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[andynetter]

Hi everyone. I live in the UK and have recently purchased the Ninja Pan/Tilt head from an eBay member in America. I purchased it not for home automation or security, but to use on a tripod to smoothly film pan and tilt shots of churches, castles and other venues during weddings, as I am a professional wedding videographer. The Ninja is not strong enough to support a pro or even mid-size camcorder, but it does work nicely with my Sony NEX-3 which shoots 720p video. The only problem is that I need to be able to use this outside, with no mains electricity. So, firstly I purchased one of these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-portable-power-pack-225153

which I can charge up at home and then take with me on a shoot as a portable power source.

I then purchased a 12v cigarette socket power adapter that came complete with a 3.5mm jack plug

http://www.capitalstores.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=B034BA&x=0&y=0

to take power from the power pack above, and connect to the Ninja. That didn't work - the Ninja would not operate. So, I got my Dad, who is better at these things than me, and he tested the jack plug on the Ninja power supply, and he told me that despite it saying 12v output it was actually drawing 26v, which he didn't think made sense.

Anyway, based on that information, I purchased a 24 volt power supply, again equipped with a 3.5 jack plug

http://www.maplin.co.uk/ac-dc-fixed-voltage-switched-mode-power-supplies-48484 (use the scroll box to select the L50BL)

plugged it into my wall socket at home, connected it to the Ninja, switched it on at the wall and the power supply blew - there was a loud crack / pop and some smoke from the power supply.

Luckily the Ninja survived unscathed, and still works.

So, basically, I just want to be able to use the Ninja with either a UK 3 pin mains plug, or a cigarette socket, so that I can run it off my portable power pack (http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-portable-power-pack-225153) but it has got me stumped. So, I am prepared to pay someone who knows what they are doing to convert this from a US to a UK powered unit, somehow. Please can anyone help? Payment will be made if either somebody makes and sends a suitable cable to me, or sends me step-by-step, idiot-proof instructions on what to buy and how to do it.

Many thanks in advance.

Andy
Andy Netter Videography

[Brian H]

It is a 12 volt power supply for the Ninja. It is not a regulated power supply and if you measured it without the Ninja using power. It could easily measure 26 volts.

Take a good look at the Ninja power supply. Notice it has TWO power connections on the DC connector side. Like a 3.5mm Stereo Connector. The tip is constant 12 volts, the center ring is switched 12 volts so you can turn it On and Off to pick which one is working. With a multiple camera setup.
The shell is the common return.  It looks like the connector you used was a standard power connector and didn't have the added ring to supply power to the Ninja.

What you have to do is connect both the tip and ring connector to the +12 volts and the common shell to the common -12 volts.
Probably a 3.5mm stereo type connector.

Here is the description of the 120 volt version we use. The DC side should be the same.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/XM14A

[dhouston]

Why didn't you buy one of the European versions?

• http://www.x10europe.com/vs/overview.htm

[andynetter]

Hi Brian. Thanks for the advice. I think I follow. Question - when you say this : "What you have to do is connect both the tip and ring connector to the +12 volts and the common shell to the common -12 volts" do you mean that I can use my 12v cigarette socket adapter to do that?

[andynetter]

Hi dhouston. I didn't realise there was a European X10 site, but in any case the link for the 'Robocam' is dead     Prices in the UK for anything electronic are ridiculous anyway so would probably cost a lot more than I would like to pay, even if I can find a local version. Hence why I am looking to the good old USA for this!  Thanks anyway for the suggestion.

[andynetter]

Would something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skytronic-Step-Down-Voltage-Convertor/dp/B000H9HU5C/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1314110270&sr=1-2

plugged into my portable power pack, work?

[Brian H]

Yes you can use the cigarette socket adapter, but you would have to cut the multiple connector end off and wire a 3.5mm stereo plug in its place. Wiring the +12 volts to both the tip and ring solder lug and the -12 volts to the shield solder lug.

[dhouston]

Hi dhouston. I didn't realise there was a European X10 site, but in any case the link for the 'Robocam' is dead     Prices in the UK for anything electronic are ridiculous anyway so would probably cost a lot more than I would like to pay, even if I can find a local version. Hence why I am looking to the good old USA for this!  Thanks anyway for the suggestion.

I see...

• http://www.thehomeautomationstore.com/vk74a.html

versus...

• http://www.laser.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=210&category_id=&

[andynetter]

Precisely! 

[andynetter]

I am gonna give the little step-down transformer from Amazon a go. I do have a transformer to use US gear in the UK, as I get a lot of lighting equipment etc from the States (again, cos of the massive cost difference) but it's absolutely huge, whereas this little one from Amazon is small enough to be portable. It's due tomorrow, so will report back as to whether it works as helpful as Brian's advice has been, as me and solder don't have a good history together!

[GabrielWenzs]

Hi everyone. I live in the UK and have recently purchased the Ninja Pan/Tilt head from an eBay member in America. I purchased it not for home automation or security, but to use on a tripod to smoothly film pan and tilt shots of churches, castles and other venues during weddings, as I am a professional wedding videographer. The Ninja is not strong enough to support a pro or even mid-size camcorder, but it does work nicely with my Sony NEX-3 which shoots 720p video. The only problem is that I need to be able to use this outside, with no mains electricity. So, firstly I purchased one of these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-portable-power-pack-225153

which I can charge up at home and then take with me on a shoot as a portable power source.

I then purchased  12v e cigarettes socket power adapter that came complete with a 3.5mm jack plug

http://www.capitalstores.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=B034BA&x=0&y=0

to take power from the power pack above, and connect to the Ninja. That didn't work - the Ninja would not operate. So, I got my Dad, who is better at these things than me, and he tested the jack plug on the Ninja power supply, and he told me that despite it saying 12v output it was actually drawing 26v, which he didn't think made sense.

Anyway, based on that information, I purchased a 24 volt power supply, again equipped with a 3.5 jack plug

http://www.maplin.co.uk/ac-dc-fixed-voltage-switched-mode-power-supplies-48484 (use the scroll box to select the L50BL)

plugged it into my wall socket at home, connected it to the Ninja, switched it on at the wall and the power supply blew - there was a loud crack / pop and some smoke from the power supply.

Luckily the Ninja survived unscathed, and still works.

So, basically, I just want to be able to use the Ninja with either a UK 3 pin mains plug, or a cigarette socket, so that I can run it off my portable power pack (http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-portable-power-pack-225153) but it has got me stumped. So, I am prepared to pay someone who knows what they are doing to convert this from a US to a UK powered unit, somehow. Please can anyone help? Payment will be made if either somebody makes and sends a suitable cable to me, or sends me step-by-step, idiot-proof instructions on what to buy and how to do it.

Many thanks in advance.

Andy
Andy Netter Videography

Hello friend were you able to complete the conversion? Well I am working on similar sort of project so really need your guidance..Hope you don't mind posting in old post..