2010Batteries/Power forum
Adding a second battery to an Archer stabilizer for extended power during film shoots
16 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Connecting two batteries in parallel via P-Tap connectors maintains the 12V output without risk of damage to the camera rig
- Adding a second battery significantly increases weight and affects the balance and panning characteristics of the stabilizer
- The Archer monitor position prevents using the battery weight to counterbalance other equipment like a heavy camera
- Modifying the stabilizer's internal plate to accept a direct second battery feed requires opening the plate and rewiring connectors
- A P-Tap cable with male connectors on both ends can link two batteries together while providing safe power output to the rig
- Operating multiple batteries in parallel mode rather than series mode is the appropriate configuration for high-drain applications
- Converting a stabilizer to 24V capability requires internal modifications and a DC-DC converter, which demands significant rewiring
Depends on
- Space constraints exist inside the stabilizer plate for adding connectors
- No consensus was reached in the thread about the safety of opening the plate and directly rewiring battery connections
- The original poster did not confirm which solution was ultimately implemented
- Advice about modifying internal electrical systems was not provided by someone with formal electrical training