2012Batteries/Power forum
How to prioritize onboard batteries over sled power on Alexa cameras
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The Alexa camera prioritizes power based on voltage level rather than physical source, automatically using whichever source has the higher voltage and switching when the higher voltage source drops below the other.
- The camera accepts voltages between 10.5V and 34V on the 2-pin Fischer connector.
- To make onboard batteries priority, sled power must be supplied at a lower voltage than the onboard batteries—for example 12V from the sled with 24V onboard batteries.
- Voltage drop along the camera cable from the sled can reduce the effective voltage reaching the camera.
- The camera's low battery warning threshold can be adjusted through the menu system.
- If using batteries in parallel on the camera body, they are treated as a single power source by the camera.
Depends on
- No direct menu setting exists to force preference for onboard batteries regardless of voltage.
- Practical implementation of lower sled voltage may require rewiring cables.
- The voltage drop on centerpost cables can vary depending on cable quality and length.
- One participant suggested the solution may not work reliably without additional voltage regulation hardware.