Use DJI Batteries to Power Your Camera – Bird Eyes Technologies BA5000

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by Jeff LochFebruary 7^th, 2020

Bird Eyes Technologies, a new American company, just released a new V-Mount/Gold Mount battery adapter that allows you to use DJI TB50/TB55 batteries to power your camera and accessories. The BA5000 Basic outputs 17 amps of power and features two D-Tap Power outputs. The BA5000 Pro version also includes a two-pin LEMO output and a 5v USB output.

Image credit: Bird Eyes Technology

Traditional V-Lock (V-Mount) and Gold Mount batteries are not the most affordable out there. Indeed, if you start investing in these, you’ll need two/three batteries and a charger, which can easily set you back over $1000. If you already have a DJI Ronin 2 or Inspire 2 that uses DJI TB50/TB55 batteries, the BA5000 battery adapter from Bird Eyes Technologies could save you some money.

Adapting Batteries

Battery adapters are not something new. Last month, we already reported about Kessler’s Mag Max 3A adapter that uses DeWalt power tool batteries to power your camera and accessories. Also, if you are a Freefly MoVi Pro owner, you’re probably already using the Ignite Digi TB50 battery adapters. As its name suggests, the Ignite Digi adapter also uses DJI TB50 batteries to power the MoVi Pro.

Image credit: Bird Eyes Technology

There are a couple of reasons why using DJI TB50/55 batteries can be attractive. First is the cost. Indeed, TB50 cells are $159, and larger TB55 batteries (178Wh) are more expensive at $475.00. Otherwise, quality V-Lock/Gold Mount batteries retail for anywhere between $200 to $975 each.

The second advantage is the charging speed of TB50/55 cells compared to standard V-Lock/AB, which is nearly twice as fast. Finally, TB50 batteries output around 17 amps, compared to approximately 12 amp for a V-Lock/AB battery pack.

Image credit: Bird Eyes Technologies

Bird Eyes Technologies BA5000 Features

The Bird Eyes Technologies BA5000 adapts TB50/55 batteries so you can use them to power your camera and accessories. The adapter features a positive locking mechanism to hold both the TB50 and TB55 battery securely in place. The BA5000 is made from T6-6061 Aluminum and Delrin.

In terms of output, the voltage output ranges from 16.8v to 11.5V with a 17 amp output. Also, there are two D-Tap outputs to power your accessories. At the back of the BA5000, there are two 1/4-20″ and one 3/8 -16″ threads if you wish to mount it elsewhere.

Regarding security, the adapter can detect and instantly shut down the power-output to protect your equipment if any of the following conditions occur: over/under voltage of the TB50 battery, over-current, over-voltage on the output side of the adapter if it goes over 17v, over-temperature of the electronics inside the BA5000, and short-circuit. This extra layer of security is a nice feature because nobody wants to fry camera equipment because of a third-party accessory.

BA5000 Basic on the left, BA5000 Pro on the right. Image credit: Bird Eyes Technologies

BA5000 Basic Vs. BA5000 Pro

Two versions of the BA5000 are available: a Basic version and a Pro version. There are a couple of differences between, including:

• Both versions feature two D-Tap power output ports.
• The Pro version includes a two-pin LEMO output (Teradek polarity) as well as a 5V USB output.
• There is a small LCD screen on the Pro version that displays vital information about the adapter as well as the battery condition.

Choosing between the two versions depends on your needs for extra powering ports, as the core functions remain the same between the two.

Image credit: Bird Eyes Technologies

Price and Availability

The Bird Eyes Technologies BA5000 Basic retails for $449.00, while the Pro version costs $549.00. Both products should start shipping in April, but you can already pre-order it on Bird Eyes Technologies’s website.

As a comparison, a similar TB50 battery adapter to V-Lock/Gold Mount is already available from Rocky Design. You can hot-swap batteries on the Rocky Design version, and it gives you two D-tap output plus a LEMO output for $359.00.

What do you think about the BA5000 battery adapter from Bird Eyes Technologies? Do you already have DJI TB50 batteries? Let us know in the comments below!