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Sony XDCAM PMW-F3 CineAlta
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Old June 25th, 2012, 12:32 PM   #1
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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?
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Old June 25th, 2012, 01:23 PM   #2
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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?
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Old June 25th, 2012, 01:39 PM   #3
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Re: BC-U2 to power F3

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Wilk View Post
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
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Old June 25th, 2012, 04:11 PM   #4
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Re: BC-U2 to power F3

Good to hear that it should work ... guess I'll drag out the old multimeter.
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Old June 25th, 2012, 05:36 PM   #5
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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.
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Old June 25th, 2012, 07:53 PM   #6
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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.
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Old June 26th, 2012, 07:16 AM   #7
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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.
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Old June 26th, 2012, 12:09 PM   #8
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Re: BC-U2 to power F3

On a cheap analog voltmeter mine looks like it registers around 12.6 V or so.
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Old June 27th, 2012, 03:50 AM   #9
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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.
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Old June 27th, 2012, 07:17 AM   #10
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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.
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