URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

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Peter John Ross

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URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostWed Jan 16, 2019 10:50 pm

So I just had my URSA Mini 4K lose both SDI output ports because I was using the D-tap for the Video Assist and powering the camera at the same time.

Aside from going back to the Canon LP6 batteries, what is the trick to making this work?
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostWed Jan 16, 2019 11:49 pm

I would get one of the new small 14.5VDC DTap batteries, like the one for the Pocket 4K, and use that to power the VA. This is the safest solution, and leaves your big VMount Battery to power the camera.
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Kobayashi Shinji

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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 1:53 am

I think you need a better power system to distribute different voltages, such as Movcam/Tilta Battery Distribution Box.
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Uli Plank

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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 2:37 am

Why not use a battery with its own D-tap on the other side and a splitter?
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 3:46 am

Uli Plank wrote:Why not use a battery with its own D-tap on the other side and a splitter?


I don't understand where you mean. The URSA Mini has a V-mount on the back that holds one battery. If I put it on the "other side", that's the front and it will be in front of the lens.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 6:29 am

Not the battery: there are batteries with a built-in D-tap!

Personally, I use Patona batteries, which have their D-tap on the same side but well above the SDI connectors. Maybe you can evn find other batteries with the D-tap on the left side. I admit that the positioning on the plate by BM is not well thought out.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 10:46 am

This should not kill your sdi's. It has the same ground reference. As negative battery is the same as ground as the SDI connector barrel, and with the VA the same thing.

And by the way i did this many times.. Powering monitors and VA's from the Dtap and / or 4 pin xlr on the side.

So i guess there is a different issue. Maybe your VA is bad or something..
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 4:10 pm

The VA is fine, it still works and the ports all work. Both the SDI outputs of the URSA are fried and getting fixed at Blackmagic right now.

I read about a TON of similar issues with the BMCC's when people were using the V-mount batteries for both the VA and the camera.

It could be a voltage issue with the D-tap port on some batteries. I just don't know the answer here.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 4:38 pm

I completely misunderstood you, you meant literally killing them – I just understood making them unusable since they are blocked (you wrote 'lose'). Sorry!
Last edited by Uli Plank on Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostThu Jan 17, 2019 6:57 pm

If yiu are not using the front 4-pin xlr, Dan’s suggestion to use it to power the VA is a good one, this should not cause any SDI issues as this is how the BM EVF is powered. When I use just my PixE, with the Ursa Broadcast (same as a UM Pro) I use the front 4-pin out to power it, and the rear SDI out to the monitor/recorder (to get UHD signal).

This has worked well, no issues with the SDI ports. That said, I did notice a lack of powe issue when trying to run the camera and EVF, at the same time when adding the PieE to the rear DTap out, their was not enough amps to boot the PixE from my small AB Gold Mount battery connected to the camera. After BM’s announcement that using the DTap with a monitor like the VA could cause SDI issues, I quit using the DTap to power the monitor, and just use the 4-Pin power out. I normally do not use both the EVF and external monitor at the same time, so they can share this power connection.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostFri Jan 18, 2019 11:36 am

Denny Smith wrote: After BM’s announcement that using the DTap with a monitor like the VA could cause SDI issues,

Source?? Because i have never seen that memo?
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostFri Jan 18, 2019 7:02 pm

I read it here Daniel, somewhere.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostMon Jan 21, 2019 11:42 pm

I have a related question... can anyone recommend a good 4-pin xlr power out to dtap or breakout box? I'm looking for a solution to power wireless accessories without having to mount a battery on my ursa mini camera.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostTue Jan 22, 2019 3:59 pm

If you have the original Vlock plate on the BMD ursa. The Dtap on the side outputs 12V, even when you power the camera from the power supply. ;)

If you have not a vlock plate mounted. You need to find a company that is willing to solder a XLR 4 pin to a Dtap distribution block.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostTue Jan 22, 2019 5:07 pm

Thanks, xtreem. A 4-pin xlr to dtap splitter would be the perfect solution for me. I did find a 4-pin male to d-tap female cable. Maybe I can combine that with a splitter, but was hoping for a more elegant solution.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostTue Jan 22, 2019 5:13 pm

This is what I use to feed different thinks
https://www.paguk.com/landing/PowerHub
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostTue Jan 22, 2019 9:23 pm

Fran Tormo wrote:This is what I use to feed different thinks
https://www.paguk.com/landing/PowerHub

Suprised that it is not even very expensive.. But it is PAG mount.. A normal Vlock set on plates would already cost this.

@Ivon. Buy this splitter and a 4 pin xlr and find someone that has a soldering iron.
XLR 4 Pin 1 = Ground Pin 4 = power.
Dtap a + and - sign is on the connector. Measure again before plug in any hardware for correct polarity. But it is not that hard to make this splitter into a XLR powered one. ;)
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostTue Jan 22, 2019 9:53 pm

My soldering skills are decent, so could probably do this myself.

Also, I have been considering the D-box from Wooden camera (https://woodencamera.com/products/d-box-ursa-mini-gold-mount). It looks like a very good solution, but a bit of overkill for what I need and says it's for the Ursa Mini Pro (even though the accompanying picture is not a pro). Anybody using this on an Ursa Mini 4.6K?
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostWed Jan 23, 2019 1:19 am

Yes Ivon, I have been looking at that one also, and the new Wooden Camera Pro line of battery plates that add extra power connections, comes in both V Mount and Gold Mount, https://woodencamera.com/search?type=ar ... ry*+plate*
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostWed Jan 23, 2019 1:59 am

Denny Smith wrote:Yes Ivon, I have been looking at that one also, and the new Wooden Camera Pro line of battery plates that add extra power connections, comes in both V Mount and Gold Mount, https://woodencamera.com/search?type=ar ... ry*+plate*
Cheers

Thanks, Denny. Any idea if the D-tap ports on the Pro line have power if I'm running the camera from the XLR power input (as opposed to a battery mounted on the plate)? I didn't see anything in the description that made that clear. Also not in their video and the links to the config guides gave me a 404 error. I assume they do, but you know what they say about assumptions :o
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostWed Jan 23, 2019 3:48 am

No, I do not think so, but they (Wooden Camera) have a battery plate that has a 4-pin connection. The WC Pro battery plates are designed to be powered by the battery, but the original BM Ursa Mini specific power plate gets its single STap power from the camera (as dies rhr BM plate), so in this case it might do just that with the Pro WC plate for the Ursa Mini. A note to Wooden Camera would get the details, they are very good about responding.
Cheers
Last edited by Denny Smith on Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: URSA Mini with VA 4K - how to use D-tap w/o killing SDI?

PostWed Jan 23, 2019 4:10 am

Thanks Denny.

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