Edit to add: similar post/thread here, with some info direct from Tascam:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,78841.msg1057313.html#msg1057313Found very little info on people's HD-P2 power experiences in the Remote Power forum. I tried wading through, and searching, the Team Forum, but there's so much other schlock in those threads it's very difficult to pinpoint specific information. So...I'm posting here in the hopes of gathering people's experiences powering the HD-P2. Since I'd rather not have to buy new batteries when I have a stable of 9v li-on batts already, my focus is primarily to identify whether it's possible to run the P2 on 9v li-ion universal DVD (aka "Walmart") batteries.
Anyone successfully running the P2 on 9v li-ion batteries via any of the methods I note below? Anyone tried and failed?
FWIW, here's an email I fired off to Tascam regarding the possibility of powering via 9v li-on (and 9.6v NiMH, added for kicks):
(I've not received a response, but will post one if/when Teac/Tascam responds.)
A few questions about powering the HD-P2...
I would like to power my HD-P2 in the field using an external battery - not AAs, not the AC/DC wallwart, not attached to a computer.
Since the manual states the HD-P2 may derive power from 8 x AA rechargable batteries (9.6v) or FireWire connection (wide range of voltages supplied by various PCs/laptops/Macs, some as low as 9v), I'm wondering how much flexibility exists in HD-P2s power voltage. Assuming the battery can provide enough total current (amps) / power (watts), is it possible to run the HD-P2 on 9v or 9.6v external power - specifically, the following scenarios:
9v li-ion battery through the...
<a> DC-input connector
<b> FireWire port (no computer attached)
<c> a dummy cell (or group of dummy cells) inserted into the AA battery bay
9.6v NiMH battery through the...
<d> DC-input connector
<e> FireWire port (no computer attached)
<f> a dummy cell (or group of dummy cells) inserted into the AA battery bay
Regarding <a/c>: I ask about this option because it's the easist solution to wire up with my existing batteries.
Regarding <b/e>: If the HD-P2 doesn't have restrictions on the computers with which it's compatible for power - and since voltages provided by computers vary widely, from 9v through 24v+ - then it seems <b/e> should work, too. But I don't know if the HD-P2 will function in normal record-mode powered through FireWire, or whether it automatically goes into a computer transfer state (or some such) when connected to FireWire. I suspect not, as there would be no host to which the HD-P2 could connect since its receiving only power over the 6-pin connector and no data/communications.
Regarding <c/f>: I've read the manual, and it seems that this option should work - after all, the HD-P2 has no way of knowing the 9.6v it receives through the internal battery bay is derived from AA cells or dummy cells connected to an external 9.6v (or hopefully 9v) battery pack.
Thanks in advance for the help...