CinePowerCalculator

Adding equipment to your calculation is straightforward:

1. Click the “Add Equipment…” dropdown in the Equipment column
2. Select items from the categorized list (Cameras, Monitors, etc.)
3. Use the + and – buttons to adjust quantities
4. Each item shows its power draw and voltage requirements below the name

Note: You can only select one camera at a time, but can add multiple accessories.

Battery management is simple and intuitive:

1. Use the “Add Battery…” dropdown in the Batteries column
2. Batteries are organized by mount type (V-Mount, Gold Mount, etc.)
3. Adjust quantities using the + and – buttons
4. Each battery displays its capacity (Wh) and voltage

Important: The calculator will warn you if your selected batteries don’t meet the voltage requirements of your equipment.

You can add custom equipment in two ways:

1. Use the “Add Custom” button in each section
2. Submit equipment to the database:

• Click “Suggest Equipment” in the database section
• Fill out the specifications form
• Submit for review and inclusion in the database

Understanding the charging diagram:

• Visual Layout: See battery placement in charger slots
• Warnings: Color-coded indicators for charging efficiency
• Details: Hover over info icons for specific warnings
• Compatibility: Battery types shown in respective slots

Battery runtime is calculated using this formula:

• Runtime = (Battery Capacity × Efficiency) ÷ Camera Power Draw
• Battery Capacity is measured in Watt-hours (Wh)
• Efficiency defaults to 80% but can be adjusted
• Power Draw is measured in Watts (W)

The calculator automatically handles these calculations when you select your equipment and batteries.

Yes, we maintain a comprehensive database:

• Equipment: Cinema cameras, monitors, wireless video, and more
• Batteries: V-Mount, Gold Mount, and other professional batteries
• Chargers: Compatible chargers for all supported battery types
• Updates: Regular updates based on user suggestions and new releases

Access the full database through the Database tab in the navigation menu.

The calculator provides three key metrics:

1. Total Power Draw: Combined wattage of all selected equipment
2. Min Voltage Required: Highest voltage requirement among selected gear
3. Runtime: Estimated runtime based on selected batteries and efficiency

The power chart below these metrics shows individual power draw for each piece of equipment, with color coding to indicate relative power consumption.

The Equipment Database provides detailed information about available gear:

1. Switch between Equipment and Batteries using the tabs
2. Equipment is organized by category with sortable columns
3. Each listing shows power draw, voltage, and manufacturer details
4. Use the column headers to sort by different criteria

Note: Can’t find your equipment? Use the suggestion form at the bottom of the database to request additions.

The Battery Efficiency slider helps account for real-world conditions:

1. Default efficiency is set to 80% for realistic estimates
2. Lower efficiency (moving left) provides more conservative runtime estimates
3. Higher efficiency (moving right) assumes optimal battery performance

Pro Tip: For cold weather shoots or older batteries, consider using a lower efficiency setting for more conservative estimates.

Power consumption is calculated using these relationships:

• Power (W) = Voltage (V) × Current (A)
• Total Power Draw = Sum of all equipment power draws
• Required Battery Capacity = Power Draw × Runtime needed

The calculator automatically sums up the power draw of all selected equipment.

Batteries have inherent internal resistance, leading to energy dissipation as heat during discharge. This reduces the effective energy available to the device.

This effect describes how a battery’s capacity decreases with increasing discharge rates, particularly in lead-acid batteries. At higher discharge currents, the available capacity diminishes due to internal resistance and electrochemical limitations. However, lithium-ion batteries are less affected by this phenomenon.

If the device operates at a different voltage than the battery, voltage regulators or DC-DC converters are used. These components are not 100% efficient, typically operating between 85-95% efficiency, leading to energy losses.

Extreme temperatures can affect battery efficiency. Cold temperatures, for instance, can reduce a battery’s effective capacity, while high temperatures can increase internal resistance, both leading to reduced runtime.

Over time, batteries experience capacity fade due to chemical aging processes, resulting in less available energy than their original rating.