2006Batteries/Power forum
Performance comparison of Tiffen Power Cube lithium-ion batteries versus alternative battery technologies for high-amperage camera equipment
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Power Cube batteries delivered significantly better runtime than competing battery technologies when tested powering a Genesis camera body with recording deck and down converter, achieving 45 minutes with a single battery and 75 minutes with two batteries while also powering an additional monitor
- Power Cube batteries weigh approximately the same as older IDX batteries at 750 grams despite superior performance and energy density
- Power Cubes utilize lithium-ion chemistry and charge to 80 percent capacity in approximately 2 hours and fully charge in 2.5 to 3 hours using an IDX VL 4-S charger
- A practical operational setup requires a minimum of three to four battery sets with two chargers to maintain continuous shooting, though six batteries and two chargers provide comfortable operating margins for most work
- Switching from established battery mount systems like Anton Bauer to the IDX V-mount system required for Power Cubes involves substantial additional costs for new mounts, chargers, and adapters that can exceed $8000 for a complete conversion
- Dionics 90 batteries with 10-amp draw limitations showed acceptable performance over extended use on Genesis equipment but demonstrated lower energy density compared to Power Cubes
- Hytron batteries appeared to provide less than half the runtime of Dionics batteries when powering a Genesis camera body without deck components
- No Anton Bauer mount version of Power Cube batteries was planned by the manufacturer, limiting adoption among users with existing Anton Bauer equipped rigs
Depends on
- The initial performance testing was described as unscientific in methodology
- Battery cycle lifespan data was not available at the time of testing
- Runtime measurements varied based on specific equipment configurations and were not conducted with identical loads across all battery types
- The discussion includes opinions about cost justification that are subjective and dependent on individual financial circumstances and existing equipment investments
- Some performance reports regarding Dionics and Hytrons were based on informal observation rather than controlled testing