Core SWX has put out an informative video that explains why your lights shut off, or your camera powers down, but your battery still shows a charge. This is not some strange glitch; it’s how power actually works.
Ross from Core SWX explains that most power issues stem from a misunderstanding of how watt-hours, voltage, and amperage interact.
A camera dies despite showing remaining power because voltage drop and amperage capability are more important than just the total energy capacity (Wh). When a battery is under a heavy load, like powering a camera with accessories like wireless and a monitor, it cannot maintain the necessary voltage to operate the device, causing it to shut down even if energy remains in the tank.
A battery needs load handling to safely and reliably deliver the current (amperage) required by your equipment without breaking down. While a battery might have a large capacity (Watt-hours), it may not be physically capable of releasing that energy quickly enough for high-draw devices like cinema cameras or LED lights.
Here is why load handling is critical:
- Prevents Sudden Shutdowns: If you attempt to draw more amps than the battery is designed for, it will trigger a hard shutdown to protect itself.
- Reduces Heat and Wear: Exceeding the rated amperage causes the battery to overheat, creating excess wear and tear that deteriorates the battery over time.
- Maintains Performance: Without proper load handling, you experience voltage sag, where the pressure drops so low that equipment starts glitching or flickering before dying completely.
Reputable manufacturers such as Core SWX list this spec as continuous or sustained amperage.
Key things to remember
- Watt-Hours (Wh)– Think of this as your fuel tank capacity. It measures the total amount of energy a battery can store.
- Wattage (W)– This is the power pull of your device (camera, monitor, light) at any given moment.
- Voltage (V)– Known as electrical pressure, voltage determines if your gear powers on or if it gets fried. Batteries operate across a range, not a single number.
- Amperage (A)– This is the volume of flow. Amp-hours (Ah) measure total capacity over time, while load handling determines if the battery can supply enough power to heavy-draw devices like lights without shutting down.
- Calculating Runtime– Divide the total Watt-hours by the Wattage of your device to estimate how long your battery will last.
- Choosing a Battery– Ensure the battery’s load handling (continuous amperage) matches the needs of your camera setup to avoid performance drops or sudden shutdowns.
