.2v.

Buba Kastorski · November 12th, 2008, 09:22 AM

Not sure that I understand what kind of problem do you have with your setup, but I can tell that powering EX1 from the pilot battery works for me perfect; gives me about 6 hrs of non stop on one IDX
try to check your connections; I don't have any monitor hum or power offs, plus the sled is carbon fiber so I don't think there any problem with the isolation,
cheers

Joe Lawry · November 12th, 2008, 12:22 PM

The Ex1 is 14.4 volts.. so you dont need to use a power converter like i have been using to get down to 7.2v to power cameras like the hvx,a1,z1 etc.

November 1st, 2008, 04:21 AM	#1
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	Powering your Camera from your Pilot Here are the details and photos of how i am powering my Panasonic HVX off my Pilot Sled. Its a frezzi product. Made for the Frezzi Stable Cam shoulder mount to go from the VLock/AB mount on the back to the DV camera your supporting. I've just cut the ends off and soldered on the correct plugs. I've got around 8v coming out the end. You can buy it from here - Frezzolini \| 99106 PC-P2 Adapter Cable \| 99106 \| B&H Photo Video Mine looks different, however they have the same model number so maybe frezzi redesigned them, Theres also one on there for the Z1, DVX, and a couple other cameras. All you'd need to do is cut off the end that normally plugs into the Stable Cam, solder on a new 2.1mm positive center connector to plug into the pilot sled and away you go. I hacked off both of my ends because mine was originally for a PD170. See attached photos. You can see with my sled that because i've got a QR plate on there there is a nice little spot inbetween the camera and the top of the stage to gaff it in. I've only just finished this addition.. time to completely rebalance the sled! its so out due to the missing weight of the battery. Attached Thumbnails

November 11th, 2008, 05:05 PM	#2
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	An update on this - I've scrapped it. Back to batteries. It works, but sometimes its unreliable and the camera randomly switches off. I think its to do with the basic plugs. I also started getting major hum on the Pilot monitor when running power off the sled, there isnt enough isolation on the sled to stop this from happening, The power cable is touching metal somewhere.. I think all in all its easier to run a small rig like the pilot off the batteries, or, if your flyin an Ex1 or Ex3 just make the correct cable and you wont have to worry about dropping power down to 7.2v.

November 12th, 2008, 09:22 AM	#3
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Not sure that I understand what kind of problem do you have with your setup, but I can tell that powering EX1 from the pilot battery works for me perfect; gives me about 6 hrs of non stop on one IDX try to check your connections; I don't have any monitor hum or power offs, plus the sled is carbon fiber so I don't think there any problem with the isolation, cheers

November 12th, 2008, 12:22 PM	#4
Joe Lawry Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 418	The Ex1 is 14.4 volts.. so you dont need to use a power converter like i have been using to get down to 7.2v to power cameras like the hvx,a1,z1 etc.