2005Batteries/Power forum
24-volt XLR connector pinout standards for film and video camera power distribution
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The pin configuration for 24-volt 3-pin XLR connectors differs between geographic regions and manufacturers, with no single universal standard across the industry.
- European equipment typically uses pin 1 as negative and pin 2 as positive on 24-volt 3-pin XLR connectors.
- United States equipment often uses pin 1 as positive and pin 2 as negative on 24-volt 3-pin XLR connectors, opposite to the European convention.
- A 3-pin male to female XLR adapter cable with pins 1 and 2 swapped can be used to convert between different regional wiring standards.
- Battery voltage readings above the nominal 24 volts, such as 33 volts immediately after charging, are normal and do not damage cameras, as batteries quickly discharge under load to their operating range.
- Newly charged 14.4-volt batteries commonly read 16 or more volts before settling to lower voltages under use.
Depends on
- Different manufacturers use different standards even within the same geographic region.
- The specific pinout can vary between rental houses and equipment suppliers.
- Testing with a multimeter is the only reliable way to determine the actual configuration of any specific equipment before connecting cameras.