Topic: UA-5 battery question...

[pfife]

Greetings.  I have a UA-5 wmod from Oade on the way, and I am looking into which batteries to purchase.

I see these:
http://www.batteryspace.com/product.asp?0=278&1=280&3=209

which are 9.6V 3000 mAh NiMH, and on the jordan shapiro
cord building reference site, it says to get these:

9.6V 1000mAh R/C Car Battery Pack and Charger
9.6V 1420mAh Ni-Mh Battery Pack

Now, the only difference I see is in the # before mAh - what, in laymans terms, does this mean?  My guess is that it is the 'amount of energy' it will hold, and the larger the number, the longer it will power the UA-5.

Can someone shed some light on this for me?

Taperssection.com has been very helpful for me, and I appreciate it.

Peace-
Andrew

[Kindguy]

That Batteryspace batt rules the UA-5.

It lasts over 6 hours easy. Thats what I run.

what, in laymans terms, does this mean?  My guess is that it is the 'amount of energy' it will hold, and the larger the number, the longer it will power the UA-5.

This is correct.

[Kindguy]

& T+ for new gear

[blu666z]

This may not be right but I think the UA-5 draw 450 mAh.  So the 1600mAh would power it for 3+ hours(1600mAh / 450mAh)   The 3000 would run for 6+.  Not bad.  Been looking at getting one of them for a while.

-Kevin

[phishn]

is the draw increased with phantom power on powering the mics?

[pfife]

Thanks dudes.   If I could +T everyone I would.... don't have my 50 posts yet...

I would think that the phantom power would make it draw more, but blu666z, with the 450mAh number, do you think that includes the draw using phantom power?

Thanks again!

[Willie T.]

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=4;action=display;threadid=7496
about half way down talk about draw and the such.

I have 4500 mAh batteries from battery space.  I have only had the chance to do long testing in my house, but it's about 9 hours with mics in and gain on(I think i get a little more if i have recently conditioned it).  I know that they have 4000mAh batteries on sale (it'a a 10 pack) which you would need to solder together.
http://www.rcairport.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=109
the only thing i have noticed is that conditioning these batteries about every 10 times seems to help.
good luck!

[Brian Skalinder]

is the draw increased with phantom power on powering the mics?

Yes.  The 450mA quoted by Edirol/Roland supposedly incluces phantom power ON.  However, mics have different powering requirements so some mics will draw more current than others.  I think I deleted the email, but Sound Devices tech support sent me the equation for how they calculate current draw for the MP-2 / MixPre.  By far, the bulk of the current draw came from phantom power.

Looking at the second post in this thread which details mic current draw:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=14;action=display;threadid=2461

Why would phantom power be such a big draw?!?  The mic specs only say 2-10mA, which is tiny.  If I recall, based on the calculations they sent me, the current draw has to do with stepping up the voltage from 6v or 9v or whatever all the way up to 48v.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

[Willie T.]

Like you said I think the draw would increase due to the stepping up of the voltage.
Also I have another question, are the people that are reporting lower currents using moded versions of the UA5?  I am going to do the digi mod soon, is that going to increase the draw?  Does having it connected (usb) increase the draw?  I don't have an ammeter or i would check.  TIA

[teamakg]

i got my UA5 warm modded and to me it seems like is uses more power.  this could all just be a figmant of my imagination but i swear it does.  seems like last time i only got like 5 hours out of a fully charged 9.6v 3000mAh and i think i was getting closer to 6 before the mod.  then again the battery could just not be holding as much charge as it used to.

[blu666z]

Do you have a charger that will condition it?

-Kevin

[Willie T.]

I have an Intellipeak charger, I love it.  It will charge at up to 3A per hour for nimhs and 6 A for nicds.