The Mutiny 12G Isolator features two layers of protection built in. It was designed in collaboration with FreakShow HD.
The Mutiny lightweight 12G isolator system was designed to help protect your 12G port on your camera, monitor, or other 12G SDI device.
Why is this an issue? Well, I am glad you asked. SDI input and output failures can happen to all types of video gear, cameras, recorders, and monitors. Some failures are caused by ESD (electrostatic discharge). This can happen when power and SDI cables are attached in the wrong order, or when connecting long cables (greater than 10 meters / 30 feet).
Under certain conditions, the SDI outputs of cameras can be damaged through a power surge. So how do you avoid this from happening? Well, the best practice is to connect the power and BNC cables in a particular order and to also use shielded power cables and high-quality undamaged BNC cables. If you really don’t want to be that person who is screaming because their SDI port just got fried, then be careful what SDI cables you buy. Buying a generic brand on Amazon might save you a few bucks, but if you are using expensive digital cinema cameras or other equipment is it really worth the risk?
SDI outputs on cameras can get damaged when an accessory is connected to the SDI output and is powered through an unshielded cable. All cameras, and other SDI devices, no matter who makes them, can be affected by this. This problem is even more prevalent with cameras that feature SDI connections capable of SDI 6G or higher. It doesn’t matter even if you only ever use them at lower bit rates like SDI 1.5G.
So why does the damage occur? Damage to an SDI connection can occur when connecting an unshielded power cable to an accessory that is already connected to the SDI output of the camera. If the plus pin is contacted before the negative pin, the BNC cable will close the current circuit resulting in fatal damage to the included SDI driver chip because it is not designed to handle such high currents. Conversely, this problem can also occur when disconnecting an unshielded power cable of an accessory that is still connected to the SDI output of the camera. Again, and I can’t stress this enough, don’t use damaged or low-quality BNC cables because you are playing with fire.
The best habit to get into is to practice the following:
- When you are setting up your equipment ALWAYS connect the power cable to your accessory first and then the SDI cable before powering on the camera
- Once you have finished using your equipment, ALWAYS remove the SDI cable first and then the power cable
- If you want to go a step further with protection you can also buy an SDI Isolator Cable, however, the caveat with any SDI isolator is that it can reduce signal quality as well as restrict the maximum length of the cable you can use.
The last one is where Mutiny’s 12G Isolator comes in.
Instead of having to remove the 12G SDI cable from the camera when powering up/down the camera and between battery swaps, with the Mutiny 12G Isolator you simply switch from the signal (SIG) to isolation (ISO) mode. Once switched to ISO the red LED turns off and your signal feed to your monitor/wireless TX is cut while maintaining ground at all times. You then swap your battery with a new one. Once everything is on, you switch back to signal (SIG) the red LED turns on and your video feed is now live again. The isolator does require power via a 2pin 0B input but also passes through that power to a 2pin 0B connector for output.
Unlike other solutions on the market, our 12G isolator features two levels of protection. The first level of protection is an ESD smart circuit that is AC coupled preventing any DC present on the signal. The second level of protection is an electronic switch that when engaged, cuts the signal path to the camera and to the monitor / wireless transmitter, keeping ground present at all times. This arrests any power spikes from going back to the camera’s sensitive 12G SDI port.
Mutiny always recommends the physical removal of the cable following the process as this is the best way to prevent 12G issues, but its device allows extra peace of mind on two extra levels. The more safety devices you use the better.
12G SDI cameras that can be protected with the isolator are:
- RED (KOMODO / KOMODO-X / V-RAPTOR S35/VV/XL)
- Sony (Venice / Venice 2 / FX6 / FX9 / FR7,
- ARRI (Alexa 35)
- Canon (C300 MKIII/C500 MKII)
SPECIFICATIONS:
- IN (ISO): Connects to camera 12G SDI output
- OUT (SIG): Connects to a monitor or wireless transmitter (TX)
- Weight 1.8oz
- Height: 2″
- Width (including BNC ports): 2.7″
- Depth: 0.9″
- Voltage range: 5-36 volts
- Max Current: 4A MAX to prevent DC loop
- SDI signal: +/- 400mV @ 12G/6G/3G SDI
Price & Availability
The Mutiny 12G Isolator is now available to purchase for a SPECIAL INTRO PRE-ORDER PRICE of $310 USD. After pre-order the price will increase to $330 USD.
