External power supply?

Microfunguy

4037

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #20 on: 04 / December / 2009, 11:58:11 »

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Quote from: whatevertsunami on 04 / December / 2009, 11:23:16

I used the U=RI formula to count that for a decrease of 0,2 volts I need resistance of at least 0,133 ohms.

That is for resistors.
It is also a very small resistance, you will not buy that in a shop.

Diodes behave differently.
Once a certain, minimum amount of current is flowing the voltage drop will be about 0.6V over a wide current range, including 1.5A.
With your module the voltage would be about 3.9V.

> I have no idea where I could find suitable diodes, any tips?

Yes, the shop.
Tell them that you want a 1.5A silicon diode.
Failing that a 1A version will do such as IN4004.

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Does this mean that I can't create higher quality time lapses than 640x480 with virtualdub?

Codecs often require source images to be a very precise size.
For example, the width may have to be exactly divisible by 4.

Check the requirements of the DivX codec.

The shop will be closing soon, you probably do not need the diode anyway, you are being very precise.

David

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Microfunguy

4037

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #21 on: 04 / December / 2009, 12:19:20 »

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 04 / December / 2009, 11:23:16

for 1600x1200 images it said: "compression error: the source image format is not acceptable. (error code -2)"

See http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=6608&

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whatevertsunami

61

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #22 on: 05 / December / 2009, 05:01:18 »

Quote from: Microfunguy on 04 / December / 2009, 11:58:11

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 04 / December / 2009, 11:23:16
I used the U=RI formula to count that for a decrease of 0,2 volts I need resistance of at least 0,133 ohms.

That is for resistors.
It is also a very small resistance, you will not buy that in a shop.

Diodes behave differently.
Once a certain, minimum amount of current is flowing the voltage drop will be about 0.6V over a wide current range, including 1.5A.
With your module the voltage would be about 3.9V.

Oh ok, I thought resistors and diodes was the same thing! And I actually almost bought the package of resistors.

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> I have no idea where I could find suitable diodes, any tips?

Yes, the shop.
Tell them that you want a 1.5A silicon diode.
Failing that a 1A version will do such as IN4004.

Ok, so if the 1.5A diode gives a voltage drop of about 0.6V, how big a drop would the 1A diode give? I think it helps that you gave me a "model number", it will be easier to find them that way!

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Does this mean that I can't create higher quality time lapses than 640x480 with virtualdub?

Codecs often require source images to be a very precise size.
For example, the width may have to be exactly divisible by 4.

Check the requirements of the DivX codec.

See http://forums.virtualdub.org/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=6608&

Again I found the solution with Your help! Earlier I tried quite many different resolutions and changed the aspect ratios as well. It seemed that 1600x1200 fit every requirement listed for the divx codec and I thought something else might be wrong. After I disabled "Do not prompt with errors and warnings" it said image height was wrong, so I tried some more and got it to work with 1280x960 as well! Xvid lets me use 1600x1200 wih a tad better quality but the videosize is 3x bigger.

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The shop will be closing soon, you probably do not need the diode anyway, you are being very precise.

You are probably right as usual, from the beginning I have thought that it would be odd if a difference of 0.2V would be a problem. I think it's more like a "piece of mind" thing. And a diode probably doesn't cost much, it's just the trouble of finding out which kind, where to get it, get it, and solder it in the right place (ok, it's alot of trouble!).

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David

Thanks again David, I can't believe how much I've progressed with Your help with all these things I wanted to do!

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Microfunguy

4037

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #23 on: 05 / December / 2009, 05:40:49 »

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 05 / December / 2009, 05:01:18

if the 1.5A diode gives a voltage drop of about 0.6V, how big a drop would the 1A diode give?

About the same.
Honestly, you are worrying about nothing.
Buy a diode such as IN40001, IN4002, etc.
Tell the shop you want a 1amp or 1.5amp silicon diode.

It will soon be Xmas at this rate

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whatevertsunami

61

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #24 on: 05 / December / 2009, 06:18:59 »

Quote from: Microfunguy on 05 / December / 2009, 05:40:49

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 05 / December / 2009, 05:01:18
if the 1.5A diode gives a voltage drop of about 0.6V, how big a drop would the 1A diode give?
About the same.
Honestly, you are worrying about nothing.
Buy a diode such as IN40001, IN4002, etc.
Tell the shop you want a 1amp or 1.5amp silicon diode.

It will soon be Xmas at this rate

Yeah it's getting really close

I'll take the diode-advice and will let You know how it goes. I'm still going to need someone to solder it for me as I have no idea where it should go. Thanks David!

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Microfunguy

4037

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #25 on: 05 / December / 2009, 07:01:01 »

This is really not necessary, but that is up to you.

You have a slight problem if you insist on using the diode

Your power-module-lead ends in a socket that accepts various adapter plugs.

Your electrician will have to cut the wires near the socket and determine which one has the positive voltage on.

Before soldering, he should slide a piece of heatshrink over the cut wires.

Then, solder the end of the diode that does NOT have the band marked on the body onto the positive wire from the module.
Solder the banded ended to the socket wire that connects to pin marked 'TIP'.
Slide a small piece of heat shrink over one of the remaining wires and solder them.
Apply heat to that last heatshrink.
Slide the larger heatshrink over the diode and apply heat to that.

Insert one of the plug adapters in such a way that '+' lines-up with 'TIP'.

Check with a meter that the inside of the plug is positive with respect to the outside.

Only drawback is all voltages from the module will be 0.6V less than marked.

« Last Edit: 05 / December / 2009, 07:05:50 by Microfunguy »

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whatevertsunami

61

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #26 on: 05 / December / 2009, 08:01:13 »

Thank You for the detailed instructions! You know what, I don't want to be stubborn, and I think it's beginning to sound like I'm just going to give it a try without the diode if You think that is reasonable. This is what I'll do:

-I'll try it with 3V first, if it works I can use it for long times with 3V without doing damage to the camera
-if it doesn't work, I'll try it with 4,5V. If the camera shuts itself down it is too much. It doesn't break, but I can't use it with 4.5V, and might reconsider the diode. If it works I can use it for long times without doing damage to the camera.

It will take some time (~2weeks) before I can try it though, because I don't have a car here at the moment, and none of my friends who live nearby have cars. It's a good thing I can return the module to Clas Ohlson for 30 days even without any specific reason.

Thanks for Your insight David!

P.S. I have 3 different Nokia cellphone chargers and they vary from 3.7V to 5.7V so I don't think 0.2V can possibly be a huge issue on the cameras either. Do you think it works the same for SX200 or should I be more careful about not breaking it with too much voltage?

« Last Edit: 05 / December / 2009, 08:02:44 by whatevertsunami »

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Microfunguy

4037

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #27 on: 05 / December / 2009, 08:20:58 »

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 05 / December / 2009, 08:01:13

I don't have a car here at the moment

Could be difficult if you want to make time-lapse movies.

Buy a 12V battery and charger :-

http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=134951217

That is what I use and you can keep the battery on 'trickle charge' when you are home.

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Do you think it works the same for SX200

It needs 3.7V as well

You could buy a battery and get someone to solder the diode.

Two weeks from now is not a good time to be doing anything.

« Last Edit: 05 / December / 2009, 09:13:25 by Microfunguy »

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whatevertsunami

61

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #28 on: 05 / December / 2009, 15:38:53 »

Quote from: Microfunguy on 05 / December / 2009, 08:20:58

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 05 / December / 2009, 08:01:13
I don't have a car here at the moment

Could be difficult if you want to make time-lapse movies.

You mean without a car? I have a specific 5h carride in december which I was going to do a time lapse of.

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Buy a 12V battery and charger :-

http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=134951217

That is what I use and you can keep the battery on 'trickle charge' when you are home.

You mean to use in the car? And which one of those? How long does it last? How can I connect it to my "dummy (fake) battery" ? It doesn't seem to have any cords.

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Do you think it works the same for SX200

It needs 3.7V as well

So the same goes for it as the ixus860 then I presume.

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You could buy a battery and get someone to solder the diode.

Is it easier to do with the battery then the module?

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Two weeks from now is not a good time to be doing anything.

Because of Xmas or because of "don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today" ?

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Thanks again David!

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Microfunguy

4037

Re: External power supply?

« Reply #29 on: 05 / December / 2009, 15:54:24 »

Quote from: whatevertsunami on 05 / December / 2009, 15:38:53

You mean to use in the car?

No, to use anywhere.

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And which one of those?

Any 12V battery.

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How long does it last?

The bigger the 'AH' (amp-hours) the longer it lasts.

We do not know what current your camera draws when on but not actually taking a photo.
You can test it on something 'less important'

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How can I connect it to my "dummy (fake) battery" ? It doesn't seem to have any cords.

In the shop tell them you want some 'crimp spade terminals' to fit the battery.
Your elecrician could cut the cable to the 'cigar lighter' and wire the crimped terminals for the battery in parallel.

You could use the car battery or the sealed lead-acid battery.

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Because of Xmas

Yes, it gets very busy where I live.

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