Remote batteries for cold weather in Antarctica

[wm700293]

Looking for a way to remote the camera battery into my clothing (under an arm) to keep it/them warm for prolonged cold weather shooting. Is there a product available? (Either Canon or 3rd party)

[kvbarkley]

What camera?

[wm700293]

5D4 by the time I actually get to Antarctica.

[kvbarkley]

The Vello BG-C9 battery grip has a tray for AA batteries, you might be able to wire an outside battery holder to it without mucking about with the camera.

[TTMartin]

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@wm700293 wrote:
5D4 by the time I actually get to Antarctica.

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Just be aware, Canon doesn't rate their dSLRs for particularly cold weather use. And with the extreme cold a couple of winters ago, there were a lot of cold related 70D shutter failures.

For example the 5D Mk III:

Operating Environment

Working Temperature Range

32-104°F/0-40°C

Working Humidity Range

85% or less

[wm700293]

I like the LANPARTE Portable Battery with Adapter solution, and am giving serious consideration to designing my own "camera cover" to insulate the camera body and lens. It would be like a rain cover, closing with Velcro, with room for both hands, etc. etc. 

Maybe I'll buy a cheap down-filled coat or jacket as the source of material. I don't think I'll need the "windows". I believe that properly done, this approach, along with the battery in my armpit, so to speak, would be good for a couple of hours outside, at least.

On the issue of home-designed power sources, I think that a full-wave bridge combined with an LM7805 would be sufficient to "knock down" the voltage coming in from a Canon BP-E4 or similar battery pack, but haven't looked into this much yet, hoping to find an already-engineered solution. 12V car batteries are out of the question, as are generators - this ain't a fashion shoot...

Thoughts?

wm700293

[TTMartin]

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@wm700293 wrote:

I like the LANPARTE Portable Battery with Adapter solution, and am giving serious consideration to designing my own "camera cover" to insulate the camera body and lens. It would be like a rain cover, closing with Velcro, with room for both hands, etc. etc. 

Maybe I'll buy a cheap down-filled coat or jacket as the source of material. I don't think I'll need the "windows". I believe that properly done, this approach, along with the battery in my armpit, so to speak, would be good for a couple of hours outside, at least.

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On one hand you are trying to extend your battery life because it is cold, I think your remote battery idea does that. On the other hand, you are trying to keep heat in the camera. I would disable or set the 'auto power off' on to 30 minutes. Keeping the electronics on inside the camera will go a long way toward keeping it operating correctly in a ultra-cold environment. 

[wm700293]

Yes, but one must be sensitive to the effect of cold on the mechanical components as well, particularly the shttter mechanism.

wm700293

[kvbarkley]

Remember, down just insulates, it does not provide heat.

You could just shoot video all the time you are carrying it, and let it keep itself warm. 8^)

[wm700293]

Yeah but, I was going to sew (not myself) a "hand warmer" pocket into the insulating "jacket". I have a nice thin-profile hand warmer laying around somewhere in the cabin... a little lighter fluid, and i'm ready to go - it'll keep my hands warm, too.

wm700293