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External power supply?

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Offline whatevertsunami

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #30 on: 06 / December / 2009, 15:58:12 »
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Quote from: Microfunguy on 05 / December / 2009, 15:54:24
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'

For instance a time lapse with the smallest battery, are we approximately talking hours or days?

What about the polarity with the external battery or the cigarette lighter module. Can a wrong polarity break the camera, and what is the polarity that should be used?

A few days ago I was almost sure I couldn't use my camera with an external power source, now I have trouble deciding. Well, it's alot better this way :)

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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.

Hmm, I'm not sure I understand what the end result would be? You mean I would have 2 different power sources to use in the car? Would they be connected somehow?

Thanks!
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Offline Microfunguy

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #31 on: 07 / December / 2009, 11:44:09 »
Quote from: whatevertsunami on 06 / December / 2009, 15:58:12

For instance a time lapse with the smallest battery, are we approximately talking hours or days?
Only you will be able to answer that, it depends on so many thigs.
Blanking the screen between exposures will reduce current consumption.

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What about the polarity with the external battery
If an electrician fits the wires I mentioned, ask him to use a red wire for the +ve lead and black for the -ve.
He should also use insulated spade connectors on the battery leads so you cannot touch them together.


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You mean I would have 2 different power sources to use in the car?

If you are only interested in making time-lapses of the car jorney, ignore everything that I have said.

If you want to make time-lapses anywhere (without a car being nearby) use the battery I recommended and get an electrician to fit the wires to the cigar-plug wires.

You can then connect to the small battery OR the car battery, NOT both at the same time.
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Offline whatevertsunami

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #32 on: 09 / December / 2009, 08:40:13 »
Quote from: Microfunguy on 07 / December / 2009, 11:44:09
Quote from: whatevertsunami on 06 / December / 2009, 15:58:12

For instance a time lapse with the smallest battery, are we approximately talking hours or days?
Only you will be able to answer that, it depends on so many thigs.
Blanking the screen between exposures will reduce current consumption.

I see. I presume it is alot more than with the regular battery though.
Quote

Quote
What about the polarity with the external battery
If an electrician fits the wires I mentioned, ask him to use a red wire for the +ve lead and black for the -ve.
He should also use insulated spade connectors on the battery leads so you cannot touch them together.

Ok, sounds reasonable. What about the module: http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/Product.aspx?id=135233728
It has interchangeable polarity so which one is right? And can the wrong one  break the camera?
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You mean I would have 2 different power sources to use in the car?

If you are only interested in making time-lapses of the car jorney, ignore everything that I have said.

If you want to make time-lapses anywhere (without a car being nearby) use the battery I recommended and get an electrician to fit the wires to the cigar-plug wires.

You can then connect to the small battery OR the car battery, NOT both at the same time.

No that is not the case, I want to do time lapses outside the car too. I'm still undecided between the battery and the module. As I already have the ACK-DC30 I can use power from the wall, and the module would allow me to use power from the car. So I'm still pondering whether I'll need the extra-power somewhere where they don't have electricity, e.g. further away in the nature, or maybe somewhere on holiday or something.

Thanks!
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Offline Microfunguy

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #33 on: 09 / December / 2009, 09:39:25 »
Quote from: whatevertsunami on 09 / December / 2009, 08:40:13
It has interchangeable polarity so which one is right?

+ve on the plug lined-up with TIP on the lead socket.

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I'm still undecided between the battery and the module.


You are not understanding.
The module is powered by the car battery OR the sealed 12V lead-acid battery.
You do not power the camera directly from the 12V sealed lead-acid battery.

I would buy the battery, a charger, the module and get an electrician to fit a diode in the module output lead and splice red and black wires with spade crimp terminals into the module power leads.
The spade terminals of such  a size as to push onto the battery lugs.


David
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Offline whatevertsunami

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #34 on: 10 / December / 2009, 06:52:06 »
Quote from: Microfunguy on 09 / December / 2009, 09:39:25
Quote from: whatevertsunami on 09 / December / 2009, 08:40:13
It has interchangeable polarity so which one is right?

+ve on the plug lined-up with TIP on the lead socket.

Is this the same as "positive tip polarity" and (+)---o)---(-)   ?
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I'm still undecided between the battery and the module.


You are not understanding.
The module is powered by the car battery OR the sealed 12V lead-acid battery.
You do not power the camera directly from the 12V sealed lead-acid battery.

Thanks for correcting me! I indeed thought the camera was powered straight from the battery.
Quote

I would buy the battery, a charger, the module and get an electrician to fit a diode in the module output lead and splice red and black wires with spade crimp terminals into the module power leads.
The spade terminals of such  a size as to push onto the battery lugs.

David

Ok, now I think I understand. And the diode would be fitted in the module the way you described earlier? Like the attachement?


Thanks again David!
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Offline Microfunguy

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #35 on: 10 / December / 2009, 09:09:31 »
Quote from: whatevertsunami on 10 / December / 2009, 06:52:06
Is this the same as "positive tip polarity"

Yes.

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and (+)---o)---(-)   ?

I have no idea what that means, do not worry about it, just make the tip +ve.

 
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Like the attachement?

Yes.

The bigger the AH (amp-hours) rating of the battery the longer it will last.
We have no idea how long that will be, it depends on many things, you will need to try it and report back.



David
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Offline whatevertsunami

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #36 on: 12 / December / 2009, 06:48:59 »
Here's something to report back. I measured the voltage coming out of the module with no device attached, it was 4.92V @4.5V and 3.32V @3V. The DC30 gave out 4.62V, so the difference is 0.3V. I havent' tried the module with the 4.5V setting, but the cam worked with the 3V setting. CHDK's battery indicator shows the power to be 0%, but optical zooming and taking pictures seem to work. The polarity was set to positive tip, as you adviced. Thanks David!
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Offline Microfunguy

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #37 on: 12 / December / 2009, 07:33:07 »
I am surprised it worked at 3V.

I would use the module 4.5V setting and a diode so that you are not too near the lower limit of reliable operation.
The module output is almost certainly slightly lower when the camera is turned on.


David
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Offline whatevertsunami

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #38 on: 13 / December / 2009, 05:56:08 »
Quote from: Microfunguy on 12 / December / 2009, 07:33:07
I am surprised it worked at 3V.

I would use the module 4.5V setting and a diode so that you are not too near the lower limit of reliable operation.
The module output is almost certainly slightly lower when the camera is turned on.


David

Surprising indeed, so I guess it would work with both voltages. It must be really close since the power is shown as 0%. Maybe the 860 is less of a power consumer than some other cameras...? The guy who was going to fit the diode hasn't returned my calls now so I don't know what's up with that.

I think the module output is pretty close to or exactly 3V when hooked to the camera. About reliability, do you think the camera would for instance power off at some point if used for a continuous ~5hour time lapse? Thanks!
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Offline whatevertsunami

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Re: External power supply?
« Reply #39 on: 13 / December / 2009, 06:05:39 »
P.S. would you happen to know if it is possible to automate the following somehow, e.g. with a script: focus stacking + exposure stacking, meaning it would first take pictures with different focus points, then change the exposure and do the different focus points with the new exposure, then change the exposure again and do the same etc. I tried this yesterday by changing the exposure manually but I am not 100% pleased with the outcome. Problems: camera moving, landscape changing due to the long time it requires, frosting of the lens (I think it was frost).
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