Helmet Camera Charger

[-Matt-]

Just thought i'd share this in case its of use to anyone. Have given it a fairly good test today and seems to work fine. My Drifts battery life isn't amazing at about 2.5 hours tops, and obviously if you remember to keep track of it at that point it requires pulling over and removing/replacing with a spare battery.

With a long trip coming up soon and only one spare battery I wanted to try and work out a way I could keep the camera helmet mounted and have it constantly running. I've got hold of a cheap portable mobile phone charger that runs off a few AA batteries, cable tied onto the camera and then cable tied the wiring tightly to around the back of them. To replace the batteries [about 10 hours constant running time per set], you just have to firmly slide the cable tie back a bit and remove the case.
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[j00pY]

I wish you posted this a couple of weeks ago - I just bought another couple of spare batteries!

What is the charger you bought called?

[-Matt-]

https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/optimum-emergency-charger-285308

This is the charger. Should be able to find a store nearish to you if you cant find the charger anywhere else.

[Rogerborg]

That is... so ghetto.


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[Llama-Farmer]

Not bought it yet, but had a friend who recommended THIS* for the GoPro. I've found the standard battery only lasts a little over an hour... as did the smaller 8GB memory cards (the 16GB/32GB cards kept causing loads of problems with the Hero 3, but GoPro now recommend Lexar instead of SanDisk ones, so gonna get a 64GB Lexar card, and film with this external recharger)

* https://www.amazon.co.uk/15000mAh-Portable-Ultra-High-Capacity-External/dp/B00D5T3QK4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1396991038&sr=8-3&keywords=Anker+Astro+battery+pack


He gets 5-6 hours at 720p and 4-5 at 1080p. Usually needs to swap memory cards though.

Only downside is it charges through the micro-USB... and you plug external microphone (or rather headset intercom lead) into the camera so it picks up RT transmissions rather than cabin noise. Not so bad on an airliner flight deck, smaller aircraft cockpit its a waste of noise.
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[goto10]

[chris-red]

Why would you want to record for 10 hours? When you are you going to get the time to watch through 10 hours of footage. Quality over quantity.
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[-Matt-]

[barrkel]

[barrkel]

[-Matt-]

[-Matt-]

[Llama-Farmer]

[Irn-Bru]

I used to just run a USB charger off the bike but it was a proper fanny on remembering to keep plugging the cable in, then it eventually broke anyway.
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[-Matt-]

[Irn-Bru]

Helmet cam (Drift HD 1080), and I did just that, forgot it was plugged it and it knacked the USB connector It ends up getting in the way of riding as well, end up fumbling around and taking ages to set off. Your solution is good, or a battery pack in a jacket pocket is just as good I suppose.
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[TheCatSatOnTh...]

Good idea, until it rains.

[trist077]

i have a drift power pack usb end then adapters to either m camera or phone or sat nav when needed

[-Matt-]

[gavbriggs]

Wouldn't it be better to run the wire down and into a pocket? Even better have it plug into the bike on an adaptor similar to the comms devices? That way you don't even need to replace batteries ust plug into the bike and your off!

[-Matt-]

Yeah you probably could run it to a pocket fairly easily as an alternative. I mainly just wanted it all on the helmet to save having wires dangling all over the place and make it easier to take it on and off when stopping. I have no inner pockets on my current textiles annoyingly too so it meant i'd have the wires running down and around the outside or into trouser pockets

[j00pY]

[-Matt-]

[The Disapproving Brit]

I have one of these - holds more charge than my phone battery, so far more practical than a couple of AAs. I just charge it at work each day and it's always in my pocket: https://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/broadband-sat-nav-phones/mobile-phones-broadband/mobile-phone-accessories/pny-portable-usb-phone-battery-charger-and-power-bank-21729435-pdt.html

For the helmet cam, I have a spare battery if I'm on a long ride. Also for the Drift, go into the settings and set the screen timeout to 5s - by default it's permanently on, which drinks power. It's not like you're looking at it when it's on your head, so turn it off.
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[Ali in Austria]

Like trist077, I use Drift Power Packs https://www.actioncameras.co.uk/drift-power-pack-uk

I actually have 3 but that is to tide me over on a multi week tour when I am filming all the time. Great for charging other equipment via USB as well. The pack is certainly good for about 20 hours. I've had one of them for over 4 years and it is still going strong.

Not sure about The Ghost range but the Drift HD has a second back door which facilitates cable entry for a power lead and Mic Lead. I make them fairly waterproof by using a blob of this stuff at the point of cable entry https://www.actioncameras.co.uk/black-tack?

I do the same with GoPro's by using a Dremmel to make the cable entry on a waterproof case.

A blob or two of Black Tack also holds a cable down nicely and is easily removed without leaving a residue. Just think of it as Blu Tack on an Industrial scale. Useful for mounting the remote on a Tank Bag or cockpit area as well
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