2007Batteries/Power forum
Finding replacement 24 to 12 volt converters for Tiffen Ultra camera rigs
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The Alfatronix PV12i is a commercially available external converter that can step down voltage from 17-31V to 12-13.6V at 12 amps with ground isolation.
- The internal converter in Ultra rigs appears to be a custom component integrated into the sled's bottom dovetail and may not be available as an off-the-shelf part.
- Mechanical stress from repeatedly setting the sled down on the ground can cause the internal converter to crack over time.
- An alternative to replacing the internal converter is connecting a second 12-14 volt battery in series with the primary 24-28 volt battery to achieve 24-28 volt output.
- Marine supply stores often stock isolated DC-DC converters suitable for stepping down 24 volts to 12 volts.
- A 12-volt monitor connected to a 24-volt rig draws more current from the internal converter than a 24-volt monitor would.
Depends on
- The internal converter's custom design and integration with the dovetail heat sink means it may not have a standard replacement available through normal electronics suppliers.
- Whether rubber padding at the sled base would effectively reduce mechanical stress on the converter was not confirmed.
- The claim about ground-isolated converters being necessary was not universally agreed upon in the discussion.
- Some technical details about the original converter modification and the specific monitor power requirements were not fully resolved.