Re: HDX900 Batteries

I am on a job right now with a Varicam and and HDX900. We use bartech focus and iris, aja downconverter, modulus transmitter, etc., so pretty battery harsh. We have 4 AB hytron 120s, 6 AB Propack 14s, 4 proformers, 2 12v block batts, and 4 Chinese Lions (cells made in Japan) that cost about $120 a piece.

Obviously the Hytrons run the longest, but they take forever to charge. The Ni-cads (Propacks and Proformers) can deliver the most amps, and they recharge really quikly. The chinese batts (we just call them chinese batteries, they are literally no name brand) kick ass. The complicated charging circutry is built in to the battery, so their chargers can be dumb. If there is a short they shut down and then reset when they are removed, from the offending equipment. They charge fast, don't act weird like the ABs do some times (reading full and then crashing with no warning, having plenty of volts but no amps etc.), and are so cheap they are practically disposable.

Out of all of these batteries where we go thru at least 10 per day every day for the past 3 months, I have to say that the cheap lions win hands down, bang for the buck. The Nicads are most practical if you need to draw big current, and are cheaper than the Hytrons. The Hytrons are great if you want longer run times, but the difference is negligable if you are pulling big loads.

Hope that helps,

Nick