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03-02-2018, 11:36 PM - 4 Likes   #1
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Pentax Q on USB powerbank?

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Anyone else running their Q off a standard USB powerbank? I hope later to mount this with a tripod thread to bolt it under the camera. Make it a singe contiguous handholdable unit and so away with dangly wires. Kind of like a battery grip. If I were inclined, even go whole hog, canibalse an IR remote as a shutter button to have it working as a vertical battery grip.

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03-03-2018, 06:18 AM - 1 Like   #2
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Interesting idea. That would be very handy if you can work out a smooth mount. I have never real had a problem with the Q battery but I know others need longer continuous shooting and this would be an elegant solution.
03-04-2018, 06:54 PM - 1 Like   #3
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You've constructed your own cord to make contact with the terminals inside the camera?
03-04-2018, 07:15 PM - 3 Likes   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by leekil Quote
You've constructed your own cord to make contact with the terminals inside the camera?
Used an off brand dummy battery as a base. Already has a wire coming out of it.

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03-05-2018, 01:43 AM - 1 Like   #5
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Do you correct the voltage?
03-05-2018, 04:37 AM - 2 Likes   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by Piotrek K Quote
Do you correct the voltage?
Concerned regarding damage from feeding the biggish 5v out of the powerbank directly into the Q as it seemed excessive beyond the 3.7v printed on the Q's battery label.
So my approach was to add a little 3.7v battery charging circuit that takes in a 5v input. Fits nicely into the otherwise empty dummy battery case. Turns out these charging cuircuits do not output at 3.7v but measures around 4.1v. However I settled for this being safe upon my further discovering 4.1v is very similar to what I see coming off a freshly fully charged Q battery.

Superficial tests indicates it works! Though I expect not very efficiently: inside the USB powerbank itself is a 3.7v 2200mAh 18650 lithium cell that feeds another circuit ramping its output up to 5v. That then feeds into my dummy battery charging circuit that drops the 5v back down to 4.1v...

I am seriously considering just wiring the Powerbank's 3.7v cell output (again around 4.1v fully charged) to the contacts of the dummy battery. What could go wrong!

Any input would be much appreciated.
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03-05-2018, 01:29 PM - 1 Like   #7
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So now you can also use the Q plugged in to a USB power adapter. Useful for tripod studio shooting.

03-08-2018, 05:59 PM - 5 Likes   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by leekil Quote
So now you can also use the Q plugged in to a USB power adapter. Useful for tripod studio shooting.
Yes and some plugins sites indicate Lightroom can shoot tethered with a Q? (Not tried it myself)

What I have tried is this time a double cell powerbank for additional room to work-in a tripod bolt fitting. Cut a small gap in the corner of the case corner to feed a short dedicated wire to power the dummy battery.

Not sure I like it any better as a powerbank bolted to the underside of the Q vs than having only the Q in hand a with long wire to feed from any sized powerbank to suit the occasion.

I have to stress test how long I can shoot timelapse images before hitting any overheating issues in the Q itself.
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04-02-2018, 03:36 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by 2old4toys Quote
Used an off brand dummy battery as a base. Already has a wire coming out of it.
Do you have a link to the dummy battery?
04-02-2018, 05:25 PM - 1 Like   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by angerdan Quote
Do you have a link to the dummy battery?
Look for DC coupler for more results rather than “dummy battery”

Here’s one I found

DC Coupler for Fuji CP-50 CP50 NP-50 NP50 | eBay
04-20-2018, 04:21 AM   #11
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Just a note to say I now run a line that feeds from a pair of parallel wired 18650 lithium cells directly into the dummy battery. The output measures 4.1ish volts and it works a treat for Q, Q10 and QS1. No more charging circuit inefficiency.
04-22-2018, 03:47 AM   #12
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How much more power do you have now compared to the original battery?
04-22-2018, 05:14 AM - 2 Likes   #13
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Depending on the used 18650 cell (currently 2.2Ah, maximum 3.5Ah) compared to the Pentax D-LI68 (1Ah x 3.7V) - 120% to 350% higher capacity.
Power of the camera keeps the same.
04-22-2018, 05:15 AM   #14
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Depending on the used 18650 cell (currently 2.2Ah, maximum 3.5Ah) compared to the Pentax D-LI68 (1Ah x 3.7V) - 120% to 350% higher capacity.
Power of the camera keeps the same.
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