@Feha: is there a schematic for that step-up/down converter available? I have access to a PCB prototype machine and would like to make one myself.
@ghill oh yes, thank! That saves me from building this myself into the coupler, its a bit more expensive, but saves time as well.
@ghil , this is really great find, thank you.
I highly recommend this one: http://www.cinegearpro.com/hdmi-cables/power-batteries/cgpro-gh2-dmw-dcc8-dummy-battery-dc-coupler-for-panasonic-lumix-dmc-gh2-camera.html Basically it's a modified DC coupler with built-in voltage converter. It plugs into an NP-F battery plate and does not require any DIY adjustments. Works great.
so I wired it up the standard way when I soldered on a new standard sized plug (+ is now in the center, whereas it used to be negative).
That's how I approached it too
@sangye thanks- I considered that, I know the stock wiring was backwards from what everyone expects, so I wired it up the standard way when I soldered on a new standard sized plug (+ is now in the center, whereas it used to be negative).
I had tested that before the extended capacity battery arrived with an AC wall wart adapter, and the GH2 powered on and recorded video just fine, so I already knew that was correct.
Meanwhile, I did a quick test the other night, aimed the camera up close at a birdcage (to get some constant movement), hit record and periodically came back to erase the card and hit record again. So far, made it for a solid 5 hours without breaking even 50% on the battery meter. That's more than enough juice for me, I think I could easily go 10+ hours. And unlike the cheap CCTV ones that I originally wanted, this actually tells me how much capacity I have left, so that's a pro as well.
Downside is that it is quite a bit bulkier than I hoped for, so I need to find a convenient place to stick it.
@dishe I highly recommend testing the polarity of the DCC-8 contacts once you connect the battery pack to make sure it matches the polarity of the Panasonic stock battery, before putting it in your camera. I also snipped off the plug of my DCC-8, and after doing so found that mine was wired opposite from what I expected. Had I not tested it, which was just a sort of "hey just to be sure..." after-thought, I would have fried my GH2.
Update: I got the ATC battery pack today similar to the one in the video linked above (nice, ordered it Friday, arrived Monday!). Plugged it in, seems to power the device just fine with the soldered-on plug I made to the DCC-8. I don't see any way to change the polarity of the battery pack yet, the tips just are whatever they are. So, I guess its a good thing I had already snipped off the proprietary Panasonic plug for a standard sized plug and polarity (+ in the center).
Charging it up now so I can put it through a stress test later. So far so good!
Only question left is how/where to attach it... I'm likely shooting with a Manfrotto 561HDV instead of a shoulder rig, so I have to figure out a good place to attach it. Maybe gaffer's tape to the monopod?
This is only good for someone like to use battery grip. Battery grip is little bigger than camera. I'm using converted Nikon D300 battery grip with 8AA battery adapter comes with it. Gut it out and leave only + and - terminal for D300 battery grip. Get Panasonic battery adapter or cheap Chinese battery and gut it out and use only +&- terminal to make a connection. Be very careful when you work with battery gutting way. Check and recheck to make sure you don't smoke it! I use Sanyo rechargeable and right after charge, only 7AA +dummyAA works. If I use 8AA, voltage is too high, close to 11V. There is no cable dangling and not get in my way of using GH1/2. No voltage indication but it will last you more than a day, especially you don't use EV.
I'm currently using without any problems these 2 items together: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Converter-Boost-Buck-Step-Up-Step-Down-Voltage-Module-3-5-28V-to-1-25-26V-/110773899595?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19caa3914b and http://www.ebay.com/itm/6400mAh-Rechargeable-8-4V-Battery-P7-XM-L-T6-LED-Bicycle-bike-HeadLight-Headlamp-/250907264154?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUA%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D170710221252%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7690970456910103103#ht_4297wt_952
although, on second thought I would have opted for this battery: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Black-5V-9V-12V-3-in-1-DC-Rechargeable-Li-ion-Battery-For-CCTV-CAM-Camera-ep-/380435831423?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM&hash=item5893be1a7f if they only would ship to Italy.
Weird, I asked the seller of these items on Amazon and ebay (ATC, LLC) some technical questions about capacity at 9v and what the LCD displayed (it was before I found the video of a similar product above), and received the following response:
"Hi,
Thank you for kind enquiry. I am afraid that our this battery pack can not meet your expectations. Sorry. atc llc"
Really?? Why not?? Maybe my technical jargon confused him and he just wants me to go away? Is there any reason anyone here can think of that this might be a bad idea? I don't really have much time to get this and find out it doesn't work for some reason. I can't think of any reason it wouldn't, judging by the specs.
I'm not missing anything, am I?
Scratch that (sorry for all the flooding in this thread, I'm posting stuff as I find information), the 10,000mAh are only at 3.7v. Which is still good, but not great. At 9v, that's just over 4,000mAh, or roughly 3-3.5x times the standard battery.
Now I'm back to considering this one as my best bet: http://www.amazon.com/15000mAh-External-Motorola-Portable-eletronics/dp/B0067XMPNY/ref=pd_ybh_14 Still rated capacity at 3.7v (which threw me off earlier), but seems to be higher capacity than previous one @ 15,000. At 9v should yield a healthier 6,100mAh (approximate), or roughly 5x times the capacity of the OEM battery. That's more like it. It has a built in LCD to set the voltage as well as a meter displaying capacity remaining (which is nicer than the chinese CCTV ones IMO, where you have to keep track of your own mileage).
I've never heard of this battery company that makes them, but it seems to be a variation of this one:
Unless anyone can find something I'm missing here (as to why it might not work) or suggest something better, I think I'll purchase this one tomorrow.
Any opinions/advice on the matter?
I just found these, which comes with an 18month warranty. http://www.amazon.com/Warranty-10000mAh-External-Battery-Charger/dp/B005NGKR54/ref=pd_cp_cps_0
Apparently this guy has tested a rebranded version of what appears to be the same unit with his GH2: http://marcuswolschon.blogspot.de/2012/07/panasonic-gh2-powered-via-usb-battery.html
He claims to have not used it for that long, but it did power on and work in his tests. I have no idea how long it would last in the camera, but the warranty and confirmed working status are enough for me to think its worth $59, even if the capacity is only 10,000mah (instead of the much bigger capacity cctv ones).
Worth a shot I guess, right?
Hey- I accidentally started a new thread instead of posting here (I guess someone can delete my other one about external battery powers). (EDIT: It looks like Vitaliy already closed it as I was writing this. Excellent response time, sir!)
I'm really interested in those Chinese CCTV batteries, but I need something I can get in the next 2 weeks, and shipping from China is too unreliable for me to get and test before an upcoming shoot. So, I've done some homework and found the following options:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618847-REG/Tekkeon_MP3450I_myPower_ALL_Plus_MP3450i.html/ I've heard confirmation that these work well. But at $140, it seems kind of pricey to me.
http://www.amazon.com/15000mAh-External-Motorola-Portable-eletronics/dp/B0067XMPNY/ref=pd_ybh_14 This one looks interesting- has an LCD display. Not sure if that doubles as a battery life indicator, but the price is nice.
http://www.amazon.com/EZOPower-High-capacity-Rechargable-10000mAh-Blackberry/dp/B005XQSN9G/ref=pd_ybh_11 I like this one simply because it is Amazon Prime compatible and has some reviews. Its less capacity than the previous option, which had 50% more than this.
Or should I just go with the cheap RC battery thing? I tell you, the things that worry me about the RC route is that the voltage isn't regulated, so you can easily get a spike of 10-11v when you first take them off the charger. It seems like most people have been using that without a problem though.
For $50, with a charger and multiple tips already included, are any of the options I posted above worth trying?
It's secure but does stick out I'm tempted to open the battery and hardwiring this
or this but cut off the 5.5mm x 2.1mm side to expose the wires then hardwire or attach a 90 angle male 3.5mm x 1.35mm tip as in my picture.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=Blue+50cm+AC%2FDC+Curly+Coiled+
or a lead with a 90 angle male DC 3.5mm x 1.35mm tip from the battery
I've got to finish my cage now as its very awkward to manage all the bits.
This is the combination that i bought and it works well. I would however double check the polarities as i did on mine and it worked fine. 9v for GH2 and 12v fits straight into my LCD H056 5.6"
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190671675522?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Alfaerik that looks pretty interesting. Does anyone have experience with this? the price is right I wonder about battery quality or what the cons might be. Anyone with more electronics experience care to comment?
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