Blackmagic Forum

I have been testing lenses with my new G2. I am using 96wh Shape 14.8 v batteries and am only getting 15 min of shooting. Surely this cannot be normal? Do I have faulty batteries or a faulty camera - or do the SHAPE batteries just suck.
Help!

For my CoreSWX HyperCore Batteries I get the following: 98Wh is 2.5hrs and 150Wh is 3.5hrs... roughly. Obviously it will vary based on the accessories that are also being powered.

I would say more than likely it is your batteries first than the camera. Test some other batteries.

A few years ago when I switched from the 2.5K to the UM4.6K I found one of my 98Wh Switronix batteries wasn't lasting as long as the others. It only lasted an hour at that time. Before long it was half an hour. Then it barely got 10 minutes. So batteries only have so many recharge cycles. They loose potency over time. Thus it was time to get new batteries.

Some manufacturers offer recycle programs for old batteries. I'd check to see if you can recycle yours. No matter what you're gonna have to buy new batteries more than likely.

That's about what I was expecting for life - but, these are new and only have about 2 charge each. I think maybe the batteries are crap.
Thanks for the info.

Don't give up on your batteries just yet. They may come good after a few cycles. 98watts is a bit light for camera batteries for the URSA camera class, especially if you have other items being powered as well from the same battery.

Overlander wrote:That's about what I was expecting for life - but, these are new and only have about 2 charge each. I think maybe the batteries are crap.
Thanks for the info.

Could it be that your battery charger does not correctly charge those batteries?

My follow up:
SHAPEwbl responded to me immediately and offered a solution and if that did not work then they would replace the batteries - so kudoes to them. Thanks.
As they were new batteries they suggested a faulty first charge so asked me to completely discharge and then recharge. Fortunately the one was already red-lined. So I discharged both by running record and recharged and then got 3 hours from the 98 wh SHAPE batteries. So the batteries and charger are fine. I think I will make a point of doing this, ie a complete discharge, every now and then.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Glad to hear you found the solution. URSA Mini Pro G2 draws about 34 watts even when recording, plus accessories, so the timing you mentioned seemed quite short.

Tim Schumann wrote:Glad to hear you found the solution. URSA Mini Pro G2 draws about 34 watts even when recording, plus accessories, so the timing you mentioned seemed quite short.

By any chance, do you know how much the G1 draws?

MartinVidic wrote:By any chance, do you know how much the G1 draws?

Probably similar. The Ursas are quite power hungry since they use FPGAs, in their circuits. It is always wise to power cycle V-mount batteries, especially when new, 2 or 3 times, to condition them for full charge. I even brought back to life some 17 year old IDX Endura 80s, that had been in my storage, when I bought the UBG2. Remarkably they can still do about an hour but I bought some new 150wh Swits which are naturally quite a bit more capacious.

The URSAs are cooling with Peltier elements, just like an Arri. Check how power hungry those are!

Uli Plank wrote:The URSAs are cooling with Peltier elements, just like an Arri. Check how power hungry those are!

Yes, we often overlook how well designed the Ursa Mini Pros are and from a company relatively new to camera design, especially at this price point. Even a modest good condition V-mount battery will run one for long enough and so power demand is a small price to pay.