The Air Direct was designed with an external battery and a DC power port. We know photographers need to be prepared – “expect the best – prepare for the worst!” You never want to be in the middle of a 3-hour photo shoot that is quickly turning into a 6-hour photo session without adequate power. To solve this, we recommend keeping a couple extra external battery packs on hand for those worst-case scenarios and definitely plan to use it to power your Air Direct during long sessions.
We recommend our Rock Solid External Battery Pack (10,000 mAh), it is an excellent choice. On the battery you’ll see (left to right in image below), a power level light, a USB 2.0 Micro-B 5-Pin power port, a USB 5v-1a output female port and a USB 5v-2.1a output female port.
| Capacity | Input | Output | Charging Time | Size | Weight | Type |
| 10,000 mAh | 5v-2a | 5v-1a, 5v-2.1a | 5-6 hours, depending on device | 5.4″ L x 2.75″ W x .48″ H | 9.7 oz | Li-polymer |
The Air Direct comes supplied with the necessary tools to power those extended photo shoots. You’ll see you have an external battery, plus battery charger with charging cable and a DC Power cord, and all the cables to connect to cameras (not pictured).
Keep in mind, the USB 2.0 Micro-B 5-Pin battery charger cable that comes with your Air Direct can also be used to charge your external battery pack – or conversely, you can charge up the included LP-E6 battery from the external battery pack. Versatility is key!
When you’re ready, take the supplied DC Power Cable and plug it into your Air Direct DC port. It’s located on the side next to the Mobile – ADU switch. See below.
Connect the USB male end of the DC Power Cable into the Rock Solid External Battery Pack. I highly recommend using the 5v 2.1a port, see below. This will ensure the Air Direct gets the power it needs to function properly. The second port output max is 1a, this is perfectly fine to charge your cell phone, but is likely not enough to keep your Air Direct powered up.
Another cool thing is by powering with an external battery you can hot swap your LP-E6 battery seated in the Air Direct. Keep in mind, charging your Air Direct with an external battery will power the Air Direct, it will not also charge the LP-E6 battery.
Now that you’re ready to power your Air Direct with an external battery pack, you may be asking yourself, “how do I hold these items?” My best answer is two items that work well together. The Rock Solid External Battery Pack Protective Sleeve for your battery pack plus a StrapMoore. Together you can easily secure the battery to the leg of your tripod.
Don’t have an Air Direct yet? No worries, we’ve put together The Air Direct Continuous Power Bundle, with your choice of battery.
Whichever you pick, you’ll never be without power.
