Tiffen Steadicam Volt User manual
Steadicam®Volt™
LIT-817001, RevA
Introduction 1
Volt Components 2
Get Started 7
Neutral Balance 8
Powering On 11
Operating with Volt 15
Control Box settings 19
Installing the Volt 25
Control box 27
Gimbal prep 29
Mounting Volt motors 35
Flip button 37
Adding Belts 39
Upgrading gimbals
Archer/Archer2 gimbal 45
Ultra2/Shadow gimbal 49
PRO gimbals 53
Balance Ultra2/PRO 57
Troubleshooting and Notes 61
Wiring and pin-outs 63
Contact Tiffen 65
The Tiffen Company
90 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Visit us at tiffen.com
Table of Contents
1 2
The Steadicam®Volt™
Welcome to the future of professional Steadicam®stabilizer operating!
Working with the sled’s inertia and neutral balance, the Volt generates
an “articial bottom-heaviness” to keep the horizon level and headroom
stable. With the Volt, the operator can concentrate on precise framing,
timing, navigating, and other more interesting aspects of operating.
The strength of the roll and the tilt assistance can be individually
ne-tuned to suit the operator’s preferences, and easily adjusted for
different shots. The assistance can feel like operating a sled with a very
long drop time – easy to tilt or roll – to full gyro-simulation, with the
sled locked hard to the horizon in roll or tilt or both!
Because the sled is always balanced neutrally top-to-bottom, all
pendular effects from acceleration and deceleration are eliminated. Plus,
there is no re-balancing needed when switching to low mode!
Introduction Components
Trunnion
pulley
Handle pulley
Trunnion motor
and belt
Pan encoder
Pan encoder ring
Steadicam®Volt™shown on M-1™gimbal
Main power/
control input &
Encoder jack
Handle motor
and belt
Power LED (blue)
Gimbal button
Mode LED (green)
Trunnion screw
access
Invert button access
The Volt also allows behaviors
that were impossible before. Like
“friction mode” which emulates a
uid head with tilt hold and a xed
horizon, bringing you new control
options for each and every shot.
In use, the Volt is completely
transparent to the operator, and it
feels exactly like regular Steadicam
operating – with perfect horizons.
The operator is always in full
and direct control of framing,
and can easily override the Volt’s
assistance.
Encoder cable guide
3 4
Components
Nose box rods
Power and Mode LEDs
Run/pause switch
Steadicam®Volt™Control Box
Main power switch
Level trim button
Power input jack
from sled power
Display jack
(RESERVED)
Main power/control
output to Volt
Roll strength dial
Tilt strength dial
Damping adjuster
Steadicam®Padded Dock
The new dock
The padded dock is designed to protect the Volt electronics as well as
make docking and balancing easier. The low-prole design ensures
nothing contacts the Volt gimbal motor assembly when docked, and
the “over-center” arm swings into place to secure the sled. Docking
on the gimbal also reduces shock loads on your gimbal bearings. You’ll
note a low, primary balance stud on the side, which is barely higher
than your gimbal handle, making it a simple task to lift for balancing
regardless of the sled build.
MDR-3 mount
Dynamic balance stud
Tool holder
Arm holder
Padded dock insert
specic for your gimbal
Static balance stud
Over-center hook
Hook lock lever
Dock tilt lock knob
Stand lock knob
Note: The Lemo connectors rotate up to 90˚ in the control box chassis
to allow you more options when running cables.
5 6
Included with Steadicam®Volt™for M-1
• Volt Gimbal Motor Assembly (hockey stick) and pulleys
• Volt Control Box (mustache box)
• Pan encoder assembly and pan encoder ring for gimbal
• 12V power cable (817-0131)
• Gimbal cable, short (817-0135)
• Padded Dock (with insert for your gimbal) and case (817-7980)
• Nose box mounting rods
• Spare adhesive tapes for pan encoder ring
• This operation manual (LIT-817001) on USB drive
Included with Upgrade Kits for other gimbals
• Volt compatible yoke and mounting kit
• Power cable for your rig
• Blue pin wrench for your gimbal
• Mounting options you selected
• Upgrade kit details start on page 45
Tools required for installation
• Blue “whale” gimbal tool for your gimbal.
• Imperial Allen key set for install and belt adjustment.
• Flat screwdriver for nose box rods.
• Loctite®222™ for post top screws and upgrade kits.
Components Mount options
Nose box adapter
U2, Shadow, Clipper, Archer
MDR-3 adapters
PRO or any other MDR setup
7 8
Balance
Neutral balance
In order for the motors to exert maximum balancing assistance to
the roll and tilt axes, we balance the sled completely neutral. No drop
time at all! This also eliminates any pendulum effect when accelerating
or stopping the sled. Static and dynamic balance are now even more
critical, so panning the camera will not create diagonal forces and the
sled can easily be held at any angle without rotating.
Before you begin
The two major components of Steadicam® Volt™, the motor assembly
and the control box, contain advanced sensors and electronics.
Each may be mounted left or right, to optimize the controls for your
operating, but you must be aware of the differences these choices
present for the Volt electronics.
• The control box may be mounted for regular or goofy operators.
If your knobs are to the right of the sled (regular operator), you’ll
align the gimbal handle to the rear of the post on power up.
If your knobs are to the left of the sled (goofy operator) you’ll
align the gimbal handle to the front of the post on power up.
See page 11 about powering on.
Right knobs = REAR, Left knobs = FRONT
• Similarly, the Volt motor assembly may be mounted left or right
on the gimbal. If you’re doing this yourself, be aware that left
side is default mode and right side mounting requires pressing
the internal “ip” button once to reorient the Volt. See page 39
to learn about the ip button. If the system was installed at your
dealer, the ip procedure will have been performed already.
• We strongly encourage professional installation of the Volt
components onto your system by an authorized dealer.
• Installation instructions for Volt compatible gimbals, and upgrade
kits for other gimbals, are provided later in this manual.
• For more information visit tiffen.com/steadicam/voltsystem/
Let’s get started!
9 10
Then, change the balance to
be completely neutral top-to
bottom. It should hold any post
angle and not rotate.
TIP: For a refresher on
dynamic balancing, see
Section One of The Steadicam
Operator’s Handbook.
Balance the sled with a normal
to long drop time. BOTH static
and dynamic balance are
important here. You know how
to dynamic balance, right?
NOTE: You may wish to
temporarily unplug the gimbal
cable while dynamic balancing
to allow multiple rotations.
Make sure the sled does not
pan when holding a tilt. If so, a
tiny adjustment to your side-
side balance should correct this.
Otherwise, go back and re-
check your dynamic balance.
TIP: When you change
anything ABOVE the gimbal and
re-balance at the top stage,
dynamic balance is maintained!
When changing accessories
above the gimbal, like lenses
or lters, re-balance on the pin
with a normal drop time and
then go fully neutral again.
Balance
11 12
Powering up
Adding the Steadicam® Volt™ to your system requires an extra step
when powering up, and when picking up your sled. First, you’ll align
the pan encoder while powering on, and later you’ll run the system
when you want the Volt motors active. It’ll become second nature, but
pay close attention while you’re getting started for best results.
IF the control box is mounted
for regular operators (knobs
on the RIGHT) align the gimbal
handle with the REAR of the
post and simultaneously power
on the Volt. Wait 2.5sec while
the system registers the pan
encoder position.
The blue LEDs glow.
You’ll do this EVERY TIME you
power on the Volt.
Before powering on the system,
double check that the PAUSE
switch is engaged.
TIP: Consider using the Roll,
Damping and Tilt settings
shown here as a starting point.
More suggestions on page 21.
Make sure the power switch is
in the OFF position and plug in
the power cable from your sled
to the Volt control box.
NOTE: If you’re using an
aftermarket power cable,
conrm the polarity is correct.
Volt is protected against reverse
voltage, but won’t work very
well without power.
Plug in the Volt gimbal cable and
wrap a couple of loops around
the post as needed to control
any slack.
NOTE: The Volt control box will
not power up without the gimbal
cable properly connected.
IF the control box is mounted
for goofy operators (knobs
on the LEFT) align the gimbal
handle with the FRONT of the
post and simultaneously power
on the Volt. Wait 2.5sec while
the system registers the pan
encoder position.
The blue LEDs glow.
You’ll do this EVERY TIME you
power on the Volt.
Power on
13 14
Powering on the system sets
the roll and tilt trims to default
horizon for a vertical post with
level tilt head.
In the next section, we’ll
explore trimming and modes.
Pick up the sled on your arm or
use the balance pin.
With the post vertical, ip the
pause switch to ON and the Volt
becomes active.
The green LEDs glow.
You should now feel the horizon
assistance and articial bottom-
heaviness of normal mode.
Power on
The Volt only needs to have
the post encoder aligned when
powering on.
Pausing and activating the Volt
can be toggled with the handle
in any orientation.
If you do power down,
remember to align the handle
again when powering back up.
15 16
To trim, tilt the sled to any
angle and SHORT-press the
gimbal handle (thumb) button.
The new trim angle is set
immediately.
In normal mode, the articial
bottom-heaviness will return
the sled to THIS angle.
This can be done on the y,
during the shot - a huge
advantage to your operating.
Operating with the Steadicam®Volt™
The best thing about adding this tool to your system is that you’re still
operating a mechanical stabilizer, and using your skills and years of
experience to craft each shot. Here are some tips on how to optimize
the Volt, starting with trimming the post angle and the two operating
modes. We’ll adjust the control box dials later.
DO NOT TRIM with your top
stage balance like you used to...
Leave the sled in perfect neutral
balance at all times!
The two operating modes are
toggled with a LONG press of
the gimbal button.
In normal mode, the sled will
return to your trimmed tilt
angle, simulating a normally
balanced Steadicam sled.
Normal mode is always default
and displays SOLID green LEDs.
Operating
The second mode is called the
“Friction mode” and displays
PULSING green LEDs.
In friction mode, the sled
will remain tilted where the
operator places it and require
force to change tilt position.
It’s like having a uid head on
your Steadicam!
Using your sled’s integrated
tilt head maintains the vertical
post, ideal for panning.
First, pause the system, change
the tilt and re-balance the sled.
Then run the Volt and set a new
tilt trim by short pressing the
gimbal button.
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