topic Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 11:52:18 GMT

I have set up a long term time lapse project that will run for several years, with the aim of visiting the camera every couple of weeks to collect the images. I'm using an 'onSite' Tether to power the EOS 70D, which in turn is connected to the mains power supply via a USB adaptor.

The issue is that despite the sustained power being on to the EOS 70D, over a couple of days the battery power indicator on the camera decreases, and eventually the camera shuts down. Is there a way in which I can avoid this? Setting in the camera?

Many in advance

redged01

Re: Using onSite Tether issues

Waddizzle — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 09:46:25 GMT

Which camera are you using?

Are trying to keep the camera fully charged and powered up through the USB port? None of the Canon DSLRs allow you to charge the camera through USB.

I think a couple of the newest MILC bodies allow for USB charging, but it requires a special cable. And, I do not think you are able to use the camera while it it is charging.

Re: Using onSite Tether issues

redged01 — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 12:46:59 GMT

I'm using an EOS 70D

The on Site Tether is a dummy battery that fits in the battery compartment, but is fed from external power source. I'm not powering the camera through USB.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

Waddizzle — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 12:58:58 GMT

@redged01 wrote:
I have set up a long term time lapse project that will run for several years, with the aim of visiting the camera every couple of weeks to collect the images. I'm using an 'onSite' Tether to power the EOS 70D, which in turn is connected to the mains power supply via a USB adaptor.
The issue is that despite the sustained power being on to the EOS 70D, over a couple of days the battery power indicator on the camera decreases, and eventually the camera shuts down. Is there a way in which I can avoid this? Setting in the camera?

Many in advance
redged01

It still sounds like you are powering the camera from a USB port. A USB port does not have sufficient output to power a DSLR.

I suggest that you use a Canon power adapter, which is powered by an AC outlet. The Canon adapter comes in two parts. There is the substitute battery that installs inside of the battery compartment. There is a universal AC to DC power converter, which provides power to a variety of substitute battery modules.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 13:28:56 GMT

Thanks for your thoughts.

The on Site Tether tools is a dummy battery pack connected to a conditioning relay that lifts the voltage to suit the camera. The relay contain an internal battery which is charged from an external source. The company claims indefinite supply to power the camera. [Commercial link removed. Replaced with screenshot to facilitate discussion.]

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

ebiggs1 — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 15:23:08 GMT

"It still sounds like you are powering the camera from a USB port. A USB port does not have sufficient output to power a DSLR."

I am in agreement with this. You are still at the mercy of the power output of the USB port on the computer. I think most USB ports are 5 volts and the 70D needs 7 volts. Anyway this may give you something to think abbot and how to maybe fix your rig since I have not tried to do it.

"Setting in the camera?"

I know of no such setting in any Canon camera. None that I have or have had anyway.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

ebiggs1 — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 15:29:07 GMT

BTW, I do tether my 1DX to my laptop all the time. I use Lightroom with an active USB cable because I need long runs sometimes. But I have a seperate power supply for the 1DX. I never run over 6 or 7 hours though and it is on continuously except when it goes to sleep while I set up a new shot. Works well, I have done this setup for years.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

Waddizzle — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 15:36:08 GMT

@redged01 wrote:
Thanks for your thoughts.
The on Site Tether tools is a dummy battery pack connected to a conditioning relay that lifts the voltage to suit the camera. The relay contain an internal battery which is charged from an external source. The company claims indefinite supply to power the camera.

It sounds like it does not work as claimed. This is a Tether Tools issue. I doubt if it will ever work indefinitely. You seem to have proven that to be a fact.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 09:53:33 GMT

Hi,

The Tether relay is powered directly from a 5V 3A USB charger. In the Relay there is a battery to just an uninterrupted power supply. From that battery there will be a boost converter to lift the voltage to 7.1V needed for the camera. This tether connected directly to the battery terminal and is not a USB tether in the usual sense. I do believe that it is the Tether system, and I would recommend caution using the system. There may be a way around it by allowing the camera to go sleep mode and use a relay to trigger the shutter rather than a software signal from gphoto2. I'll let you know.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

Waddizzle — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 12:06:30 GMT

Does the 70D have time lapse captures built into the menus. The cameras that do have that feature are able to wake itself up to take a shot at whatever interval you set.

[EDIT] A remote shutter switch is an option, but that may depend upon the overall total time that you wish to capture images.

I also recommend using the Canon battery eliminator gear. The battery in your current setup is running out of power.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 12:48:14 GMT

There i no time lapse feature on the 70D. I'll be collecting images every 10 minutes for several years. A remote shutter release, I think, will get around the problem of waking up the camera between shots so the battery will recharge. It may be that the battery cannot charge if there is a constant drain on it.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

ebiggs1 — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 14:00:54 GMT

There are two of us that believe it is your power source. Now that's not proof but it does make a strong case for it being the issue.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:36:30 GMT

Thanks very much for your comments. The plot thickens, as they say. I have plugged a USB voltmeter and ammeter into the circuit so I can monitor the volts and current supplied to the Tether. It's rather interesting. Volts to the Tether stays around 5.05 volts, but the current jumps between 0 and just over 1A transiently. Almost like a trickle charger. If I was running low on battery power you might expect the charger to have a sustained delivery of current.

The next step, I think, is to disconnect the Tether from the USB charger and run the camera just on the built in battery (1200mA) for 30-45 minutes, then plug it back into the USB supply. I would anticipate that the ammeter would show a sustained current draw. If its behaviour doesn't change then it is probably the power supply.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

Tronhard — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:46:22 GMT

One point of note. I just got a chance to check your lens specs and it is designed for crop sensor (APS-C) cameras. Previously, you could not have attached this lens to a Canon Full Frame body, but the R-series bodies, with the adapter will accommodate an APS-C lens. I am not sure what body you are planning to connect this lens to, but if you are hoping to use this with the EOS R7 or R10, the cameras will generate their full sensor capacity.

If you decided to use the lens with a full-frame body like the R, RP, R3, 5 or 6 the lens will connect and work OK but because it projects a narrower area onto the sensor, the sensors will automatically crop the image to that of an APS-C sensor. That reduces THOSE FF sensors capacity down by a factor of 2.5. So the FF sensor of the R6 will only produce about an 8MP image.

Again, if you are going to use the lens with a F7 or R10, it will generate the full sensor potential.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:44:24 GMT

Thanks Trevor. I'm using a EOS 70D which is a crop sensor camera. I'm not sure how it relates to the current issue. Perhaps posted on the wrong thread

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

ebiggs1 — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 15:22:58 GMT

"One point of note."

Trevor, sorry, but what does that have to do with power loss?

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

Waddizzle — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:49:03 GMT

@ebiggs1 wrote:
"One point of note."
Trevor, sorry, but what does that have to do with power loss?

Nothing. I think he simply posted on the wrong thread. “EF to RF lens adspters”

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

normadel — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 19:04:28 GMT

So your Tether is supplying 5.05 volts. Does that not provide the answer to your problem?

ANY USB power supply only provides 5 volts. Plain and simple. A Canon LP-E6(NH) battery is 7.2 volts, and Canon's and other AC-powered battery replacers provide more. My Wasabi unit says 8.4 volts.

What is it you don't see about your problem? Stop beating a dead horse.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

redged01 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:55:53 GMT

No, you are not correct. There is a boost converter in the tether relay which will lift the voltage to 7.2V . If I tried run the camera on 5.05 V the camera would not start never mind go for 2-3 days.

Re: on Site Tether issue with Canon EOS 70D

ebiggs1 — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 15:39:55 GMT

"No, you are not correct."

Actually he is. 😉 If the voltage goes up, the amperage has to go down. Ohm’s Law says voltage and amperage are inversely proportionally. The voltage goes up the amperage goes down because you are going to get the same amount of work out if it. It may supply enough for a short, or some period of time, but soon it will catch up with the inadequate output.