Topic: R4 AA Battery Back Up

[rowjimmytour]

When you run the R4 in the field w/ a DVD lion battery and have 8 X AA's inside does the R4 power on the plug in (DVD Battery) source first and if that goes low then the batteries? I only have one DVD battery for now and would like to use rechargeable AA's for back up always inside for local shows 3+ hours.
Peace

[illconditioned]

When you run the R4 in the field w/ a DVD lion battery and have 8 X AA's inside does the R4 power on the plug in (DVD Battery) source first and if that goes low then the batteries? I only have one DVD battery for now and would like to use rechargeable AA's for back up always inside for local shows 3+ hours.
Peace

I cannot answer this question.  However, I do run the R4 with *two* DVD batteries wired in parallel (and no internal AA cells).
The trick is to put a diode in series with each battery (anode of diode to positive of battery, cathod to positive terminal on R4, one diode on each battery) so they cannot interact.  Ie., so current flows out of batteries, but not back in...

This also allows one to charge one battery while using the other.  So presumeably you could keep several batteries and "hot swap" them out one at a time.  I've never had to do this though...

 Richard

[easy jim]

When you run the R4 in the field w/ a DVD lion battery and have 8 X AA's inside does the R4 power on the plug in (DVD Battery) source first and if that goes low then the batteries?

That is how the R-4 Pro manual states that it works, and it is supposedly a seamless transition between power sources.  I'm not sure, but expect that the R-4 operates in the same way.  There is a power input source selection function in the system menu for the R-4 Pro that enables you to select the 'primary' and 'secondary' power sources, with 'internal' batteries as the secondary source.

If you do not get a solid answer for the regular R-4 here Jim, try asking the question in the Team R-4 thread.

[rowjimmytour]

Thanks and a round of +t's!!
Peace

[phanophish]

When you run the R4 in the field w/ a DVD lion battery and have 8 X AA's inside does the R4 power on the plug in (DVD Battery) source first and if that goes low then the batteries?

That is how the R-4 Pro manual states that it works, and it is supposedly a seamless transition between power sources.  I'm not sure, but expect that the R-4 operates in the same way.  There is a power input source selection function in the system menu for the R-4 Pro that enables you to select the 'primary' and 'secondary' power sources, with 'internal' batteries as the secondary source.

If you do not get a solid answer for the regular R-4 here Jim, try asking the question in the Team R-4 thread.

I have an R4 and as I remember, if the external power fails, the Device powers off, but can then be powered up on the internal batteries.  It will not fail over seamlessly though

[blindman]

The R-4 will NOT switch to the internal AA's if the power being supplied through the AC adapter input dies or is removed.
From the R-4 manual... "If you disconnect or reconnect the AC adaptor, the power will turn off even if batteries are installed. Please turn off
the power on the R-4 itself before you change between AC adaptor power and battery power."

The R-4 PRO WILL keep running and swtich to the internal AA's.
The R-4 PRO manual says... "If there are batteries in the unit while an AC adaptor is being used, normal operation will continue should the line
voltage be interrupted (power blackout or power cord disconnection)."

I have the R-4, non-pro, and have not had it be an issue... but it is something to be aware of... if your dvd battery is dying, remember to turn the unit off before removing the power. You can then turn it back on and it will use the internal AA's.

cool stuff