Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: sdog on October 04, 2011, 05:57:11 PM

Title: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: sdog on October 04, 2011, 05:57:11 PM
Is anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4VDC? Any bad side effects? I know that technically the DR-680 is spec'ed to take 8-to-13VDC, but a lot of Li-Ion batteries commonly used by bag mixers are 14.4V. Trying to figure out if I can get away with that. 

Thanks.
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: acidjack on October 05, 2011, 02:13:34 PM
Would STRONGLY recommend not doing this. 

The 680 is pretty sensitive as to its power inputs.  I believe at least one, possibly two of the ones I've owned were fried by Tekkeons operating on "Auto".  It doesn't seem that the input has much tolerance for higher voltage than recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: hi and lo on October 05, 2011, 04:25:36 PM
Would STRONGLY recommend not doing this. 

The 680 is pretty sensitive as to its power inputs.  I believe at least one, possibly two of the ones I've owned were fried by Tekkeons operating on "Auto".  It doesn't seem that the input has much tolerance for higher voltage than recommended.

Or rather... it tolerates it 'too well' without blowing a fuse and corrupting the ROM or frying the main board.
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: sdog on October 06, 2011, 08:13:35 AM
Excellent. Thanks. This is exactly what I needed to know!
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: burris on October 06, 2011, 01:19:59 PM
Instead of guessing, open it up, find the DC-DC converter, and Google the specs.
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: sdog on October 07, 2011, 12:28:12 PM
knowing vs. guessing.

One way is safe and dull and boring. The other filled with risk and danger and excitement and fun!

O.K. I have to admit: that is a pretty good suggestion. ;-)
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: sdog on October 07, 2011, 07:08:33 PM
Or not. It looks I'd be tracing copper for a week with my ham-fisted fingers mauling several circuit boards filled with tiny little surface mount ICs that I can barely read, trying to figure out where the converter sits on one of those boards. Now that I have it open, maybe this approach is better suited to someone with more delicate fingers and better eyesight!
Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: burris on October 15, 2011, 01:46:07 PM
You need a magnifying glass or use a camera.  I was curious so I took a look.  Here is what I believe is the dc-dc converter section.  The deal is that the DR-680 doesn't use an integrated regulator in a nice big package with the manufacturer and part number screened on top.  It has a discrete one made from tiny surface mount chips that have coded part numbers on them.  You have to know or guess who made the chip then use a tool that the manufacturer hopefully has on their web site to convert the code to the actual part number so you can get the data sheet.  So I was wrong about it being as simple as cracking it open and Googling the part numbers.

Title: Re: Anyone powering a Tascam DR-680 at 14.4V?
Post by: hammerhorror on October 19, 2011, 12:49:06 PM
I have been powering my Tascam DR-680 and my Schoeps VMS5U Preamp from a single 14.4V V-Mount battery. I use the Remote Audio BDS (battery distribution system) to distribute the power to the DR-680 and the VMS5U. The integrated P-Tap on the side of the battery allows you to power any 12vdc device from this port.

Battery link: http://www.batteries4broadcast.com/vmb09.htm (http://www.batteries4broadcast.com/vmb09.htm)
Remote Audio BDS link: http://www.remoteaudio.com/bds_v4/ (http://www.remoteaudio.com/bds_v4/)

This combination has worked flawlessly with my DR-680 and Schoeps VMS5U preamp. I realize that this set-up is very expensive and not a realistic solution for most tapers, but I wanted to share my experience with everyone and comment on a power solution that seems to work perfectly with the DR-680.

I'm a professional freelance cameraman and already had the need for these types of batteries for my video gear, so I figured that I could get two uses out of the batteries and use them with my video and audio gear.