Core SWX announced a welcome addition to their battery lineup. The new Core SWX XCell micro V-mount batteries come in 99wh and 150wh capacities for just $179 and $255, respectively. The new batteries offer power connections to eliminate adapters and even feature a customizable OLED screen for your company’s logo.
XCell Micro-Sized Smart Battery (99Wh, V-Mount)
all prices excluding sales tax/VAT
Core SWX releases the new XCell micro V-mount batteries. The XCell batteries aim to deliver innovative features in a smaller package without breaking the bank. Cameras like the RED V-Raptor and Komodo X come with V-mounts that only accept micro V-mount batteries. This means that many high-capacity batteries won’t fit without adapters.
Core SWX XCell batteries feature a customizable OLED screen
Core SWX has included a customizable OLED screen on the XCell batteries. It can display the remaining battery percentage or the remaining run time. The cool thing about this new screen is that you can customize it for your own company. You can take your logo and upload it to the battery. This will help distinguish your batteries from the other ones on set. You can also customize the color of the battery percentage read-out. On sets with several cameras, it’s a good idea to color-code the accessories (i.e., red for camera A, blue for camera B). The ability to assign a custom color could help you sort out which batteries belong to which camera. On Core SWX XCell micro V-mount batteries, the screen itself is made of Gorilla Glass, so it shouldn’t be prone to damage from minor bumps.
Core SWX XCell micro V-mount batteries sport several types of power connections
Most mirrorless cameras aren’t set up to connect to V-mount batteries out of the box. But when your rig has an external monitor and other accessories, it helps to tie everything into a single battery using as few adapters as possible. The XCell batteries feature USB-C PD, USB-A, P-Tap, and dual barrel connectors. One barrel connector is 8v, and the other is 12v. This allows you to connect to cameras that have a barrel power input without the use of bulky adapter cables.
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The USB-C PD port allows for simultaneous charging of other accessories, or you can charge the battery through that port. I’ve found that USB-C ports on my V-mounts have quickly become an indispensable element on my rigs for things like timecode boxes and a follow focus.
Notably absent from the XCell is Core SWX’s new auxiliary connection, PD Pro. PD Pro is designed to eliminate grounding issues that stem from the SDI protocol. It makes sense that by not including this feature, Core SWX has been able to deliver their new batteries at a lower price.
Two capacities
Core is releasing the XCell in two different capacities, 99wh and 150wh. This allows you to pick capacities that match the air travel requirements in your area. I’ll often bring a couple of batteries that are 150wh or less, and then the rest will be under 100wh. So these are the perfect capacities for travelers. For users worried about smaller-capacity batteries running out before they can check them, Core SWX includes a wraparound LED indicator that displays the remaining battery percentage. This means you’ll always know your battery percentage at a glance, even if your rig obscures the back or the side of your battery.
SMBUS camera communication
It’s often been the case that value-priced V-mount batteries lacked the SMBUS communication protocol. When a battery without SMBUS is mounted on a camera, the camera won’t indicate the remaining runtime or battery percentage. Sometimes, it will display voltage, but it can be hard to calculate your remaining power at a glance. The XCell batteries feature SMBUS, so if your camera supports it, you can see the remaining percentage and runtime on your camera’s display.
Pricing and Availability
The Core SWX XCell batteries retail for $179 for the 99wh capacity and $255 for the 150wh version. They are available for pre-order now and shipping in May. For additional information, visit their website.
What do you think of the new XCell batteries? Do they check enough boxes to make you think of upgrading your fleet? Let us know in the comments!
