Anton Bauer calls on XCS

Late last week Anton Bauer’s USA Sales Manager representative Michael Accardi called me and stated that he had read my testing results and it raised a few concerns that A/B had on a couple of the final test results. Specifically he was hearing from video cameramen that were concerned about charge and run times of the Hytron 100’s NiMH batteries. We talked for quite a while about all types of battery chemistries, and A/B products design/application for their batteries and , of course, my testing results.

Anton Bauer’s concern’s on the testing results:
That video cameramen reading the test results on our web page were concerned that the charge times on the Hytron 100’s were taking too long for these batteries to be useful in a production application, based on XCS’s results. That video camera run times were not long enough for the Hytron 100’s rated capacity and voltage output of these cells.
This of course would concern any battery manufacturer.
He also asked the the type of charger and serial number of the charger I had. I told him that, indeed, I was using the 70 watt 2701 charger with what should have been the a latest software and had used it on all of the batteries- NICad and NiMH. He felt that there could possibly be a software issue with my charger, and that this could effect the charge time if the Hytron 100’s only. He also stated that he felt that the Hytron100 battery should charge in slightly under 2 hours time, and that this possible software issue has no effect on the charge times of the Hytron 50’or any of the Nicad batteries. Which until further testing, will still remain as posted in the testing results.
My My response to this was that never in my testing did I test any video cameras, nor did I imply that I tested video cameras on our web page. Only video assisted cameras XC77, XC75, XC999 and ARRI 435 color color video assisted on motion picture cameras.
We both agree that these test results that I have done on film cameras cannot be interpolated to reflect video camera power usage and run times.
We also both agreed that given a D cell size in the Hytron 100 , that this battery should have the capability of better performance under lower capacitance draws as seen in the video industry, but not like we see in 35mm motion picture cameras.
I want to make it perfectly clear to all video cameramen, that run and charge times of the batteries I have tested are as stated in my test results and that at no time did I test any type of production video cameras. That theses results should not be compared to video camera current draws.
Anton Bauer rep. Michael Accardi and I agreed that they would send me another 2701 charger and three different Hytron 100’s for testing on motion picture cameras and that I would post the new results on our web page.
Michael also stated a few other items of interest. He felt that if one wanted to us the NiMH battery chemistry for the motion picture industry, that the Hytron 100 was the one to use and that I should have done a side by side comparison of the Hytron 100 vs. the 45 watt NiCad trim pac. This, he felt, would be a better comparison. (In my testing results the 100 watt Hytron did not out perform a single 45 watt Nicad on high capacitance draws, even though it has well over twice the stated effective capacitance,. but I will retest the Hytron 100’s under higher power draws and post the results when I receive the charger and cells from A/B.) I told him that the size and weight of a Hytron 100 make it a poor choice for Steadicam usage when multiple batteries are needed. He then asked for some typical current draws that we see in our film industry. I stated to him that they range from 3-5 amps at 12/24 volt steady state and that they can range from 3-17 amp 12/24 volt on start up for up to seven seconds ( However this can go longer on an Arri 435) When he heard this he stated that the Hytron 100 would never hold up to those loading conditions for these lengths of time and that with these types of higher current draws, Nicad batteries are the best possible choice.
I stated to him that I was hearing of poor battery performance from camera operators who are using the NiMH 50’s. He stated emphatically that the Hytron 50 cell was designed for the power tool industry and that it should not be used for these kind of current draws even if you are using multiple batteries. Michael stated that this type of information was clearly stated in their Battery Handbook and on their web page. I asked them to please make this information a little clearer on their web page because, s we all know, if we went strictly by what a battery states as voltage, wattage and weight- we would all be using lithium ion cells.
Michael Accardi asked me to post a statement telling any operator that is having any issue with the Hytron 50’s to please give Anton Bauer a call at (800) 541-1667. They wish only to satisfy the end user.
We then spoke about the New Proformer 30 watt NicCad, and I stated that I have not done any serious testing on this battery, but have been using it in the field for about 6 months. I stated that I was amazed on how well it performed and that we did run a small comparison at ShoeBiz this year between a Hytron 50 and Proformer 30. Needless to say, only once out of approximately 20 test comparisons did the Hytron 50 out-perform the a Proformer 30. Further testing would have to be done to make any broad range comparisons between a Proformer 30 and a Hytron 50. I would say maybe 50 to 60 people were able to see this demonstration. Michael Accardi said that it did not surprise him at all.
Anton Bauer’s only issue with my posted test results are as stated above. They has no issue with cold battery performance, or any other battery run times. Michael and I both agree we wish to encourage everyone to read the Video Battery Handbook by Anton Bauer to better understand cell technology, chemistry, performance, cell life and climate effects on batteries and chargers.

More news about a different group of callers soon...

Greg Bubb, XCS