Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Remote Power => Topic started by: willson486 on January 11, 2005, 05:26:47 PM

Title: Laptop Backup Power Source
Post by: willson486 on January 11, 2005, 05:26:47 PM

I'm running this rig starting this weekend and need some help with power

SP-CMC-4 > SP-SPSB-1 > Tascam US-122 > Dell Inspiron 8600

now the tascam is USB powered so it runs on the laptop battery....

can anyone give me a good easy solution for someone who is not good at all with technical mods and the like.  I need to make sure my laptop battery lasts and find another power source other than an outlet?  are there any easy ways to buy a big battery and tap into it without much difficulty?

Title: Re: Laptop Backup Power Source
Post by: Tyler McGhee on January 11, 2005, 07:05:22 PM

i run an 8500 and it sucks the power down.

look into the ncharge system by valence.

i think it's valence.com

you can get the new batteries at best buy, or order online, but they're a bit costly.

Title: Re: Laptop Backup Power Source
Post by: kindms on January 11, 2005, 07:18:10 PM

http://www.valence.com/default.asp


They make 2 different flavors of their batteries the N-Charge and the N-Charge II

I own 2 on the VNC-130's and they are great. The only thing I don't like about them is the adapter that connects the battery to the Lappy. It doesn't lock in to place. I use 2 large runbber bands to secure them. Anyway I haven't tried the new units, they look like they might be built a little better than the orignals but as I said I dont have any hands on experience with them.

With my laptop I get about 3.5+ Hours per 10Hour(x2) battery while taping. They get the job done. If your laptop supports running 2 internal batteries I would go that route as it will be cheaper. You could also check to see if the internal batteres in the laptop are HOT swappable (meaning you can remove and replace 1 w/o causing the laptop to shut down).

I run 2 Internal laptop batteries and have the 2 10hour N-Charges so I usually never worry about power

Title: Re: Laptop Backup Power Source
Post by: willson486 on January 11, 2005, 08:03:15 PM

is there any other way to externally power it cheaply with another type of battery?

Title: Re: Laptop Backup Power Source
Post by: Tyler McGhee on January 11, 2005, 08:22:08 PM

you could get a 12v battery (a car battery would be perfect for festivals!  ;D )
and get one of the cigarette lighter adapters from dell, hack of the end and connect it to the posts. 

i was thinking about doing this for festivals this summer.  i'd put the car battery in a wagon
along with the rest of the rig and just pull it around!  would be murder if it was muddy.