Core SWX has a variety of B-mount Helix Max Batteries for the ARRI ALEXA 35. The Helix Max collection was designed to have the ability to deal with probably the most demanding energy builds within the cinema trade. They’re obtainable in 98Wh (Helix Max 98) and 147Wh (Helix Max 150) fashions. For this evaluate, I shall be trying on the Helix Max 150 (B-mount).
With the arrival of the ALEXA 35, ARRI added one other high-voltage digital camera to its steady, together with a brand new battery normal referred to as B-mount. Now, this had many individuals questioning, do I’ve to make use of B-mount or can I take advantage of twin voltage V-mount or G-mount batteries with the ALEXA 35? Properly, you’ve the choice of both investing within the B-mount fashion system or persevering with to make use of your present Twin Voltage V-mount or G-mount batteries with an adapter plate.
CORE SWX has some good academic movies that assist clarify a variety of the questions you will have.
Regardless of which mount fashion you select, a high-voltage battery pack is required for the ARRI ALEXA 35. In keeping with CORE SWX, its Helix Max collection is probably the most full, ultra-efficient onboard battery system ever provided to the cinematic trade. The packs supply a most output of 10A at excessive voltage (20A at low voltage). They supply near-lossless energy transmission at a 99% effectivity price to high-voltage working tools. The distinctive design of the Helix permits it to output at low voltage on any tools chances are you’ll at present use normal 14v battery packs on, in addition to cost on all normal V-mount and G-Mount chargers, nevertheless, the Helix B-mount requires a brand new B-mount charger.
The Helix Max Batteries embody all of the options of Hypercore NEO, with the added perform of twin 14v/28v simultaneous voltage output, which makes them a great resolution for the ARRI ALEXA 35. The packs present excessive voltage solely when coupled with a Helix V or G mount plate and/or when they’re positioned immediately onto the B-mount plate of the ARRI Alexa 35, offering an output excessive voltage of as much as 33.6v. This 33.6v is inside the prime vary of excessive voltage acceptance, thus drawing much less present, creating much less warmth and increasing each operational runtime and product longevity.
When used on normal tools (screens, 14v cameras, wi-fi Tx/Rx) V-mount and G-mount plates, the Helix Max packs function like every other V-mount or G-mount pack.
Having a twin voltage battery makes a ton of sense, because it lets you apply it to different cameras and tools, and never simply the ALEXA 35. You should purchase Direct Join plates that can help you use G-mount or V-mount batteries on ARRI Alexa 35. These plates can even work with the ARRI PDM-1 and AEM-1 modules.
Above you possibly can see a video that exhibits you find out how to set up the Direct Join plates on the Alexa 35.
In case you occurred to personal an ARRI Amira, ARRI ALEXA LF and an ALEXA 35, which is kind of frequent for a rental home, you would use the bebop B-Mount Battery Adapter for ARRI AMIRA or bebob B-Mount Battery Adapter for ARRI ALEXA/LF/65 Cameras in order that you would run all of those cameras through B-mount twin voltage batteries.
Flight Secure
Regardless of there being fairly a number of battery options available on the market for the ALEXA 35, there will not be a variety of flight-safe choices. In case you journey quite a bit, then having flight-safe batteries is a should. The CORE SWX Helix Max 98Wh and 147Wh batteries are each flight secure, and on most airways, a person can hand carry as much as two batteries which have a capability between 100Wh and 160Wh. There’s often no restrict to the variety of batteries which are below 100Wh that you may take, though it’s at all times greatest to examine with the airline you’re utilizing.
The batteries have a most output of 20A (10A at 28.8v HV).
Construct High quality
The batteries function a pleasant strong housing in case you occur to drop one.
I additionally like that Core SWX has made the discharge mechanism solely out of aluminum. As a result of the mount is definitely on the battery itself and never on the B-mount plate, this must be as strong as doable.
The feel of the batteries additionally makes them straightforward to grip and deal with. A number of operators have a tendency to carry the again of the digital camera when panning and for that function, the batteries work properly. B-mount is a brilliant strong mount and it’s much more strong than every other mount available on the market.
I’ve present in inclement climate situations you don’t need to be dealing with a battery that has a slippery floor.
The batteries are rated for 2000 cycles, which will definitely get you thru fairly a number of years of use.
It is usually good that CORE SWX has integrated each a hibernation and storage mode for the batteries. Identical to individuals, batteries don’t must be awake in the event that they don’t must be used!
Dimension & Weight
The CORE SWX B-mount Helix Max 150 battery ideas the scales at 2.2 lbs / 1kg. It has bodily dimensions of three.54 x 4.65 x 2.72″ / 8.99 x 11.81 x 6.9cm. So how does this examine to among the competitors?
| WEIGHT | DIMENSIONS | |
| CORE SWX Helix Max 150 | 2.2 lbs / 1kg | 3.54 x 4.65 x 2.72″ / 8.99 x 11.81 x 6.9cm |
| bebob B155CINE 14.4/28.8V 155Wh | 2.2 lbs / 1kg | 5.7 x 3.7 x 2.3″ / 14.4 x 9.4 x 5.8cm |
| SWIT BIVO-160 | 2.42 lbs / 1.1kg | 5.7″ x 3.9 x 2.1″ 14.4 x 10 x 5.4cm |
Whereas the battery suits on the digital camera properly, it doesn’t contour to the form of the ALEXA 35. It’s barely shorter than the battery plate or AEM-1 Audio Module. That is purely a beauty factor, however I nonetheless thought it was price stating.
The ALEXA 35 balances actually properly on the shoulder and batteries just like the CORE SWX B-mount Helix Max add a pleasant quantity of weight to the again of the digital camera.
Outputs
The CORE SWX B-mount Helix Max batteries all supply one P-tap. This works properly, nevertheless, it might have been good to have seen a Twist P-tap (D-tap) the place it doesn’t matter which approach you plug it in. That is one thing the competing bebob battery has.
There’s additionally a USB-Sort A 5V output. I might have most well-liked to have seen a USB-C output. I’m not positive why some battery producers are nonetheless placing a USB-Sort A output on batteries in 2022.
Usability
I actually loved utilizing the CORE SWX Helix Max batteries. They’re properly constructed, you possibly can cost them rapidly, and so they have a pleasant massive and clear LCD show that exhibits you related data.
Personally, I might have most well-liked to have seen a LED show on the aspect of the battery, as a result of that’s the place all the opposite shows for the ALEXA 35 are positioned.
On the aspect of the battery, you’ve a standard LED show the place the remaining energy is proven in a collection of 4 illuminated LED lights.
Now, I did examine to see how correct the % show was mirrored between the battery and the digital camera and I discovered it to be about 1% off. That is fairly frequent, and one thing I additionally discovered when utilizing different B-mount batteries.
In case you personal an ALEXA 35 and you’re going to be touring quite a bit, these batteries make a ton of sense.
The ALEXA 35 isn’t an enormous digital camera, and the Helix Max 150 is a pleasant candy spot for providing respectable run instances, whereas not making the digital camera too heavy.
Helix Hotswap plate
The batteries will present ample runtime for many digital camera and lighting functions, however they can be used at the side of a Helix Hotswap plate ($349 USD) to double the obtainable battery capability and lengthen runtimes.
Charger
The CORE SWX MACH-4B is claimed to be the quickest li-ion B-mount quad charger available on the market. It may well present 4A concurrently to all 4 cost bays. The ability vary per channel is rated at 64 watts/hr.
The MACH-4B options 4 unbiased cost bays, and it’s able to charging 4 batteries concurrently by specializing in every individually. The charger can utterly cost 4 98Wh batteries in round 132 minutes. That is very fast.
Pink and inexperienced LEDs point out charging/full standing and it helps a 90-240 VAC enter voltage, making it worldwide suitable. Now, you might be pondering that the charging show data is fairly fundamental, and you’d be proper. Nonetheless, you possibly can see the standing of how the battery is charging immediately on the battery itself. Whereas I didn’t thoughts this, the LCD show on the batteries doesn’t gentle up until you press the button on the aspect, so it does make it a little bit laborious to see for those who don’t try this.
The brand new low-profile design is over ½” thinner than comparable fashions. The charger includes a recessed carry deal with that makes transport handy.
The housing is product of aluminum, and it is vitally robustly constructed and it’s made within the USA. It weighs 5 lbs / 2.26 kg. I discovered the dimensions and low weight made it a great journey choice.
The MACH-4B does function a fan, nevertheless, most significantly, it is vitally quiet. In case you are like me and also you typically need to cost batteries in resort rooms, having a loud charger might be very disruptive when you find yourself attempting to sleep.
The MACH-4B is good and quiet and that could be a massive deal for me.
Worth & Availability
The Core SWX Helix Max 98Wh and 147Wh Lithium-Ion Twin-Voltage Battery (B-Mount) are actually obtainable for the next costs:
How does this value examine to the competitors? Properly, under you possibly can see:
The CORE SWX Helix Max is costlier than the bebob, however the bebob doesn’t supply any kind of LCD show, and so they take longer to cost.
Specs
Core SWX Helix Max 98Wh Lithium-Ion Twin-Voltage Battery (B-Mount)
Capability: 98Wh (14.8v, 6.6Ah)
Operational Voltage: Twin Voltage, DC 11v-16.8v/DC 22v-33.6v
Dimension: 3.54″ x 4.65″x 2.38″
Weight: 1.8lbs.
Load: 20A @ 16.8v, 10A @ 33.6v
Core SWX Helix Max 147Wh Lithium-Ion Twin-Voltage Battery (B-Mount)
Capability: 9.9Ah, 147wh
Operational Voltage: Twin Voltage, DC 11v-16.8v/DC 22v-33.6v
Dimension: 3.54″ x 4.65″x 2.72″
Weight: 2.2lbs.
Load: 20A @ 16.8v, 10A @ 33.6v
