Cheap Cyclecam

[daniel.weck]

Increase battery capacity using external USB power source

This trick works perfectly for me, when plugged into the USB charger, not the computer (on the road, I just need to use a small AA-powered USB "backup" pack):

"
I’m surprised that this isn’t mentioned much on the internet, but on my MD80 clone, I can use an external usb battery pack to record if I hold down the record/stop button while plugging the usb cable in (camera has to be OFF first).
"

Found here:

Tear down and hacking around gumpack camera

 

[Pedalo]

This trick works perfectly for me, when plugged into the USB charger, not the computer (on the road, I just need to use a small AA-powered USB "backup" pack):

"
I’m surprised that this isn’t mentioned much on the internet, but on my MD80 clone, I can use an external usb battery pack to record if I hold down the record/stop button while plugging the usb cable in (camera has to be OFF first).
"

Found here:

Tear down and hacking around gumpack camera

Interesting. Next level of sophistication would be to derive USB power from your 36V ebike battery...

 

[allen-uk]

How long's the battery last in the £12.99 camera (i.e. the one mentioned in the original post)? I've bought one, but seem to run out of battery very quickly...


A

 

[NRG]

How long's the battery last in the £12.99 camera (i.e. the one mentioned in the original post)? I've bought one, but seem to run out of battery very quickly...


A

60 mins or so if you are lucky, not the two hours I was expecting

 

[daniel.weck]

How long's the battery last in the £12.99 camera (i.e. the one mentioned in the original post)? I've bought one, but seem to run out of battery very quickly...

About 1h runtime, but make sure to set the recording mode to "manual" (as opposed to "activated by sound detection"), otherwise the recording stops when the environment is silent (it happened to me a few times).

 

[allen-uk]

Thanks. Which charging method seems best, mains plug or USB from computer?

A

 

[daniel.weck]

Thanks. Which charging method seems best, mains plug or USB from computer?

A

The main charger is an AC/DC converter that feeds 5V through the mini USB plug. Your computer motherboard delivers the same voltage but probably fewer milliamperes, so in theory the main charger charges quicker.

 

[onmebike]

Interesting. Next level of sophistication would be to derive USB power from your 36V ebike battery...

Already been done using among other things a Hyperion Bec, a battery eliminator used for r/c models. Search DC- DC covertors on ebay you'll need one capable of around 40v down to 5v. They can be pricey, the Hyperion is one of the cheapest options at around £18.00.

 

[daniel.weck]

I must admit, in cold weather my MD-80 video-camera tends to behave erratically: it stops filming for no reason whilst riding, and the video file sometimes isn't even saved on the memory card (it is not a reproducible pattern though, pretty random). I would attribute this to a weak battery, as it happened to me in the past with another portable device.

I can live with a USB external battery, but for those wanting to mount the camera on an helmet...it kind of defies the point of a tiny device in the first place.

To be fair, I'm not disappointed because I got what I paid for, no less, no more.

 

[NRG]

I must admit, in cold weather my MD-80 video-camera tends to behave erratically: it stops filming for no reason whilst riding, and the video file sometimes isn't even saved on the memory card (it is not a reproducible pattern though, pretty random). I would attribute this to a weak battery, as it happened to me in the past with another portable device.

Mine does the same Dan, strange but the really really cheap one I have....cheaper than cheap and cheaper than my not so cheap one works quite well and is more consistent...

 

[allen-uk]

As you say, for £12.99 you really can't moan much.

I'm chuffed to bits with mine - although I've just had one delivered for my brother-in-law, and checking it over it seems to be built better than mine! The buttons all 'click' nicely, unlike my one. Oh well...


A