Topic: External battery pack for MT2496?

[blindman]

so, anyone have a working source of a stealthy battery that'll give me maybe a couple extra hours worth of time?

all the links I've tried have been dead so far, or something entirely unsuitable for stealthing.  I don't need 50 hours worth of time, just a couple extra "just in case" because I don't want to blow a show just because I wanted to tape the opening acts as well as the main act and keep the unit powered up between sets. 

I made quite a few, and the best one for stealthin is the one i made in the little altoids case... http://fecundswamp.peanutonastring.com/usb_batt_v2/index.html

Here are the rest of the boxes I made... http://fecundswamp.peanutonastring.com/usb/index.html

Rough Instuctions are here... http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=51864.msg687527#msg687527

but that was my first try and it sucked... use one battery instead of two and get the Altoids gum tin.... you will need a dremel tool to cut the side and a USB-to-PS/2 adapter that comes with mics and keyboards... any questions feel free to PM or email me.

You want the easist cheapest way to go? get one of these somewhere... http://fecundswamp.peanutonastring.com/usb_carcharger/ I got this one for $4 online but my wife bought me PSP add-on gift pack and it had one in it.... get one, don't even crack it open... just put a 9-V on the end, tip +, and the - on the side and you will get a 5V out to go to the MT with a regular 5-pin mini USB cord.

wow, they only have a $10 one now...
http://shop3.outpost.com/%7Br3M-fZa+EXgx463hoFXDwQ**.node1%7D/product/4727369;jsessionid=r3M-fZa+EXgx463hoFXDwQ**.node1?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

good luck

[Scooter]

just adding this that I posted on another thread.


this is what i use...

http://www.laptoptravel.com/Product.aspx?ID=2019
http://www.powerstream.com/dc6.htm

cut the cords, put a quick disconnect on the 12volt side, put a USB mini(red and black wires) on the other side, set switch to 5v, done.  hook up a batt of your choice, up to 12v, on the batt side w/ the quick disconnect.  basically, a ghetto VR box.  I run mine off the 9v Walmart batt.

[jlykos]

Here is another one.  Just ordered this stuff after consulting with the tech support.  All products are made by Pocket PC Techs, Inc.


4AA battery power unit with a regulator circuit switch to supply a constant 5v output to the device, regardless of lithium, rechargeable, or alkaline batteries. - $20

http://www.pocketpctechs.com/main~unit~iMATE_JAM-281~area~accessories-Power+Accessories~item~USB-BATADPT01.htm


Retractable male USB > USB mini cable to connect the above battery supply to the device - $20

http://www.pocketpctechs.com/main~unit~iMATE_JAM-281~area~accessories-Power+Accessories~item~USB-LILSYNCP01.htm


Shipping is kind of expensive at $10, but probably worth it for a non-soldering person like myself.


EDIT:

More of a "for the record" thing than anything else, but I ordered the above items and used them at the ABB shows for the past two nights.  I used the MT with a 4GB microdrive for about five hours of recording time with 4AA alkaline batteries in the pack.  Worked flawlessly.  I have no idea how much longer I could have run it, but I only got about 2 hours and 20 minutes with just the MT internal rechargeable and a microdrive, so this is definitely an improvement.  I charged the MT up all the way and then connected the battery pack with 4 fresh AA batteries in it for the shows.  An issue with the battery pack is that it does not have an on / off switch so I had to physically remove the AA batteries from the pack during breaks and stuff to conserve power.

[Pokey1]

The sound professionals have what you need specificly for Micro Track  1 for $49.00 and the other for $59.00 Say's adds  7+hrs for the one that is $49.00. 8+ hrs for the one for $59.00. So far I picked up the Micro Track mic they made and it is sweet. I'm waiting on the battery pack to come in the mail. I love my MT. Have used it many times for live recording. No complaints.

[dallman]

The sound professionals have what you need specificly for Micro Track  1 for $49.00 and the other for $59.00 Say's adds  7+hrs for the one that is $49.00. 8+ hrs for the one for $59.00. So far I picked up the Micro Track mic they made and it is sweet. I'm waiting on the battery pack to come in the mail. I love my MT. Have used it many times for live recording. No complaints.

The same unit is available for less here:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16855998033

$34.99

[guysonic]

The sound professionals have what you need specificly for Micro Track  1 for $49.00 and the other for $59.00 Say's adds  7+hrs for the one that is $49.00. 8+ hrs for the one for $59.00. So far I picked up the Micro Track mic they made and it is sweet. I'm waiting on the battery pack to come in the mail. I love my MT. Have used it many times for live recording. No complaints.

The same unit is available for less here:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16855998033

$34.99

ADVISORY: There is NO exact battery size stated, or just what type of regulater (efficiency?) is being used to maintain the 5 volt output from 3.7 volt lithium cell battery. 

If battery size is 1000 ma, then run time with fully charged MT internal battery is less than 4 hours BEFORE needing to use up the internal battery of the MT deck.  Because regulaters are NOT 100% efficient, likely less time, like maybe only 3 hours additional time, and only if MT battery is already fully charged before connecting the external battery device.

This gives total ~7 hours run time where 3 hours is the external attached battery, and maybe four hours is solely from MT internal battery if its in TOP condition.

If the MT battery is NOT fully charged, then the external battery may last only 2 hours before needing the internal MT battery to take over running the deck.

Somebody needs to actually run this external pack and post the recording time available.

[Todd R]

I'd be curious to know what the capacity of this battery is, as well.  That said, the specs don't say 1000ma-hr capacity, they say it can only supply up to 1000ma of current.  So if your equipment draws more than an amp, this battery pack isn't for you.  Not an issue at all for the MT (which is something like a 250ma draw??).

At least in the linked webpage, it says nothing of total capacity.  I'm hoping the battery has at least 4000ma-hr of capacity -- anyone know for sure?

[austaper]

I'd be curious to know what the capacity of this battery is, as well.  That said, the specs don't say 1000ma-hr capacity, they say it can only supply up to 1000ma of current.  So if your equipment draws more than an amp, this battery pack isn't for you.  Not an issue at all for the MT (which is something like a 250ma draw??).

At least in the linked webpage, it says nothing of total capacity.  I'm hoping the battery has at least 4000ma-hr of capacity -- anyone know for sure?

I found some specs on the web that said this pack is 3400ma-hr.  Be careful not to get the smaller version which is about half that and still $29.99.  I cannot find it now but there is a post somewhere on this site from a user saying he was getting 6 to 8 hours extra.  I will be doing some festival taping next week and I may need an extra 2 or 3 hours one day so I will see how it works.  I ordered from the new egg site and it came in 3 days.

[willyp523]

Here's a thumb sized external I use with the MT.  Haven't really tested it for combined length but I can leave an average length gig with a full internal on the MT. 

Ships from Ireland I believe and may be a bit pricey at nearly 50 USD

http://www.gogreen.ie/batterystick/batterystick.htm 

[guysonic]

Suggest a more compact MT powering solution shown in this post/thread: http://taperssection.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=dc5cb19c3eae03a2a98a47d2a8b6b290&topic=85254.msg1154218#msg1154218

[gmm6797]

I just found one of these at Wal-Mary for $9.97... the manufacture's site shows it as discontinued, and google found nothing by part number or upc... they had about 20 of the, if anyone wants me to go buy you one, let me know... you pay cost, tax, paypal feels and postage... ill grab some if needed

[Kevin]

I used this battery (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16855998033) for the first time saturday night and it works pretty well.  It ran the MicroTrack for about 4 1/2 to 5 hours and then I plugged a second one in.  I wonder if you can link a few of these together...so using the USB out of one into the mini USB of another, from there go USB out into the MT

[blindman]

I just found one of these at Wal-Mary for $9.97... the manufacture's site shows it as discontinued, and google found nothing by part number or upc... they had about 20 of the, if anyone wants me to go buy you one, let me know... you pay cost, tax, paypal feels and postage... ill grab some if needed

That is the CH-430... my local Wal-Mart has a few of them also... $10 for a charger like that is a great deal.

These are made by Sakar, Inc. and the Digital Concepts brand seems to have become i-Concepts... the new version of the Ch-430 is called the iStick and comes in iWhite and costs i$30
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=344123 and I can not tell if it comes with the retractable cord.

There is another ipod charger from Sakar under the iConcepts brand that is in a different shape, the 23188C-IP and has a retractable iPod charger instead if the mini-USB version in the CH-430. http://sakar.com/products-features.aspx?PARM_ID=101043

thanx for the pics!

[nosliwde]

Anybody figure out how to replace the [non-user serviceable] battery in the Microtrack?  I'm game for soldering if need be.
Ed

[natas43]

I used this battery (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16855998033) for the first time saturday night and it works pretty well.  It ran the MicroTrack for about 4 1/2 to 5 hours and then I plugged a second one in.  I wonder if you can link a few of these together...so using the USB out of one into the mini USB of another, from there go USB out into the MT

Has anyone had trouble using this battery?  I used it to power the MT so I could run for 3+ hours at 24/48.  Thought I had it fully charged for the first try, then noticed after about 15 minutes of the show that the battery was dead.  Charged it over night immediately prior to the second try, and confirmed it was fully charged.  Ran at 24/48 again, and again, in the first 15 minutes, the battery was dead.

Do I have a short somewhere?