Topic: JB3 power supplies -- all in one

[willndmb]

1st let me say thanks to everyone who has helped me learn more about JB3 and HD recording
Sanjay and spyder9 for sure

ok i have searched, been directed, saw threads/reviews elsewhere on JB3's power
i have a jb3 on the way to me now and wanted to get more power, not just have the one battery that comes with it

i would like to see if the info i gathered here is correct and get opinions on what would prob be best for me/everyone as a whole

these are the 4 otions i have found
Bumblebee VR Box hooked to a Initial 9v 5400 mAh battery -- i am also lost as to what mAh means or how you guys translate it to total power/runtime
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=38210.0
pros...
runs 2 units at once -- i also don't understand how a 9v battery can output 5 and 6v at once, i guess that doesn't add up to 11v output like i thought it would
will work with power over 12v
cons...

Power Runner 2310 http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=919
pros...
small, battery and VR all in one, runs a jb3 for like 9hrs
cons...
if the battery dies over time you need to replace the whole unit
Initial Battery > VR (Sima)>
http://www.markertek.com/Product.asp?baseItem=SUP%2D1&cat=POWER&subcat=&prodClass=ACPOWER&mfg=Sima&search=0&off=
pros...
if the battery dies you can still use the VR with a new battery
cons...
you need to rig it VR to hook to the battery, its not plug and play out of the box
Power Plant
http://www.pwrplant.com/cd.html
pros...
cheap, small, all in one
cons...
not everyone can get it to work and/or work long enough to be good for recording shows
Creative Battery
pros...
works no question or messing around, compact as it fits in the recorder
cons...
cost compaired to other options/record time, poss overheating issues

now if this info is right or wrong please lmk
also lmk what you think is the best all around
i am leaning to the Bumblebee and Power Runner
the Bumblebee i think would cost about $30-40 more overall but would run 2 devices
since i don't use a V3 or UA-5 thats not really an issue (i use a ad-20, which i havn't seen or think will run with the bumblebee)
so that why with the long record time of the power runner i was thinking that might be better for me

please lmk what you think is best overall and what would be best for me
thank you

[Patrick]

I say if you can't spring for the VR Box (and you don't have to "spring" very far) invest in a Wall-mart DVD battery and assemble the ciggarette adapter contraption to it.  If I weren't on dial up right now I could find the lin for you, so could someone else help him out??

Good Luck!

[willndmb]

I say if you can't spring for the VR Box (and you don't have to "spring" very far) invest in a Wall-mart DVD battery and assemble the ciggarette adapter contraption to it.  If I weren't on dial up right now I could find the lin for you, so could someone else help him out??

Good Luck!

money isn't really an issue, i can afford the VR box and Power Runner
but i don't know if the VR box is worth the extra money for me because i only need to power the jb3 (sure if down the road i got a V3 or a UA5 it would be great)

[Brian Skalinder]

For short (< 6 hrs) run-times, I use 2 internal batts.  For long run-times (> 6 hrs), one option not in your list:  4 x NiMH D-cell sled (8,000 mAH).  Should be good for ~25 hrs, if not more. Fully charged, the sled puts out too much voltage for the JB3.  but I charge the day before, and by the time I break out the sled the next day, enough voltage has trickled off that it works just fine.  Others have taken a fully charged set of batts and drained them slightly with a bulb or some such to drop the voltage down into the JB3 operating range.

[John R]

Power Runner 2310 http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=919
pros...
small, battery and VR all in one, runs a jb3 for like 9hrs

11 hrs with more to spare.   http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=34514.msg584592#msg584592

[willndmb]

is this battery good? because i got one for $15
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5789105020
via email he said its 9v 54oomAh

[F.O.Bean]

is this battery good? because i got one for $15
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5789105020
via email he said its 9v 54oomAh

looks good to me, nice find!

if you plan on powering the jb3 w/ it tho, youre gonna need a 5volt voltage regulator circuit(ie: marc vr box)

[willndmb]

is this battery good? because i got one for $15
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5789105020
via email he said its 9v 54oomAh

looks good to me, nice find!

if you plan on powering the jb3 w/ it tho, youre gonna need a 5volt voltage regulator circuit(ie: marc vr box)

thats my next thing to figure out
wish marc had a time frame of when he might be taking orders again

[Ray4PA]

Just ordered one of these 5v - 7200 mAh Power Pack by Socket
http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/fileget.cgi?file=socket_ac4009614.zip
Wonder how this baby works...

[willndmb]

Just ordered one of these 5v - 7200 mAh Power Pack by Socket
http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/fileget.cgi?file=socket_ac4009614.zip
Wonder how this baby works...

what is this?
i don't want to open it till i know its cool

[Ray4PA]

Don't worry. It's a PDF with the specs of the box.

[willndmb]

thanks

[terrapinj]

another DIY option is to pick up a SIMA SUP-1 or SUP-2 power adapter. all you would essentially need to do is modify the ac wallwart plug cable, by clipping off the end with the prongs, you can then solder or simply use connectors to attach that cord to ends of the cord that runs from your battery. you may be able to use a ratshack adapta plug also, but not sure what the adapter #s would be. using the SIMA will allow you to plug your battery into the voltage regulator, and you can also use the included DC cigarette plug to charge or run your JB3 in the car. there is an entire thread on here somewhere about the SIMA if you do a search. they can be found on eBay for around $15 shipped.

the VR box is probably your easiest option and allows the option of powering an additional device in the future, the hard part is getting your hands on one right now.

and to answer your original question mAH = milliamp hours. the JB3 has been calculated to draw about 300 mAH or 300 milliamps per hour or .3 amps/hour so to calculate the approximate run time you can divide the # of mAH in your battery by the draw of your device - so for your 5400 mAH battery you would get about 18 hours of power. 5400/300 = 18

also a 9v battery doesn't generate 5v and 6v itself - the voltage regulator will reduce the voltage output as desired. the sima allows you to select a single voltage output, while marcs custom VR box allows two different outputs - so the battery itself is still pushing out 9v into the regulator regardless of what it is being regulated to

[willndmb]

thanks

[leegeddy]

300 mAH or 300 milliamps per hour or .3 amps/hour

nice post terrapinj. however, i want to point out a VERY common misinterpretation that constantly shows up in this Battery/Power forum.

there is no such thing as an "amp per hour" or "amp/hour". it's "amp-hour" (ampere X time). it's not a rate. it's simply a product of current multiplied by a unit of time.  it's a number that is used to measure a capacity of a power source.

an ampere is already a rate by definition. a device continuously draws current in a closed circuit. so, amp/time wouldn't make sense.

hope this makes sense so we can better understand current, power and capacity.

marc