Alain LeTourneau Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 I've been using a large NRG battery belt to power my Eclair NPR. Trouble is it's enormous and heavy when carrying it for long distances (I hate lugging it around when I'm carrying the tripod and camera at the same time). Can anyone recommend a smaller battery to power an NPR? Possibly something that is an on-board model? Thanks, Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Michael Nash Posted September 15, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 15, 2004 Try these guys: http://www.opticalelectrohouse.com/ More links: http://members.aol.com/npr16mm/links.htm http://www.video.com.mx/links/16mm_and_sup..._film_links.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 You don't need a particularly large battery to power an NPR. A 5amp 12v brick should easily run you all day. You can buy a lead acid one of these in a pouch witha charger from an outfit like BESCOR for under $100. Or make one if you're comfortable with a soldering iron for around $25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 16, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 16, 2004 I've had some that where less than one foot long for half a foot large, one or two inches thick, maybe you can find then. You can use cameflex batteries as well, I think. On board, no. Are you sure 5 A is enough, Mitch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 16, 2004 Author Share Posted September 16, 2004 George at Optical Electro House makes a battery that is small enough to velcro to the magazine door. Bob quoted me $200 w/ a charger. This seems like a lot for a battery that Bob said will only power 2 mags before it loses its charge. Mitch's $100 5A 12V battery from Bescor sounds like a better option, but just to second the question: "will it work". I like the sound of $25 option too. Are the cells and hardware easy to locate? The Eclair manual says 12V 3.5Ah. Thanks, Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasarsenault Posted September 17, 2004 Share Posted September 17, 2004 Just curious. I have an npr also. How big is the battery you are using? Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Gross Posted September 17, 2004 Share Posted September 17, 2004 Certainly it will work. 12v 3.5amp means that after one full hour of continuous running (more than 5 mags), the camera will have consumed 3.5amps of power. So I think a 5amp cell will cover you. Get a 7amp if you're concerned. This is common simple stuff, and people use these bricks and sells them new on eBay all the time. Check out Bescor's website or other bricks at B&H Photo if you wish. Careful Velcro-ing batteries to the side of the mag. The latch system was designed to handle the weight of the mag with film. Additional weight could pull the gate out of depth or strain the mag right off the camera. I know this was an issue with sticking a battery onto the ACL, but the NPR is rather hardier. You could probably make something using NP-1 batteries and find a way to mount it to the handle or camera body. NP-1 boxes cost under $100 and the bricks are less than that as well, and they should run at least 5 mags each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Phil Rhodes Posted September 19, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 19, 2004 Hi, > 12v 3.5amp means that after one full hour of continuous running (more than 5 > mags), the camera will have consumed 3.5amps of power Don't wish to be a pain, but correct conclusion, slightly mangled reasoning (amps are not a unit of power). 3.5Ah as a battery rating simply means "pull 3.5 amps for an hour, and it's flat." If the camera pulls 3.5A, such a battery will in theory run it for an hour, although it's usual to derate in view of other losses. In practice, your 5Ah battery (capable of supplying 5A for one hour, in theory) will probably give you an hour's run on a 3.5A load before the voltage drops too low to be usable. Do not discharge sealed lead-acid cells below 0.8V per cell, and use the proper charger. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 19, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 19, 2004 Also with this kind of battery : - Do not recharge if not well discharged (memory effect) - Do not service a battery that has just finished charging and is still hot (that point being normal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasarsenault Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 I use np1 batteries and slide them under hte handle on top of the mag and tape them there. It works pretty well. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 20, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 20, 2004 Means you have a socket for NP1, and a 4 pins canon plug ? (I don't remember if eclair is supplied thru a 4 pin canon actaually) ? Did you make it yourself or is it something you can get somewhere ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangertree Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 http://www.trewaudio.com/catalog/items/item398.htm NP1 to Canon 4 pin. Thinking of getting one for my ACL. Anyone have a better price somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 20, 2004 Author Share Posted September 20, 2004 http://www.trewaudio.com/catalog/items/item398.htm NP1 to Canon 4 pin. Thinking of getting one for my ACL. Anyone have a better price somewhere? That's pretty dang small. Price seems ok but how many mags does the NP1 power? Thanks, Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasarsenault Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 I seem to get a quite a few mags with np1. I use my four pin adapter from my dat recorder. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 20, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 20, 2004 http://www.trewaudio.com/catalog/items/item398.htm NP1 to Canon 4 pin. Thinking of getting one for my ACL. Anyone have a better price somewhere? it's funny to see they call it a "4 pin XLR", wich is not correct, XLR is 3 pins... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 20, 2004 Author Share Posted September 20, 2004 I seem to get a quite a few mags with np1. I use my four pin adapter from my dat recorder.Jason Is the ACL the same power draw as the NPR - 12V DC 3.5Ah? Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 20, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 20, 2004 I was thinking, it would be great having a socket wer you can put 2 NP1 in parallel, would double the capacity... and wouldn'be taking much more room Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasarsenault Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Is the ACL the same power draw as the NPR - 12V DC 3.5Ah? yep it is. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasarsenault Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Oh, my npr manual says 6-10 400 ft mags for 12v 3.5Ah battery. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Laurent Andrieux Posted September 20, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted September 20, 2004 Oh, my npr manual says 6-10 400 ft mags for 12v 3.5Ah battery.Jason theorically, it could be the case, with brand new battery, working in standard temperature conditions, with no discharging beetween mags etc. 5 mags seems to be a good average rate. I usually consider you need 2 batteries for a normal conditions average shooting day, even if only a backup and have the good surprise of doing the whole day with one, always have at least two. When one is done, put it in charge straight away, and the night in beetween shooting, reload the one you've finished the day with, then you always start the day with 2 plain full ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasarsenault Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Cut 6 400 ft mags to 3 in 10 to 20 degrees c. That would be new batteries probably. Again, this is from the manual, not necessarily reality! Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 27, 2004 Author Share Posted September 27, 2004 What about the Long Valley place that sells the converted DeWalt batteries. Anyone had much luck with those powering an Eclair NPR? Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain LeTourneau Posted September 27, 2004 Author Share Posted September 27, 2004 For an immediate fix I'm getting a Bescor lead-acid brick (as per Mitch's suggestion). It's the cheapest option available short of making my own. Down the road... NP-1 battery $60-90 + NP-1 > 4 pin connector $60 + charger. Does anyone know where I can get a charger for $50 or less? The ones I've seen are all $100 and above. Thanks, Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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