Topic: TASCAM DR-680 portable 8-track #6

[Scooter123]

I assume positive polarity, yes?

That is to say, the outside ring is negative (ground) and the inside pin is positive (hot)? 

[Gutbucket]

Yep.  Note the little graphic indicating that next to the power input jack on the side of the recorder.

[Scooter123]

Thank you Gut Bucket.  This recorder gets mobile vehicle use in the field, as opposed to stand alone batteries, and it is a bit of a battery hog when all 8 channels are running. 

[fmaderjr]

Just make sure to get the polarity correct and it should work fine. FYI, the Voltage range from the car cig lighter will range from about 11-14VDC.  It will be close to the top of that range with the motor running.

Couldn't going above 12 V be dangerous? A bunch of 680's got burned out using the Tekkeons that supposedly automatically selected 12 volts and apparently went a bit higher at times? Just asking.....

[Gutbucket]

I'd think it would be okay but I can't guarantee it. Then again, I just checked the manual and about all it says is don't plug anything in there except the Tascam AC power supply.  Maybe better not to do it. 

I've run mine for hours in the car on long drives home from recording powered by batteries I recharge with the power from the car.  I've never plugged it in directly.

[2manyrocks]

Since a new 680 is still over $400 and given the number of reports on TS of 680s apparently fried by external power, I would be reluctant to be the first guy to try powering one from a car cigarette lighter outlet.   I thought there was a post here by a member warning not to go over 12v, but haven't looked for it specifically. 

[Scooter123]

My new AA batteries meter, on the average, a tad over 1.6v, which would make the actual voltage, via AA battery power, about 12.8v.

Also, if the vehicle is not running, the actual voltage would be 12.v from the car battery.  Only when the generator is running would voltage into, but not necessary out of, the car battery, exceed 12v.  I'm not sure the voltage from the car battery fluctuates as suggested.  Indeed immediately downstream of the battery, I have a voltage regulator which smooths out the voltage for the rest of the car.  I'd have to put a meter to the cigarette lighter to verify.

But you have my curiosity going here, so I'll probably meter the cigarette lighter when the car is off and on.  I would expect the same voltage, but I could be wrong. 

[Gutbucket]

The alternator's voltage regulator typically has a set output of ~14V, which is what a meter across either the battery terminals or the cigarette lighter terminals should read with the engine running. With the engine off it will read around 12V to start and you probably don't want to run it down to much under 11V.  You could use a cigarette lighter power adapter with a resistor bridge in it to drop the voltage a couple volts.  I used to have a Radio-Shack one with switchable voltage output from 3-12v, and the power resistors in it would get slightly warm in use.  Had to remember to unplug to not run down the battery when through using it, but it worked fine.

[Scooter123]

11.9v static with engine not running.  A whopping 14.8v with engine running.

I will pass on using a cigarette lighter.  I do have a power inverter, which converts 12vc to 110v and I'll just use the Tascam AC Power block.  It's terribly inefficient, but more efficient than blowing up the Tascam. 

[bdasilva]

Is there a way to mute the speaker and headphone outputs on  a 680? Mine has decided not to play thru either ....

[Gutbucket]

No mute switch in the menu that I recall.  You can either simply turn down the headphone/speaker output-level knob on the front panel, or go into the monitor menu and turn down the individual channel outputs, or main stereo mix output, or both.

[Phil Zone]

I think I asked this a while back but can't find where but with the 680 how can you check how much space is left on the memory card? Thanks

[achalsey]

Menu > Card > Information, I think...

The section in the menu where you format your card (last section in the menu) also has an 'information' option.

[Phil Zone]

Anyone tried a 64gb sd card in a 680? If so did it work? Thanks

[lukpac]

Anyone tried a 64gb sd card in a 680? If so did it work? Thanks

The 680 doesn't support SDXC.