Battery selection and quantity requirements for powering 35mm and HD cinema cameras on stabilized rigs

Gear

ZephyrCan I fly my Alexa or RED on a Zephyr?389

Master SeriesIs a used Master Series rig worth buying as a first big rig?191

BFDHow do I power my BFD receiver from my camera or sled?186

VoltCan I retrofit a Volt onto my existing sled or gimbal?168

ArtemisHow do I power my camera and accessories from an Artemis sled?166

MDRWhere can I mount my Preston MDR on my rig?143

ModulusIs there a Modulus option for HD wireless video?141

G-70Will my G-70 fit my vest, gimbal or sled?126

FI+ZCan I control iris and zoom wirelessly, not just focus?60

HU3Where can I get my HU3 repaired, refurbished or repainted?60

CineLiveHow do I pack and case my CineLive rig for transport?54

G-70XHow does the G-70X compare to Pro Titan, Xarm and other arms?46

Trinity 2Is Trinity 2 SUP 3.0 firmware safe to install or buggy?46

Ultra VestWhich vest should I choose for my body size, comfort and operator type?39

2008Batteries/Power forum

18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

Professional camera work requires a minimum of three battery sets, with four to five sets being preferable to account for power-hungry cameras, charger limitations, and battery failures during full shooting days.
The Sony F900 draws approximately 10 amps from the camera plus an additional 5 amps for rig accessories, totaling 15 amps load, which Trimpac batteries cannot reliably deliver due to excessive current draw.
Trimpac nickel-cadmium batteries have a long operational lifespan and can supply high current draw when needed, making them suitable for basic 35mm work when camera power requirements are moderate.
Hytron 140 batteries provide approximately 40 minutes of runtime per charge on power-hungry cameras after several usage cycles, requiring four backup batteries for every battery on a charger with a 2.75-hour charge cycle.
Dionic 90 batteries have proven reliable over multiple years and many charge cycles, successfully powering cameras ranging from 35mm formats to 435 at 96 frames per second.
Operators successfully used six Trimpacs combined with two Hytron 120 batteries to power various camera formats including 35mm, 235, 435, Arricam, HD, and Silicon 2K over a four-year period.
Trimpac batteries are wider than Hytron or Dionic models, creating potential interference with operator leg positioning during handheld rig operation.
Lithium-ion batteries from certain manufacturers may have delayed delivery or reliability issues that warrant caution before commitment.

Discussion focuses on stabilized rig power requirements and may not apply to other camera support methods.
Runtime calculations are based on specific charger models and degrade with battery age and cycle count.
F900 requirements mentioned but noted as likely to be sourced from rental equipment rather than personal batteries.
Budget constraints mentioned by questioner may limit practical implementation of ideal battery quantity recommendations.
The discussion does not establish definitive runtime specifications for Trimpac batteries with specific camera models.
One negative experience with a specific lithium-ion battery manufacturer is mentioned without detailed technical analysis.