2007Batteries/Power forum
Power management and battery configurations for Steadicam rigs carrying Genesis cameras
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A Steadicam rig carrying a Genesis camera can be powered by mounting two Dionic 90 batteries in a rear-mounted configuration, providing approximately 45 minutes to one hour of runtime with an 8-inch cable run to the camera.
- Mounting batteries directly on the camera rather than on the sled significantly improves the camera's balance and feel during operation.
- A fully configured rig with Genesis camera, deck, Preston focus system, timecode module, and video monitors running on three Dionic batteries achieved approximately 90 minutes of runtime.
- Proper wiring gauge and connector types are critical to avoid voltage loss, with 14 or 16 gauge wire and large connectors like 2B302s recommended for the post.
- A down converter unit that mounts to the magazine port allows 422 output while maintaining dual 444 outputs to deck.
- The complete rig with camera and deck weighs approximately as much as a Baltar L4 camera and presents significant safety risks including difficulty recovering from stumbles due to mass and inertia.
- A Panavision-designed converter module snaps into the empty magazine port of the Genesis camera.
Depends on
- Runtime figures were achieved with specific battery types and configurations that may vary with different hardware.
- The fully loaded single-rig configuration was considered impractical and dangerous due to excessive weight, and participants recommended distributing power across separate battery systems instead.
- Cable tethering requirements limit operator mobility and necessitate additional crew for cable management.
- The modification involving battery mounting appears to have been custom work not available as standard equipment at the time of discussion.