Frequently Asked Questions

No, weatherproof means resistant to all types of weather including heavy rain.

Waterproof means submersion.
Weatherproof devices cannot be submerged.

it is best to use a specification to quantify ratings. 3BR Powersports uses the International Protection rating system. Even though this system was developed to rate enclosures the specifcation is handy for all kinds of devices.
3BR Powersports products meet the IP65 rating

This true of every GoPro HERO camera and is not related to the X~PWR.
GoPro does not allow any HERO camera to charge the battery while recording. 

Each function, recording and battery charging, generate a lot of heat. The camera can't withstand the heat load of both functions running at the same time. 

Yes, the battery is not required when the camera is externally powered.

There are some advantages and disadvantages either way. 

Advantage of battery installed:

• If there is a power glitch the camera will continue to record until power is restored. This is not a common case but can happen. 

• You can remove the camera from external power for handheld use and continue to record

Disadvantage

• Sligtht added installed weight

• Personal experience (HERO10) - I record all day when riding my motorcycle and keep the camera powered even when stopped and not recording. I found that with the battery installed there were times when the camera would not go back into record mode without shutting it down completely and restarting.  When I removed the battery the camera started every time. 

• Slightly less weight
• Camera may behave better when recording is stopped and camera left powered on (see above)
• Some users have reported that their camera runs cooler with the battery removed. 

• Camera displays error message that says "NOT ENOUGH POWER".
  This is a firmware issue that can be overcome with a GoPro Labs firmware patch. See "Fixing the "Not enough Power" FAQ

If you are getting the dreaded "Not enough power" error message when you try to operate your HERO10/.../13 without the battery installed, REJOICE there is a fix but it takes some effort with several steps involved!

GoPro Labs provides special firmware that allows adding a lot of useful features including a fix for the Not Enough Power message.  

...and here is a  link to my video that goes through the process of installing the GoPro Labs firmware on your camera and using an app call QR Control to add the GoPro Labs TUSB feature to your firmware.

https://youtu.be/UQFF5R3XHfg

Here is an update video providing some additional information and two other ways to overcome the issue:

https://youtu.be/NUt9SyBmdOY?si=xyuqYXjPW5vmrh1x

The answer is no.
Here's some information on battery charging that explains why.

First a word about Amps(A) vs. Watts (W).

Watts Law provides the relationship between Amps(A), Volts(V) & Watts(W)

 A x V = W

Watts are what is important as that is POWER, just like horsepower in a car (746W + 1 HP)

USB has become the standard for powering and communicating with most devices and is driven by the Smartphone industry.
The old USB standard was 5Volts at 0.5A or 2.5W
Smartphones quickly outgrew that standard and 5V@2.1A (10W) became the common charger specification.
Then along came Quick Charge technology. Without going into proprietary technologies let's go directly to the USB standard USB PD (power delivery). USB PD has gotten so complicated that the USB Standards Committee has given it a standard all its own. USB PD is now at version 3.1 (2021) but Version 3.0 is more common with cameras.
USB PD 3.0 blows past the old 5V standard with voltages of 9V, 12V, 15V & 20V, & currents as high as 5A. Higher voltages are required to keep Amps lower at high power (Watts). Amps are what make wires hot.
High power chargers that meet the USB PD 3.0 standard are 100W (20V@5A).

Now here's the two important facts.
1) A device such as your action camera will only draw the amount of current that it needs.
You can't overpower a device by connecting to a charger capable of high current.
Note that you can overpower it with voltage.
If you try to power your camera from a 12V source such as an automotive battery you will likely smoke the device.
In summary - lots of amps OK, lots of volts Bad.
2) In order to utilize the high power charging your device MUST support the quick charge technology.
If your camera does not support USB PD then it will only use the older USB power levels.
That’s because USB PD protocol requires "handshaking" communication with the device to let it know how much power to deliver.
Captain “Camera” Kirk, "Scotty - how much power can you deliver?)"
PD Scotty, "I can deliver 100watts, how much can you handle?"
Captain Kirk, "I am limited to the 9V 3A (27 Watt) spec."
PD Scotty, "OK captain, 27 watts it is."

The Insta360 does not support USB-PD. Insta360 spec calls for a 5V3A charger but it does not draw anywhere near 3A.
The new Insta360 ACE PRO does support USB PD and will charge the battery very quickly.

Typical 100W charger SPECIFICATIONS

Note the proprietary Quick Charge Protocols such as Qualcomm Quick Charge and Apple quick charge.

Charging Ports

3 USB-C + 1 USB-A

Input

100-240V ∿, 50 / 60 Hz 1.5A

Single-Port Output

USB-C1: Max 50W (5V3A, 9V3A, 12V3A, 15V3A, 20V2.5A)
USB-C2/C3: Max 100W (5V3A, 9V3A, 12V3A, 15V3A, 20V5A)
USB-A: Max 30W (5V3A, 9V3A, 12V2.5A, 20V1.5A)

Total Output

Max 100W

Protocol

USB-C Ports: PD3.0, PD2.0 / QC4+, QC4, QC3.0, QC2.0 / PPS / AFC / SCP, FCP / Apple 2.4A / BC1.2
USB-A Port: QC3.0, QC2.0 / AFC / SCP, FCP / Apple 2.4A / BC1.2

It's all about power which is measured in Watts (W) and Watts = Volts (V) x Amps (A).

For a long time, USB voltage WAS specified as 5V ±5% or 4.75V to 5.25V . Since the voltage was constant , USB power ports and chargers could be compared using Amps. 

However, with the release of the USB Power Delivery USB-PD standard, other voltages were allowed so power comparisons had to be made using Watts. 

Note that the USB Standards Committee could have done everyone a favor by using Watts all along and why they (or the industry) didn't is a mystery to me. 

If you are interested in learnig more about the USB power standards and power specifications check out my video on the topic:

https://youtu.be/yJkkgie4CP8?si=NT7ufI6wh0xd4qtF

Yes, all three are the same plug/socket.

Here's some history.

The original plug and socket were developed in Germany in the 1940's to provide a robust 12V connector set for use in military vehicle applicatons. 

After the war, some vehicles such as BMW motorcycles continued to install  the sockets as an OEM features.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) formalized the design as ISO 4165 in 1979. It's not clear when Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) circled back with their own standard DIN465. 

At some point Powerlet started selling the ISO4165  connectors and sockets representing them as their own design, even down to listing a patent number which in fact had nothing to do with the connectors. 

Over the years, the popularity of 12V powered accessories has declined in favor of USB power. 

https://www.amazon.com/SMALLRIG-Camera-Mount-Additional-Screw/dp/B075M336JZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=smallrig+1%2F4%22+camera+hot+shoe+mount&qid=1588006007&sr=8-1-catcorr&srs=19633587011