2021From a Facebook group: Steadicam operators group
ARRI ALEXA Mini LF voltage drop and heating when powered from sled via two V-Lock batteries at 24 V.
What the thread found
- High cable resistance in the original harness or damaged connector contacts cause voltage drop and heat generation in the post.
- Hybrid sleds assembled from components of different manufacturers (e.g. Ultra top with MK-V base) are a common source of such issues.
- Rewiring the post with thicker, low-resistance conductors solves the problem; the 12/24 V switch itself introduces resistance and may be omitted.
- When rewiring, install four HD-SDI lines (one as spare) instead of the original count.
- One operator reported a new harness costs moderate material expenses but requires approximately 20 labour hours; sourcing a local specialist avoids expensive shipping and downtime.
- A different sled operated at 24 V without heating, confirming the issue was specific to the original wiring.
Depends on
- Severity depends on camera current draw and the original gauge and length of conductors in the harness.
- Hybrid configurations mixing Ultra and MK-V components increase vulnerability.