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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: HealthCov Chris on December 09, 2025, 02:12:52 PM
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Now that I have a bag with 3 items (SD 702t; Lunatec V3; SD MixPre-3ii) needing different power solutions and little knowledge in this area, I thought I would start a thread about power distribution systems in the hopes of sharing knowledge and finding sleek power systems for such a situation.
Yes, I know it is fairly easy to throw a 12v/9v Tallentcell and a couple other power banks into the bag to power everything, but wouldn't a single smart battery into a small distribution device that outputs to all 3 devices be so much cooler?!
I have been looking at the Diety and Audioroot websites finding interesting (expensive) setups that may work well for our purposes. Here are few examples of what I am looking at. The SD 702t requires 12v DC, the V3 requires something between 6v-9v DC, and the MixPre-3ii takes 5V USB-C (or the hirose adapter on the back). So I guess I would need something that has the ability to manually adjust the voltage out, or is smart enough to detect the necessary voltage needed and control the outputs to each device. I can't determine if this is possible with any of these distro boxes. What are your thoughts and/or experiences?
Here are a few of the devices I have been looking into.
Diety:
- https://deitymic.com/products/spd-mini/
- https://deitymic.com/products/spd-1/
- https://deitymic.com/products/s-95/
Audioroot:
- https://audioroot.fr/collections/power-distributors/products/bg-du?variant=55455279382906 (may be the only one able to control output voltage)
- https://audioroot.fr/collections/power-distributors/products/bpa-h
- https://audioroot.fr/collections/power-distributors/products/duo
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I have an audioroot setup from an earlier iteration of my bag I could sell cheaply. Let me get an inventory for you. I do love the smart batteries
https://www.gothamsound.com/product/esmart-bg-dh-mkii-power-distribution-box?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=670616152&gbraid=0AAAAADn-80cgyTDrl44xmQKGfIOnmLpve&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaymZqZOJnwbv0GDyjxRddAnDrmTI2w2kF3O31wVuK1E8bEEhFFhETOgaAgWgEALw_wcB
Audioroot BG-DH mkii (usmart battery cup input, 5 hirose 4pin power out, 1 hires 4 pin data only out
1 hirose to 2.1 RA locking DC connector cable
1 hirose to 2 2.1 RA locking DC connector cable
2 4pin hirose to hirose cables
https://imgur.com/a/tGplY9v
(https://i.imgur.com/Hz5FtjO.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BR85DGg.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oJySzgu.jpeg)
The other thing I used to do was V-mount batteries with regulated dtap adapter cables and a v-mount sled. They can do usb-a, usb-c, and I've seen 5v, 8v, 12v, and 15v cables.
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Looks really nice, but where is the battery?
I have gone to using D-Tap batteries, which are the standard for most video rigs. High quality battery is $150. But can go to $300 for huge capacity batteries. I would rather have 2 batteries than one big one.
These can power 2 day festivals no problem - all day!
They come in multiple power sizes. They have a battery meter to tell you how much power remains.
And the most important... multiple output connections... USB-A, USB-C, DC Barrel and D-Tap.
NOTE: D-Tap connection is 18V out. If you use the D-Tap out, you need to get REGULATED cables.. as in D-TAP to 12V regulated to Hirose. OR YOU WILL FRY YOUR GEAR.
The other connections are rated between 5V and 12V.. but I like the D-Tap connection because that cable is never going to pull out by mistake in a bag, it's locked down.
Regulated cables for 18V to 12V easy to find on Amazon. So many devices on video rigs need power.. they all use D-Tap, so the market for these products is growing.
I am using D-Tap to my Lunatecs, Korg MR-1000 and MixPre 10 ii
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battery isn't pictured in that, it's the "smart" batteries used by sonosax and others. audioroot, esmart, diety, inspired energy all make them.
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battery isn't pictured in that, it's the "smart" batteries used by sonosax and others. audioroot, esmart, diety, inspired energy all make them.
yes, but the idea for "smart" batteries is meant for audio guys running multiple lavs mics on expensive set time. They need to know batteries levels at all times.
Recording live shows... how many times do you need to check your battery? Seems overkill and expensive. D-Tap batteries last days... and are smaller.
It's a $300 box that gives you battery levels.
Also note, you can use ALL the outputs at the same time on D-Tap batteries... so you can power three devices off one battery.. running different voltages.
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It's a $300 box that gives you battery levels.
Sure, except I'm selling all of that for $125. You just need the battery. And smart batteries aren't bigger than dtap batteries. But the available dtap regulated cables is useful.
I went smart battery when I got the r4+. When I got the ad8+, I didn't need external power for 2 other devices, so was able to use the BDS built into the r4+, so it freed this up.
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When I ran more components in my bag I looked at a couple of the available power distros at the time and ended up just using (more conventional to us tapers) a mix of rechargeable bricks like the Talentcell and Anker batteries.
It seemed like the distro systems required just as many pieces at the same weight and custom cables at much higher expense. A couple of batteries, the distro box and a few custom cables can easily add up to $500 or more and that's for the knockoff cheap branded stuff.
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Also note, you can use ALL the outputs at the same time on D-Tap batteries... so you can power three devices off one battery.. running different voltages.
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Please explain. This is likely what I am looking for. How to run multiple devices that require different voltages off one battery?! I don't understand how the voltages are regulated to each device from a single battery.
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By "d tap" do you mean it is a V mount video camera battery? I am using them to power my SD MixPre3 and Lunatec v2. I have a 50 watt hour Smallrig and a 99 WH Neewer. The Smallrig has dtap at 14.4v, one USB c, one USB a, one 12v and one 8v barrel connector.
The Neewer has the same but with another USB c. I use a 65 watt USB c charger for them. They are tiny and lightweight, my apogee ad1k/portadat sla's weighed about 13lbs.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1858099-REG/smallrig_3579b_vb50_mini_v_mount_battery.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22123516448&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh0g9St4JKRpbbuUYIqW6u8hQ&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaylNyxX839hUiRVL7acLRlEN4hE3o_b4gLkil0qO0kqNTQL-ZWU4Yt4aAtzeEALw_wcB
https://neewer.com/products/neewer-ps099ep-6800mah-99wh-v-mount-battery-66604171?variant=47713557807297&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21899792576&gbraid=0AAAAAC_Zp86tIxuGG00upE7a8xaBYQUNN&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZayn3gydCMYdNTAC1UaGUmz_YT7c_m0bT7v4M1N3rQgKOPhw92AadOIQaAlL6EALw_wcB
That Neewer price is really high, I think I paid under 100 on sale from B&H.
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By "d tap" do you mean it is a V mount video camera battery? I am using them to power my SD MixPre3 and Lunatec v2. I have a 50 watt hour Smallrig and a 99 WH Neewer. The Smallrig has dtap at 14.4v, one USB c, one USB a, one 12v and one 8v barrel connector.
The Neewer has the same but with another USB c. I use a 65 watt USB c charger for them. They are tiny and lightweight, my apogee ad1k/portadat sla's weighed about 13lbs.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1858099-REG/smallrig_3579b_vb50_mini_v_mount_battery.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22123516448&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh0g9St4JKRpbbuUYIqW6u8hQ&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaylNyxX839hUiRVL7acLRlEN4hE3o_b4gLkil0qO0kqNTQL-ZWU4Yt4aAtzeEALw_wcB
https://neewer.com/products/neewer-ps099ep-6800mah-99wh-v-mount-battery-66604171?variant=47713557807297&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21899792576&gbraid=0AAAAAC_Zp86tIxuGG00upE7a8xaBYQUNN&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZayn3gydCMYdNTAC1UaGUmz_YT7c_m0bT7v4M1N3rQgKOPhw92AadOIQaAlL6EALw_wcB
That Neewer price is really high, I think I paid under 100 on sale from B&H.
So, you think that Small Rig will run a 702 and a V3 simultaneously for a 4hr show?
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Yes, I know it is fairly easy to throw a 12v/9v Tallentcell and a couple other power banks into the bag to power everything, but wouldn't a single smart battery into a small distribution device that outputs to all 3 devices be so much cooler?!
A single point of failure for everything in the bag?
Seems really cool, until it fails.
No thanks!
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So, you think that Small Rig will run a 702 and a V3 simultaneously for a 4hr show?
I am unsure of the current draw on the 702, and I assume your V3 is 6v? It probably would based on my runs, but I think the 99wh would be a little safer bet. A little over 3 hours use only depleted it to 68% as I recall.
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Yes, I know it is fairly easy to throw a 12v/9v Tallentcell and a couple other power banks into the bag to power everything, but wouldn't a single smart battery into a small distribution device that outputs to all 3 devices be so much cooler?!
A single point of failure for everything in the bag?
Seems really cool, until it fails.
No thanks!
I am Always the biggest "single point of failure" concern at a show! :shrug: Besides, If it is high quality gear there shouldn't be a problem. The SD 702 and MixPre-3 will have a battery on the back as backup anyways. Mostly, I just want a quality, smallish battery to run both the 702 and V3 simultaneously, as the MixPre-3 can run off a tiny usb-c battery bank (which I have several already).
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You "could" run multiple devices off a D-Tap battery, but I don't since they are small and inexpensive. I keep 3 D-Tap batteries in my bag. Get multiple of the smaller cheaper ones...
I use D-Tap batteries on my video rigs as well.. so now I am using all the same batteries, just makes it easier for me.
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forgive the question, but dont you need more than 5v for the mixpre6 to phantom p48 channels, and to avoid the orange blinking issue?
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forgive the question, but dont you need more than 5v for the mixpre6 to phantom p48 channels, and to avoid the orange blinking issue?
I use cheap usb-c battery bank to run all 3 channels p48 on the MixPre-3.
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forgive the question, but dont you need more than 5v for the mixpre6 to phantom p48 channels, and to avoid the orange blinking issue?
I use cheap usb-c battery bank to run all 3 channels p48 on the MixPre-3.
word, good to hear it works - 5v wasnt enough for me to power cmc6s & mp6 (older) (without getting orange blink)
taken from a quick AI search...
The Sound Devices MixPre-3 needs about 4 watts at idle, but power draw increases significantly with phantom power (up to ~7.5W for full operation), requiring a specific USB-C power source (7.5W+), 4x AA batteries (Li-ion/NiMH recommended), or L-Mount batteries for full functionality. Using alkaline AAs gives short runtimes, and proper USB-C cables/sources are crucial for full features like phantom power on all channels and the USB-A port.
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word, good to hear it works - 5v wasnt enough for me to power cmc6s & mp6 (older) (without getting orange blink)
taken from a quick AI search...
The Sound Devices MixPre-3 needs about 4 watts at idle, but power draw increases significantly with phantom power (up to ~7.5W for full operation), requiring a specific USB-C power source (7.5W+), 4x AA batteries (Li-ion/NiMH recommended), or L-Mount batteries for full functionality. Using alkaline AAs gives short runtimes, and proper USB-C cables/sources are crucial for full features like phantom power on all channels and the USB-A port.
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Yeah, I don't really know the voltage or watts stuff. All i'm saying is that I have always used cheap (likely Chinese) power banks of all shapes and sizes never checking any specs. They all have worked for my MixPre-6, 6ii, and 3ii when going usb-c to usb-c. And I haven't paid attention to my cables, but I have a big batch of them and they have probably all been in the rotation. :shrug:
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the "kashmir" mic preamps suck a lot of power on the mix pre series. check the MixPre thread for lots of details
6 separate threads with lots of info
https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=181803.0 (https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=181803.0)