Topic: Tascam HD-P2 power - 9v li-ion?

[Brian Skalinder]

Edit to add:  similar post/thread here, with some info direct from Tascam:  http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,78841.msg1057313.html#msg1057313

Found 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...

[Brian Skalinder]

Wading through the Team Tascam HD-P2 threads revealed the following two people successfully using 9v batteries to power the P2.  Alex, Terry - can you chime in and confirm you're powering your P2s successfully with 9v and that you're using the stock DC power input?

Thanks for the info, now how's about the best place to get an external battery situation going.
I like the idea of running an external & having the 8 AA's as backup.

My 9v DVD battery from radio shack works great too and even the cable and adapters it came with worked with it out of the box.

But so far I've been using the 9v WalMart battery...

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I hacked a 4pin XLR into my DC input cable and made a 4pinXLR adapter cable for my WalMart 9v battery.  Works great.

Terry

[Brian Skalinder]

I hacked a 4pin XLR into my DC input cable and made a 4pinXLR adapter cable for my WalMart 9v battery.  Works great.

Great news, Terry - glad I can reuse my existing stable of 9v li-ion batts.  Woohoo!  Thanks for chiming in.

I suspect I won't hear any official word from the Teac/Tascam folks.  For liability reasons, they probably don't want to say it's okay to use anything other than the stock wallwart or power source with the same specs.

[thegreatgumbino]

What is everyone running for 9v lion's lately?  I need to pickup a couple to power the V3 & HD-P2.  Didn't know if there were any new finds in the last year or two.

[dennisrtyler]

What is everyone running for 9v lion's lately?  I need to pickup a couple to power the V3 & HD-P2.  Didn't know if there were any new finds in the last year or two.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1361504&CatId=2589

this is what i went with Matt. Tekkeon support quoted me a 5.17 hour runtime for the P2.

[Brian Skalinder]

What is everyone running for 9v lion's lately?

AFAICT, most people are using the same manufactured unit simply branded differently.  A few of the more common brands I've seen, in addition to the "Walmart" ones:

Three specific brands / models of which I'm aware:  Lenmar DVD-U9, Initial RB-270, Memorex  (sorry, forget the model #)

Keywords to use for finding them on eBay or Froogle or some such:  universal, DVD, lithium

Shouldn't have to pay more than $40-$60 for one of these, and odds are reasonably good you can do better than that.  There might be some new options on the market of which I'm not aware, I haven't looked around for batts in a while.

[kirk97132]

What is everyone running for 9v lion's lately?

AFAICT, most people are using the same manufactured unit simply branded differently.  A few of the more common brands I've seen, in addition to the "Walmart" ones:

Three specific brands / models of which I'm aware:  Lenmar DVD-U9, Initial RB-270, Memorex  (sorry, forget the model #)

Keywords to use for finding them on eBay or Froogle or some such:  universal, DVD, lithium

Shouldn't have to pay more than $40-$60 for one of these, and odds are reasonably good you can do better than that.  There might be some new options on the market of which I'm not aware, I haven't looked around for batts in a while.

Here's what I found out from Tascam's techies:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,78841.0.html
Hope that helps ya out.  Scroll down to see what Tascam had to say.  I can't wait to set up the lion, Kirk

[Brian Skalinder]

Here's what I found out from Tascam's techies:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,78841.0.html
Hope that helps ya out.  Scroll down to see what Tascam had to say.  I can't wait to set up the lion, Kirk

Whoops.  Found and read the thread earlier and everything, but somehow missed your post.    Thanks for the info!

[Brian Skalinder]

Even though people are running 9v external power just fine, thought some might want to see the official word back from Tascam:  basically, "try it and see".

After looking into this issue and sending out a couple of E-Mails to
engineering; and getting the standard safe answers back, (i.e. "It
looks like it should", "I don't Know", "try it and see"), I think that the
answer is probably yes to all your questions. As near as I can see it,
the circuit schematics all appear to support your conclusions in this
matter. I can't see any reason why your particular senarios would not
work just fine. The only question that arises in my mind is whether or
not the 9volts from the li-ion battery will last long enough before it
falls below the operational threshold. I'm afraid you will have to take
my colleague's advice and try it and see.

Thanks for your interest in Tascam.

[JackoRoses]

Even though people are running 9v external power just fine, thought some might want to see the official word back from Tascam:  basically, "try it and see".

After looking into this issue and sending out a couple of E-Mails to
engineering; and getting the standard safe answers back, (i.e. "It
looks like it should", "I don't Know", "try it and see"), I think that the
answer is probably yes to all your questions. As near as I can see it,
the circuit schematics all appear to support your conclusions in this
matter. I can't see any reason why your particular senarios would not
work just fine. The only question that arises in my mind is whether or
not the 9volts from the li-ion battery will last long enough before it
falls below the operational threshold. I'm afraid you will have to take
my colleague's advice and try it and see.

Thanks for your interest in Tascam.

I've ran mine at least 4 hrs as a 24 bit bucket on a li on.
Ran it probably 3-4 hrs as an all in one
Both times I had at least 2 dots left.
and just left it sitting idle for over 12 hours on a 9v li on and it still was showing a good charge but I can't recall how many dots were lit..
I think somewhere in the tascam threads I have read similar results.
I am very pleased with being able to continue using my liths.

[joekar]

When I had mine I used a Power Runner......With the P2 suppling phantom to my LSD2 it ran for around 6 hours with no internal batteries..

Hope this helps..

Peace,
jk

[deadheaded]

i got 11 hours 27 minutes recording 24/48 spdif w/light on with 1 9 volt walmart type battery
i got 8 hours 30 mniutes recording 24/48 analog in phantom on and light on.

[OOK]

i got 11 hours 27 minutes recording 24/48 spdif w/light on with 1 9 volt walmart type battery
i got 8 hours 30 mniutes recording 24/48 analog in phantom on and light on.

Hey ed do you make a cable for this purpose, if so how much.

[deadheaded]

i got 11 hours 27 minutes recording 24/48 spdif w/light on with 1 9 volt walmart type battery
i got 8 hours 30 mniutes recording 24/48 analog in phantom on and light on.

Hey ed do you make a cable for this purpose, if so how much.

yes i make the perfect cable for this situation.
$25 shipped.
thanks
ed