The Vitec Group’s Anton/Bauer brand lit up the NAB Show with the announcement of its new Solar Charger battery charging system, which can efficiently charge any battery in the Anton/Bauer product line through solar cell technology. Anton/Bauer battery packs are used in a wide variety of broadcast applications, including compact digital field recorders and wireless systems.
Weighing a half-pound, the charger case connects to a soft, foldable panel of solar cells measuring 59in by 43in. The solar cells are capable of bringing a battery to full charge nearly as quickly as the firm’s conventional chargers connected to AC mains. With full sunlight available, the Solar Charger is capable of charging the popular Anton/Bauer Dionic 160 battery in four hours. The Dionic 90 battery reaches full charge at 3.5 hours, while the HyTRON 140 reaches peak performance in three hours. ProPac charges in 1.5 hours, the HyTRON 50 in two hours and the Trimpac in one hour.
“The Solar Charger addresses the needs of anyone dealing with remote location video capture,” said Michael Accardi, president of Anton/Bauer. “Documentary, ENG, archiving and training applications will benefit from greater flexibility when choosing locations, as the charger is no longer tethered to an AC source. Also, the range of capture opportunities has been dramatically increased, enhancing production and creative options. The charger is also an eco-friendly product, fitting into today’s energy-efficient consciousness.”
The Anton/Bauer Solar Charger is expected to ship in the final quarter of 2009.
