Admittedly, this is a bit niche. But if you’re operating professional gimbals / remote heads a lot, this may come as good news: the new Ignite Digi TB50 Expansion Pack for the NODO Inertia Wheels is a pretty clever upgrade that optimizes power distribution for said wheels as well as related accessories such as wireless video gear.
Available in two or three-wheel configurations, the NODO Inertia Wheels mimic a classic wheeled tripod head, although they don’t actually move anything, they just encode your movements and transmit them to a receiving device like a gimbal or remote electromechanical head. Compatible devices include MōVI Pro, MōVI XL, Ronin 2, and other gimbals.
Therefore, it is more or less mandatory to see what you are doing with these wheels. This is where a wireless video transmission system comes in handy, which relays the live images from the camera to the operator on the wheels. But the video receiver needs power, as does the connected monitor, not to mention the NODO wheels themselves.
Ignite Digi TB50 Expansion Pack
Ignite Digi’s engineers figured it would be beneficial to have everything needed already integrated into the NODO Inertia unit from the start, and that’s exactly what the TB50 Expansion Pack aims to do: it takes a TB50-style battery (think DJI drone battery), and distributes that power not only to the NODO wheels but also to whatever accessories you need, like a wireless video receiver plus monitor.
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So you get a streamlined package that doesn’t require any other external gear. As a nice touch, Ignite Digi has designed this kit to fit within the footprint of the controller so that it can be transported in the OEM foam case without any disassembling.
Powering options
If one TB50 battery is not enough for you, the Ignite Digi Expansion Pack also allows for connecting a block battery to enable hot-swap and eliminate downtime. A robust, 8ft block battery cable is included.
The TB50 Expansion Pack comes in your choice of four colors (orange, black, blue, and emerald) and it offers the following I/O ports for power delivery:
- 8-Pin Lemo Input
20-34V DC Input for sourcing power from a block battery. 2B 8-Pin Lemo is the same as ALEXA Mini/Mini LF. - 3-Pin Lemo Output
Unregulated 20-25V for powering Inertia Wheels - Two 2-Pin Lemo Outputs
15V (100W total) for powering your monitor, transmitter or other accessories
So why TB50 batteries instead of “standard” V-Mount or Gold Mounts, you ask? According to Ignite Digi, “TB50 battery delivers higher voltage (20-25.5V) than a V-Lock or Gold Mount battery (11-17V). This gives the Inertia Motors more strength, which means higher drag or mass settings before slipping“.
Also, since this battery type already works flawlessly with devices like MōVI Pro, MōVI XL, MōVI Controller, RED KOMODO, Ronin 2, Inspire 2, and Master Wheels, it has the potential to streamline your workflow if you work with these rigs a lot (adapter plates are available directly from Ignite Digi).
The Ignite Digi TB50 Expansion Pack is made from high-quality 6061-T651 aluminum and is mounted on a 3mm carbon fiber plate. Included in the box are a TB50 Battery Plate, the Power Expansion Pack itself, a carbon mounting plate, six M3 x 8mm countersunk screws, and two power cables: 3-Pin Lemo straight to 8-Pin Lemo right angle (7-inch/18cm) and 3-Pin XLR straight to 8-Pin Lemo straight (8ft/2.4m).
Pricing
The TB50 Expansion Pack costs $1,350 AUD (around $987 USD) but you can also purchase a NODO Inertia Wheels system that already includes the Expansion Pack, which reduces the price a bit. Check out the NODO website for details. For reference, a three-wheel configuration of the Inertia wheels costs $7,700 (without TB50 Expansion Pack) and $8,700 with TB50 Expansion Pack pre-installed.
Links: Ignite Digi | NODO
What do you think? Have you ever worked with such a wheels controller? Share your experiences in the comments below!
