12 Volt motorcycle battery at DVinfo.net

Gerald Palmer · May 22nd, 2007, 02:25 AM

Any ideas on how to transform a 12 volt battery into 7.2 volt use safely for the XL1? Thanks

Gerald Palmer · May 22nd, 2007, 03:06 AM

Think I may have answered my own question. Dolgin Engineering offers a step down transformer for $139. Looks hefty and safe.

Jim Michael · May 22nd, 2007, 05:10 AM

Why couldn't you use a 7.2 vdc zener diode for the step down voltage?

Marcus Marchesseault · May 22nd, 2007, 10:26 AM

Better yet, get a 7.2V battery pack. You will probably lose a lot during the 12V-7.2V conversion and the expense of the converter will more than pay for a more powerful 7.2V NiMH battery pack that will be lighter.

Gerald Palmer · May 22nd, 2007, 11:25 AM

Do the batteries that fit on the camera really last as long as they are rated?
Do they maintain whatever the rated hours charge capacity as listed perpetually, or do they lose their poop as they get older?

Marcus Marchesseault · May 22nd, 2007, 05:20 PM

No battery lasts forever. In fact, everything degrades over time. If you make your own 7.2V battery pack instead of rigging a motorcycle battery to output 7.2v, you will probably save money and get the product you really need. The cost of the batteries themselves is no longer very high. A 7.2V NiMH 5AH pack at batteryspace.com is only $36.

If you are trying to avoid buying the batteries designed for your camera, your best bet would be to simply buy those batteries or get an Anton Bauer adapter kit. What are you trying to accomplish? What camera do you use?

Giroud Francois · May 23rd, 2007, 12:51 AM

most of the big names in camera are selling accessories like 12v car converter.
12 battery is great when you need to use an external LCD or lights, but li-ion battery a infinitely better at powering a camera.
the biggest battery for sony VX2000 can power the camera for almost 8 hours.

Gerald Palmer · May 23rd, 2007, 01:17 AM

Thanks Marcus and Giroud. I guess I'm looking at dirt simple. There's a certain appeal to having oodles of DC cam power on hand. I've found the older batteries for my Xl1 don't hold a charge as well as they are rated after awhile. For the two larger sizes, how long should the Li ions last at the rated capacity? In other words for how many months should they work at capacity and how long in hours would that capacity be for the Xl1 for the different basic ones? I guess I'll need about two or three and they should be noted as to date of manufacture.
What about the CB 910? If I ran out of the grey market ones on location would the CB 910 hooked to a lead acid bat be a good backup and a good in the field charger. Also, the Canon manual warns that certain replacement batteries might give misleading data on the menus. Any ideas whidh ones do that?

May 22nd, 2007, 02:25 AM	#1
Gerald Palmer Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wailuku, Hawaii Posts: 4	12 Volt motorcycle battery Any ideas on how to transform a 12 volt battery into 7.2 volt use safely for the XL1? Thanks

May 22nd, 2007, 03:06 AM	#2
Gerald Palmer Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wailuku, Hawaii Posts: 4	Dolgin Enginering Think I may have answered my own question. Dolgin Engineering offers a step down transformer for $139. Looks hefty and safe.

May 22nd, 2007, 11:25 AM	#5
Gerald Palmer Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wailuku, Hawaii Posts: 4	7.2 Battery Pack Do the batteries that fit on the camera really last as long as they are rated? Do they maintain whatever the rated hours charge capacity as listed perpetually, or do they lose their poop as they get older?

May 23rd, 2007, 01:17 AM	#8
Gerald Palmer Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wailuku, Hawaii Posts: 4	12VoltSolutions Thanks Marcus and Giroud. I guess I'm looking at dirt simple. There's a certain appeal to having oodles of DC cam power on hand. I've found the older batteries for my Xl1 don't hold a charge as well as they are rated after awhile. For the two larger sizes, how long should the Li ions last at the rated capacity? In other words for how many months should they work at capacity and how long in hours would that capacity be for the Xl1 for the different basic ones? I guess I'll need about two or three and they should be noted as to date of manufacture. What about the CB 910? If I ran out of the grey market ones on location would the CB 910 hooked to a lead acid bat be a good backup and a good in the field charger. Also, the Canon manual warns that certain replacement batteries might give misleading data on the menus. Any ideas whidh ones do that?

May 22nd, 2007, 05:10 AM	#3
Jim Michael Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 895	Why couldn't you use a 7.2 vdc zener diode for the step down voltage?

May 22nd, 2007, 10:26 AM	#4
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	Better yet, get a 7.2V battery pack. You will probably lose a lot during the 12V-7.2V conversion and the expense of the converter will more than pay for a more powerful 7.2V NiMH battery pack that will be lighter.

May 22nd, 2007, 05:20 PM	#6
Marcus Marchesseault Trustee Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,961	No battery lasts forever. In fact, everything degrades over time. If you make your own 7.2V battery pack instead of rigging a motorcycle battery to output 7.2v, you will probably save money and get the product you really need. The cost of the batteries themselves is no longer very high. A 7.2V NiMH 5AH pack at batteryspace.com is only $36. If you are trying to avoid buying the batteries designed for your camera, your best bet would be to simply buy those batteries or get an Anton Bauer adapter kit. What are you trying to accomplish? What camera do you use?

May 23rd, 2007, 12:51 AM	#7
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	most of the big names in camera are selling accessories like 12v car converter. 12 battery is great when you need to use an external LCD or lights, but li-ion battery a infinitely better at powering a camera. the biggest battery for sony VX2000 can power the camera for almost 8 hours.