Is the 7D's CF Card Interface power supply sufficient for this..?

I want to try using a SDHC Wi-Fi card in a CF/SD Adapter.
But I am a little concerned that the power [volts and or current] draw might be too much for the camera's CF interface ; especially as I have seen reports of some 'Eye-Fi' getting hot.

I hope someone who is electrically trained would know if the power supply interface in the 7D's CF interface is up to it?

Appreciate there may be many who have tried it [and got away with it] but I'm more interested in a technical assessment. Or the views of someone who is electrically trained.

My concerns are:-
1. The CF Type I and II standards state:- max draw of 70mA and 500mA respectively and that the a CF card may operate on either 3.3.V or 5V - but not both at the same time.
2. The SDHC Standards are I think either 1.8V or 3.3V 'Nominal' Voltage but I can't find the SD Association''s standards for the max permissible current drain. One site suggests this might be max 200mA, with SD cards generally being between 45 to 100mA. [NB in this case this is for the card alone, i.e. without the added draw of the Adapter jacket if there is any?]
Hence my concern that a poorly designed adapter could allow the SD card to draw say 100mA out of the Type I CF card supply, which is rated at a max. of 70mA. [could account for some of these reports saying it's getting hot]. Obviously if they tapped into the 500mA source then that would be OK.
Likewise I'm not sure how they would handle the differences in voltage, hopefully they tap into the 5V source and step it down to 3.3V or a bit more.
Yet again I am a little concerned as the Toshiba FlashAir card's specs say it's 2.7V to 3.6
So if the Adapter used the CF interface's power supply of 3.3V would that be OK? or would it overload it?

More importantly I would want to use the card in 'Wireless Access Point' mode i.e. where the card broadcasts a signal for direct [not over a network] connection to an iPad or Laptop. So I guess in this mode the card would tend to be consuming more power as it has to do its job as a data card and also braodcast the WLAN signal.

Any views from the technically orientated much appreciated.

As the 7D is UDMA capable I'm hoping as this is a faster card set, that it might need a more powerful electrical supply to handle that - but then I am just guessing.

Fundamentally if there was any concern I give it a miss as I don't want to wreck my new 7D

Please don't move this thread to Accessories as its specifically related to the capabilitiy of the 7D's camera body not the SDHC card.

Why is this 7D specific? Whatever your concerns, it would be the same for any CF-capable camera.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #14954859
Why is this 7D specific? Whatever your concerns, it would be the same for any CF-capable camera.

True as long as they both take CFI and CFII Cards [as i beleive these specs are differrent].
What I meant was it's more camera body specific, than say SDHC card specific.
i.e. if I knew the internal specs of the Canon 7D then I could just quickly check that the SD card and adapter were not pulling more current and be comfortable I'm not damaging the camera long term [as I'm sure a little over current for a short time would not burn it out]

People have been using specific CF adapters with the Eyefi cards for a few years now, on a myriad of cameras. If the CF slot can supply 5v, and the SD cards draw 3.3v (down to a low of 1.8v), there should be no issues, and haven't been any that I know of. The heat, most likely, is from the wireless functionality, much like how tablets and phones, when wireless access is being utilized for a period of time, get very warm. Also closing up the SD card into an adapter so that the heat dissipation is reduced will cause very warm eye-fi cards.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #14955112
People have been using specific CF adapters with the Eyefi cards for a few years now, on a myriad of cameras. If the CF slot can supply 5v, and the SD cards draw 3.3v (down to a low of 1.8v), there should be no issues, and haven't been any that I know of. The heat, most likely, is from the wireless functionality, much like how tablets and phones, when wireless access is being utilized for a period of time, get very warm. Also closing up the SD card into an adapter so that the heat dissipation is reduced will cause very warm eye-fi cards.

Lets hope the CF SD Adapter designer chose the 5V supply on the CF card not the 3.3V if the Toshiba FlashAir rises to 3.6V.
See your point on the Heat issue, not ideal as some people say sensors generally become less accurate as the heat increases.
I wonder how hot they really do get in a long session?

You probably should read some of the reviews over at http://www.amazon.com …roduct-reviews/B0016G8DBA before rushing into this project. There are issues, well discussed, so read carefully. Some of the issues include...physical size of the adapter can be an issue depending on the slot and the WiFi range goes down tremendously.

The slot size would concern me. The CF slot on rare occasions has bent pin issues with just a CF card, why tempt fate?

John from PA wrote in post #14955917
You probably should read some of the reviews over at http://www.amazon.com …roduct-reviews/B0016G8DBA before rushing into this project. There are issues, well discussed, so read carefully. Some of the issues include...physical size of the adapter can be an issue depending on the slot and the WiFi range goes down tremendously.

The slot size would concern me. The CF slot on rare occasions has bent pin issues with just a CF card, why tempt fate?

Thanks John
I'll have a good read - as it's just this sort of thing that concerns me too. Hence the post.

You'll have to worry about the shielding around the CF slot and the card adapter also.
I tried one in my 5DII (same LP-E6) and it works fine but I would suggest removing the metal plates on the SD adapter for better range. They should peel right off the front & back. After I did that, I definitely had better range. The metal shielding in camera will hamper it a little.

This is the one I have:
http://www.amazon.com …ef=oh_details_o​06_s00_i01

Submariner wrote in post #14954844
More importantly I would want to use the card in 'Wireless Access Point' mode i.e. where the card broadcasts a signal for direct [not over a network] connection to an iPad or Laptop. So I guess in this mode the card would tend to be consuming more power as it has to do its job as a data card and also braodcast the WLAN signal.

Whereas, when connecting to a wireless network, the card has to act as a data card and also broadcast a WLAN signal.

It's doing exactly the same work, regardless of how it talks to the computer.

hollis_f wrote in post #14963117
Whereas, when connecting to a wireless network, the card has to act as a data card and also broadcast a WLAN signal.

It's doing exactly the same work, regardless of how it talks to the computer.

Thanks Frank, see your point - feel a bit stupid I missed that logic. I'd just swallowed that theory when I saw somewhere else.

vince_ross wrote in post #14962050
You'll have to worry about the shielding around the CF slot and the card adapter also.
I tried one in my 5DII (same LP-E6) and it works fine but I would suggest removing the metal plates on the SD adapter for better range. They should peel right off the front & back. After I did that, I definitely had better range. The metal shielding in camera will hamper it a little.

This is the one I have:
http://www.amazon.com …ef=oh_details_o​06_s00_i01

When you remove the metal sides does that expose electronic components or a plastic side wall?

Submariner wrote in post #14963178
When you remove the metal sides does that expose electronic components or a plastic side wall?

You would not have an electronic plate up against electronic components, there will be a non-conductive barrier of some sort.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #14964146
You would not have an electronic plate up against electronic components, there will be a non-conductive barrier of some sort.

Both sides had a metal plate that I took off. Neither side had a protective film underneath.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

That is comforting to see, any moisture at all or pressure on the plate and you could have issues. Was there any backing insulating membrane on the metal sheet you removed?

I did not see any sort of covering plastic or sheeting. I suppose the metal could have been coated, but I didn't notice any. Looked like bare metal to me.