V-RAPTOR XL - V-Lock and Gold Mount Battery Usage

Power Terminology Overview 

V-RAPTOR XL was designed for use with ‘High Voltage’ V-Lock and Gold Mount batteries and can also be operated with ‘Low Voltage’ batteries when auxiliary power is not required. This article outlines the differences and requirements for both mounts.

The term “High Voltage” refers to batteries that provide 24-28 V nominally, but often can provide anywhere from 19 V to 34 V depending on cell design and charge state. They are most commonly referred to as 24 V, 26 V, or 28 V depending on the manufacturer. V-RAPTOR XL is compatible with all of these voltages.

The “Low Voltage” or “Standard Voltage” 14 V batteries, such as the V-Lock or Gold Mount batteries that all previous RED cameras have been compatible with, are also sometimes referred to as 12 V, 14 V, or 16 V batteries. V-RAPTOR XL is also compatible with all of these voltages.

In this context, "Low Voltage" is referring to batteries with the nominal voltage level of 14 V, and not the battery's depleted charge state.

High Voltage and 14 V Operational Differences

When a high voltage battery is attached to the V-RAPTOR XL, all AUX power outputs are enabled.

• 12 V AUX-1 (3 A max)
• 12 V AUX-2 (1.5 A max)
• 12 V P-TAP 1 & P-TAP 2 (3 A max, shared)
• 12 V AUX-3 (1 A max)
• 24 V RS Front AUX (3 A max, shared)

When a 14 V battery is attached to the camera, all AUX power outputs are disabled, but main camera functionality remains the same, such as:

• All frame rates, resolutions, compression ratios, and recording modes
• Monitor top pogo-pins and associated accessories (e.g. DSMC3 monitor / handles)
• Lens mount power
• Internal ND filters
• SDI 1, 2, 3, & front EVF SDI
• Genlock, USB-C, CTRL, Timecode, GIG-E & Audio (with Phantom Power)
• Wireless Antennas

Gold Mount

V-RAPTOR XL is compatible with a wide range of high voltage Gold Mount battery standards including CoreSWX Helix, Gold Mount & Gold Mount Plus.

While RED recommends high voltage batteries for all standard V-RAPTOR XL use, 14 V Gold Mount batteries can also be used on V-RAPTOR XL while maintaining all camera functionality other than  the auxiliary power outputs. When a 14 V battery is mounted, a prompt will be displayed on the Side LCD and DSMC3 Monitor indicating that AUX power is disabled.

(Note: See Battery Requirements for further specifications and RED APPROVED Batteries)

The REDVOLT XL-G is designed with a CoreSWX Helix block to power both 14 V based Gold Mount cameras, such as V-RAPTOR or DSMC2 (with respective Gold Mount Adapters), and high voltage cameras such as V-RAPTOR XL by dynamically switching the output voltage depending on the camera or plate it is used on.

V-Lock

V-RAPTOR XL is compatible with a wide range of high voltage V-Lock battery standards including CoreSWX Helix & Standard V-Lock.

While RED recommends high voltage batteries for all standard V-RAPTOR XL use, 14 V V-Mount batteries can also be used on V-RAPTOR XL while maintaining all camera functionality other than the auxiliary power outputs. When a 14 V battery is mounted, a prompt will be displayed on the Side LCD and DSMC3 Monitor indicating that AUX power is disabled.

(Note: See Battery Requirements for further specifications and RED APPROVED Batteries)

The REDVOLT XL-V is designed to power both 14 V based V-Lock cameras, such as V-RAPTOR or DSMC2 (with respective full-sized V-Lock Adapters), and high voltage cameras such as V-RAPTOR XL by dynamically switching the output voltage depending which camera or plate it is placed on.

Note: REDVOLT XL-V is a full-sized V-Lock battery and is not compatible with the native Micro-V of V-RAPTOR.

Power and Battery Requirements

V-RAPTOR XL’s maximum power draw when AUX ports are under full load is 280 W.

V-RAPTOR XL's maximum power draw when using 14 V batteries is 75 W

The camera-only average power draw at 8K 24fps is 65 W.

It is recommended to use high voltage batteries that can deliver at least 12 amps.

When using 14 V batteries, it is recommended to only use those that can deliver at least 10 amps.

Battery Communication

Battery run-time and percentage is supported on V-Lock batteries that communicate over the SMBUS protocol.

Battery run-time and percentage is supported on Gold Mount batteries that communicate over the UART communication protocol.

Note: When a battery that cannot communicate is mounted to the camera, the voltage is displayed across the UI.

A list of tested and compatible batteries for V-Lock and Gold Mount can be found below.

Charging High Voltage Batteries

Check with the manufacturer on the charging specifications for any high voltage battery as there are many high voltage batteries that cannot be charged on 14 V chargers.

The REDVOLT XL-V and REDVOLT XL-G batteries must be charged with 14 V chargers.

You can find a list of compatible chargers for the REDVOLT XL-V and REDVOLT XL-G below.

V-RAPTOR XL Compatible Batteries

Compatible batteries are both high voltage and 14V batteries that provide enough current to power the RED V-RAPTOR XL.

Below is a small subset of available batteries on the market that have been RED-tested and deemed compatible. Other batteries may however be compatible.  

V-Lock

Gold Mount

REDVOLT XL-V and XL-G Compatible Chargers

REDVOLT XL-V

RED has tested a small subset of available V-Lock chargers on the market listed below. Other 14V Lithium-Ion chargers may however be compatible.

REDVOLT XL-G

RED has tested a small subset of available Gold Mount chargers on the market listed below. Other 14 V Lithium-Ion based Gold Mount chargers may however be compatible but could result in slow charge time or undesired behavior.