GoPro and Power

[MrMorden]

Hey all...

I like taking GoPro video, but the darned camera doesn't always make it easy. My Hero3 Black edition camera has about as much stamina as John Goodman running a marathon. From a full charge I get *maybe* an hour shooting 1080p video, and that drops to 30-45min when the WiFi is turned on. In other words, it's got about as much endurance as John Goodman in a marathon.

This is not too much of a problem when shooting footage from inside the cockpit, as I can reach the camera to change batteries, turn it off when not in use, etc. It becomes a real headache when mounting the camera externally; I'm stuck with either using WiFi to control it and having the camera running out of juice very quickly, or turning the camera on before takeoff and the camera usually running out of juice in an hour and not making it to the end of the flight or the destination. No way to win!

I think I have a solution. What I really need is a way to power the camera externally when it's mounted externally. I have this external USB battery:

http://www.amazon.com/External-New-Tren ... sb+battery

Which I have confirmed works well to charge the camera while running...for many hours (it's a 12000MAh battery, the internal GoPro battery is 2000MAh) with both WiFi and the camera running.

My normal external mount point is a suction mount next to the tie down ring & inspection cover on the left wing. What I am proposing is the following:

1) Drill a smallish (probably 1/4" to 1/2" is plenty) hole in the plexi inspection cover.

2) Mount the USB battery in the wing, using adhesive velcro strips (temporary, so no LOA/MRA required)

3) Run a USB charge cable from the GoPro to the USB battery, through/around the tie down ring, and through the hole in the inspection cover.

4) Secure everything as necessary with rubber bands and/or zip ties. I normally don't secure my camera to the the tie down ring, but in this setup I probably will, tight enough that that it won't flop and bang around too much if it comes loose.

Does anybody see any problems or safety concerns with this? When the camera is not mounted the hole in the cover will be covered with a plastic cap or Bolus tape.

[drseti]

Rather than drilling a hole in the inspection plate (which, for an SLSA, technically requires an LoA), why not just leave one of the four screws out, and run your power cable through the screw hole?

[MrMorden]

Rather than drilling a hole in the inspection plate (which, for an SLSA, technically requires an LoA), why not just leave one of the four screws out, and run your power cable through the screw hole?

Because the screw holes are *tiny*...way too small for a USB cable to pass through.

I'm not convinced it's really an LOA situation. The inspection plate is a removeable cover made of clear plexiglass, not really part of the airframe and certainly not structural. A hole has already been drilled in it to mount the OAT sensor.

I guess it's a matter or interpretation on that. I'm not changing out a part or adding ore removing anything.

[drseti]

You don't really need to pass a whole USB cable thru the hole, Andy. Just a small twisted pair power cable (could be AWG 24 stranded wire, with Teflon insulation to prevent chafing), with the right connectors attached after the wire is in place. As for LoAs, a strict interpretation of the rules would require one any time you modify anything, whether structural or not, from what the manufacturer supplied. Certainly in a certified aircraft, this would be a minor modification, which can be done by any A&P with a simile logbook entry. Not quite so straightforward under ASTM / SLSA rules.

[SportPilot]

.......

[Flocker]

Do you have the GoPro battery "back pack?" I routinely get 2 hours using it.

[MrMorden]

Do you have the GoPro battery "back pack?" I routinely get 2 hours using it.

I will need more time than that for the CT fly-in in Page next month.

[MrMorden]

I would just tape or velcro the battery to the GoPro or figure a way to attach it to the tiedown ring. I would not put anything inside with wing.

It's heavy (probably a half pound or more), and doesn't have any good way to attach anything to it (it's square and pretty slippery). Why not put it in the wing where it will be more secure and out of the elements (it's in no way waterproof)?

[roger lee]

Hi Andy,

You might be surprised at the number of CT people that have a tiny hole in that clear inspection port. It wouldn't hurt a thing. Velcro the large battery inside and run the short wire right to the Gopro. I still use my suction cup on my wing to hold the Gopro in place. It's rated to 150 mph. This isn't much wind pressure on that little thing.