SmallRig's 99Wh V-mount battery, the VB99, is a compact pack that runs lights, monitors, laptops and small accessories from one battery. We own two SmallRig V-mounts, and they're how we run location shoots without wall power. For small crews, it's the best-value V-mount we've found.
Quick verdict
A compact, airline-friendly V-mount with enough outputs to power a small location setup. It changed how we handle rooms with no usable outlets.
- Best for: small crews running LED panels, monitors and laptops on location.
- Skip it if: your lights and monitors don't take V-mount or D-Tap, or you need many hours from a high-wattage light. Plan more capacity for that.
What it is
The VB99 is a 99Wh (6,800mAh) V-mount battery with six outputs:
- V-mount plate: clicks straight onto V-mount lights and rigs.
- D-Tap (14.8V): the standard connector for monitors, LED panels and other production gear.
- 8V and 12V DC barrel outputs: for gear that takes a barrel plug.
- USB-C PD: enough to charge a laptop. SmallRig rates the current VB99 (model 3580B) at up to 100W; some listings and the VB99 SE show 65W, so check the version you buy.
- USB-A: for phones, wireless mic receivers and small chargers.
An OLED display shows remaining capacity. You can recharge it on a V-mount charger, a D-Tap charger or over USB-C, and ours are full again by the next morning.
Flying with it
99Wh sits just under the 100Wh line that matters for air travel. Under FAA rules, lithium-ion batteries of 100Wh or less don't need airline approval, while 101 to 160Wh batteries do. Spare batteries must go in your carry-on, never checked bags, with the terminals protected. Some airlines and countries are stricter, so check before you fly.
How we use them
On one corporate shoot, we filmed executive interviews in a room with a single outlet, behind a desk we couldn't move. One SmallRig went on the back of our LED key light and ran it through the full three-hour interview session. The second sat by our workstation, charging the editing laptop over USB-C and keeping the A7 IV's spare batteries topped up in a charger over USB-A. No extension cords, and no negotiating over outlets.
Outdoors, they let us add light where there's no power at all. For an engagement session at Griffith Observatory, we ran an LED panel for fill through the last twenty minutes of golden hour as the sun dropped, and the battery had capacity to spare.
Lights and monitors
Most professional LED panels take V-mount batteries directly, so the battery snaps on and the light can go anywhere on set. We also power our field monitor from the D-Tap during longer recording sessions, so it lasts as long as the take does. For lights worth pairing with it, see our LED lighting guide.
Why we bought two
After a few months with one, we bought a second. Two batteries mean there's always a charged backup, and on bigger days one runs lights while the other handles monitors and charging. Across a full wedding day of ceremony, portraits and reception, the pair keeps us independent of wall power.
Our second unit is a higher-capacity SmallRig model with extra features. If you go above 99Wh, remember that batteries over 100Wh need airline approval to fly.
What we like
- 99Wh capacity that flies in carry-on without airline approval
- Six outputs to power several devices at once
- Laptop-capable USB-C PD
- V-mount plate and D-Tap for standard production gear
- OLED display for remaining capacity
- Compact size that mounts easily on a light or fits in a bag
What to know
- Runtime is simple math. Divide 99Wh by your light's draw: a 60W panel at full power gets you a bit over an hour and a half, less after conversion losses. We run our LED key around 60–70% and get a full session from one battery.
- Check your gear's power input. If your lights use a different battery system, you'll rely on the D-Tap, barrel or USB outputs instead of the V-mount plate.
- Weight: each battery is a little over a pound (retailers list about 540–585 g), which adds up with two in the bag.
Our pick
SmallRig VB99 Mini V-Mount Battery (99Wh) — the V-mount we rely on to run lights, monitors and laptops on location without wall power.
Check price on AmazonBottom line
The SmallRig VB99 is unglamorous gear that makes the rest of the kit work better. It runs lights, monitors, laptops and phones from one compact pack, it's under the airline limit, and the price is easy to justify for a small crew. We bought two and would buy a third if our schedule called for it. If you travel with your kit, our Nanuk 935 review covers the case we fly with.
Questions about our power setup, or planning a location shoot? Get in touch.