Technique - Second D-Tap on IDX P-V2 V-mount batteryplate for little money
The problem
At the end of 2021, I started planning on doing more with video and especially thought about working with people. I quickly ran into problems with supplying power to accesories like a light, extra monitor and a microphone-receiver.
The camera I have (a JVC GY-HM750) has a standard batteryplate by IDX (P-V2) to 'receive' V-mount batteries. Those batteries can be bought from different brands and can be exchanged between different brands of cameras (special functions won't always work though).
That standard batteryplate offers 1 D-tap connection to connect accesories like a videolight. The D-tap connector is a standardized solution which you will find on many batteryplates and batteries, which usually always offers at least one.
More D-taps? Exponential price-rise...
If you want more, you enter a kind of gray area and the price of a batteryplate seems to rise exponentially with every D-tap that's available.
I would need at least two extra connections so I could connect an extra monitor, videolight and the microphone-receiver.
I ordered some D-tap plugs to make a Y-cable myself.
A removable blindplate...
I had already loosened the batteryplate once before I started messing around with my batteries, so I knew what to expect inside.
When I removed it from the camera again, this time to measure if I could fiddle with the SMbus connections from my batteries, I noticed that there was a removable blindplate at the other side of the batteryplate.
When removed, it clearly provided enough space for a second D-tap.
Gee, that Anton Bauer looks alot like...
Besides that, the D-tap already available is a spitting image compared to the female DIY-plug from Anton Bauer (8168-8109).
I opened the bag and got the small block that holds the two contacts and pushed, with the contacts in it, in place of the removed blindplate. It was a perfect fit!
The only thing it doesn't provide is the small slit that meets the small notch from the batteryplate, to hold the connector in place. But a 3 millimeter drill quickly dealt with that, with the contactblock firmly clicking into place afterwards.
Done!
With soldering the extra wiring the second D-tap connector was ready (please check the polarity!) spending only 12 Euro.
By comparison: an original IDX batteryplate with two D-tap connectors (with 1 providing regulated 12 Volts) costs 178 US Dollar...