Forever Battery Life - almost!

[previdman]

I hate carrying multiple batts around. They always need changing at the wrong time and eventually, I run out. Not to mention the high initial and replacement cost.

So, I went back to my old 2 piece video camera/recorder days and revived an inexpensive solution that worked like a charm. With the comparatively small power requirements of the HV20/30, it works even better. Here 'tis:

Picked up a 75 watt mini 12VDC to 110VAC power inverter, not much larger than a cigarette lighter adaptor from Surplus Computers for $10.

Picked up a 12V Werker 7.5 Amp Hour sealed battery (from BatteriesPlus, abt $30.

Stuffed it all in a small carry bag, added a cigarette lighter receptacle (WalMart Auto Dept. $4) wired it to the battery. Plugged in the fuse-protected inverter. Then plugged in the HV30's standard AC charger/adaptor.

Presto! Can shoot for hours on end. No worries about extra batteries, overcurrent, undercurrent, etc.

Recharge the battery with a 12VDC trickle/float charger from Harbor Freight ($10) at night and shoot all day again, tomorrow. Using this smart type charger, you can recharge the battery many, many...many times.

BONUS: Hang the carry bag low enough between the tripod legs and the 5.8 lb. battery serves as great ballast. Wanna' go mobile? Use a fanny pack instead of the carry bag.

Total Cost for virtually unlimited shooting: Abt. $60.

Just FYI. Hope it helps.

[Worley]

Brilliant idea. I like it. Now, the find similar parts in the UK...

[Rikki]

Or...

Same 12v lead acid battery
+ in car 12v to 7.4v mini transformer with same plug on end to fit HV20

Saves the DC -> AC -> DC conversion plus saves having to have the original HV20 charger in your pack which will heat up along with the invertor.

[Rikki]

eg:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...48574&doy=14m4

or

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...37423&doy=14m4

[Alien]

This is very cheap solution for car charger, it is also universal travel charger 100-240V, works perfectly:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Battery-Charger-...QQcmdZViewItem

You could probably find a cheaper ebay listing for the same item.

[previdman]

I know about 7.4 adaptors, even have a couple plug ends that fit. But most of them are a little...well, let's say unregulated (read cheap.)

The HV20 runs on a lesser voltage than it's battery charger puts out. I assume it's to power the camera while simutaneously charging the battery. For whatever reasoning Canon chose to not match voltages, I didn't want to chance under or over-powering the camera.

The whole idea was to use the actual Canon adaptor/charger so as not to run afoul of any strange voltage combinations that might ultimately do some damage.

Since the actual Canon charger is used to power the camera, all voltages are as correct (and presumably safe) as if you were running the camera on house current. Depending on how good and stable the inverter does it's job which, if it's supplied with a steady power supply, should suffice.

[previdman]

Brilliant idea. I like it. Now, the find similar parts in the UK...

The beauty abt this setup is everything should be readily available in the UK with the only change being a 12VDC to 220VAC inverter. Don't know if they exist as I've never looked for one but I can't imagine why they don't.

That way you can use your actual Canon AC charger/adaptor instead of taking a chance on just transforming 12VDC to 7.4 through a simple (cheap) car adaptor. There may be some advantages doing it that way, like more efficient conversion but I'd rather not risk it.

And the car adaptors I've seen from Canon, though not specifically for the HV20/30 but having the same 7.4 voltage output, are abt $180 USD, as I recall. And it still doesn't address the different voltages between camera battery output vs charger output.

But I'm always open to revision and if there's a better/safer/cheaper alternative to doing this, by all means, I'm interested.

[Rikki]

I know about 7.4 adaptors, even have a couple plug ends that fit. But most of them are a little...well, let's say unregulated (read cheap.)

The HV20 runs on a lesser voltage than it's battery charger puts out. I assume it's to power the camera while simutaneously charging the battery. For whatever reasoning Canon chose to not match voltages, I didn't want to chance under or over-powering the camera.

The whole idea was to use the actual Canon adaptor/charger so as not to run afoul of any strange voltage combinations that might ultimately do some damage.

Since the actual Canon charger is used to power the camera, all voltages are as correct (and presumably safe) as if you were running the camera on house current. Depending on how good and stable the inverter does it's job which, if it's supplied with a steady power supply, should suffice.

Unregulated would be fine to be honest.

In a car you have to deal with everything from 11v through 15v (14.4v norm when charging) but from a battery without any external drain like a car running, demister, heaters, air con etc etc it should be more than fine as the input voltage is stable.

[Skatervideoguy]

Hi previdman,

Glad to see other's using this type of system.

I've been powering my Cams and Monitors this way for many years now. I use tha SIMA Universal Power Adapter units for running the Cams from the Batterys, and the Battery Tender Junior #021-0123 as the batterys charger. I have 4 of these set-ups, using 3 batterys of the size you show, and one huge and heavy Deep Cycle RV Battery.

During Horse Shows, I power a Cam, a Monitor, and 2 VCRs all day long using this method.

I also use the same tricks as you for weighting the TriPod and for walking around. Work great don't they ?

Good for you.

Harold

[previdman]

SKatervideoguy,
Yep. And I admit I don't know much, but I know what works. Went out with a garden tractor battery once and shot in the woods for 3 days straight, no probs! Still had charge enough to start the riding mower when I got home. (Wife cut the grass, I don't do yard work.)

[Skatervideoguy]

Hi previdman,

A man after my own heart. I tried my Lawn Tractor Battey too, but it wouldn't power my VCR's long enough.

My wife does the lawn work too. She rides like the wind and wields a mean weed eater.

Harold

[previdman]

I actually think it's a woman's job....heh, heh.

[previdman]

Jus' kidding....no, really.

[voodeux]

I would personally love to see an undermount battery solution for these palmcorders. The larger form factor and lower center of gravity would be a bonus. Of course, it would need to have a threaded mounting hole on the base, but thats an easy requirement to accomodate. Any takers? Bueller? Bueller?

[previdman]

I'm really waiting for them to perfect Tesla's wireless power transmission idea. That, coupled with wi-fi transmitted images to remote solid state media means all we'd really need would be a lens and a chip!! Heck, just tap into the optic nerve and let's be done with it. Don't know what you'd do for zoom tho, maybe multi-element contacts? Go Tesla!

[CraWea]

I'm really waiting for them to perfect Tesla's wireless power transmission idea. That, coupled with wi-fi transmitted images to remote solid state media means all we'd really need would be a lens and a chip!! Heck, just tap into the optic nerve and let's be done with it. Don't know what you'd do for zoom tho, maybe multi-element contacts? Go Tesla!

Hmm... You see, I'm thinking something more in the lines of creating a simple cross-dimension worm hole, carefully stabilizing it with the necessary exotic matter of course, to temporarily impose a given consciousness from an alternative universe onto your own.

Now you have quantum resolution 4D video.
YouTube will never be the same.

Btw, your comment just made my day...

[Worley]

I've gone and bought some parts from Maplin to try this for myself.
Battery - £25 (and 2.5kg)
Solar powered trickle charger - £15 (recommended by maplin, and ideal as my wife and children don't like me charging things overnight)
Regulated power supply - £7
Cigarette lighter socket - £3

So, twice the price of the US equivalent!

I'm also going to by a socket doubler so I can run the camera and a small LCD screen simultaneously.

[CycleWriter]

The HV20 runs on a lesser voltage than it's battery charger puts out. I assume it's to power the camera while simutaneously charging the battery.

Just to clarify, the battery does not charge when the camera is in either playback or record mode.

[previdman]

Just to clarify, the battery does not charge when the camera is in either playback or record mode.

Yes, that's correct. Which makes it even more strange that the charger is rated 1 full volt higher than the battery. If the adaptor/charger isn't charging the battery while powering the camera, why does the camera need that extra volt? It doesn't get it when running on the battery. Odd.

Btw, you can run this setup with or without the battery. It really lightens the camera up without the battery, almost too much.

[Skatervideoguy]

Hi previdman,

I usually run my Cams (with out the Cam battery) this way when I use the larger battery.

Harold

[Worley]

Well done Maplin! Delivered everything before 9 o'clock this morning by DHL, all free of charge.

Shame about the packaging. What's the point of putting a 2.5kg battery on top of a solar powered trickle charger, and putting all the lovely soft padding material on top of the battery?

The charger was damaged in transit.

But WELL DONE, Maplin! A quick phone call, and a new one is on the way, and I can keep the broken one. A little investigation reveals that all that is broken is the fuse holder and fuse on the crocodile clips. No problem as the unit also comes with a cigarette lighter connection, and thats what I want to use.

Anyway, it works. I can run my cameras from the battery, and charge it using solar power.

I want to test it to see if I can run a camera an mini LCD screen at the same time, as that would make life so much easier.

Here are the part numbers:

MM26 - Battery, 12V 7.2Ah
L17AR - Regulated power adapter (switchable voltage, plugs into camera)
L58BF - 12v Solar Power Trickle Charger

Order through Quidco.co.uk for 4% cashback, and search for the Maplin discount codes as you can get a couple of extra pounds off. Orders over £35 have free delivery.

[africanmarty]

I hate carrying multiple batts around. They always need changing at the wrong time and eventually, I run out. Not to mention the high initial and replacement cost.

So, I went back to my old 2 piece video camera/recorder days and revived an inexpensive solution that worked like a charm. With the comparatively small power requirements of the HV20/30, it works even better. Here 'tis:

Picked up a 75 watt mini 12VDC to 110VAC power inverter, not much larger than a cigarette lighter adaptor from Surplus Computers for $10.

Picked up a 12V Werker 7.5 Amp Hour sealed battery (from BatteriesPlus, abt $30.

Stuffed it all in a small carry bag, added a cigarette lighter receptacle (WalMart Auto Dept. $4) wired it to the battery. Plugged in the fuse-protected inverter. Then plugged in the HV30's standard AC charger/adaptor.

Presto! Can shoot for hours on end. No worries about extra batteries, overcurrent, undercurrent, etc.

Recharge the battery with a 12VDC trickle/float charger from Harbor Freight ($10) at night and shoot all day again, tomorrow. Using this smart type charger, you can recharge the battery many, many...many times.

BONUS: Hang the carry bag low enough between the tripod legs and the 5.8 lb. battery serves as great ballast. Wanna' go mobile? Use a fanny pack instead of the carry bag.

Total Cost for virtually unlimited shooting: Abt. $60.

Just FYI. Hope it helps.

could you please post a pic (of it all connected) so i could see how it all fits together. thanks.

[previdman]

I want to test it to see if I can run a camera an mini LCD screen at the same time, as that would make life so much easier.

I run a triple head lighter socket hooked up to the battery (before the inverter) and plug a 7" RCA LCD screen running on straight 12VDC. It works great, although it does shorten
overall run time. Easy fix tho, just get a higher rated battery.

Or better yet, improvise a battery beltpak and have one batt dedicated to camera and another for accessories. Should balance the weight for easier carry.

You could even just have the acc batt on the beltpak and hang the cam batt from the tripod for ballast, as stated before.

Sorry to hear abt your solar charger but you inspired me to forgo the float charger and get a solar charger, too! Thanks for the great idea.

[previdman]

could you please post a pic (of it all connected) so i could see how it all fits together. thanks.

Had some time to play with CorelDraw. Here's a diagram.

Don't need the AC/DC battery charger attached while shooting. I just put mine on charge at night so I'm good to go in AM. The AMP spade terminals aid in attaching and removing battery charger without removing lighter receptacle connections.

Good luck and have fun!

[Worley]

Don't worry if you can't get a fused lighter receptacle - the lighter plugs in the UK are fused already.

I need some spade connectors.

By the way, the solar powered charger I have came with a cigarette lighter attachment for charging, an crocodile clips. I'm using the cigarette lighter connector.