Topic: Sound Devices 788T powering questions

[jb63]

So a few weeks back in this thread:

https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=207344.msg2428245#msg2428245

I read about the four 788T units in Israel that were looking for new homes.
I made a similar offer on the last one and $1,182.50 plus a mere FIVE days later it arrived at my door.

So here I am, not knowing a damn thing about Sound Devices Recorders except that after reading about them here for years, I learned that the 788 is the one I'd need. I've been hoping to replace my 2 chained together R44 units, but the cable I would need to accept 2 digital feeds is non-existent, but the thread listed above and the posts from voltronic gave me hope.

Hope that a XL-88 D-sub Breakout Cable can be built or found some day.
(I suppose hope that the 788 really will accept 2 digital stereo inputs!)

Anyway, What I have is a unit with no power source and what I'm looking for is the right batteries to purchase, the correct power source to charge those batteries in the machine, and the appropriate external battery and connector cable to power the machine at shows.

Everything I've read tells me that and internal battery won't get me 3 hours so I guess the plan is to use those batteries only for shorter shows and as backups for longer ones. Any strategic advice or battery runtime information is what I need.

But the first step is to power it on, eh? Is I guess I start with what's the longest lasting internal battery and where is the best place to get it!

Any help or links would be greatly appreciated.


Now I get to find out if they ARE too expensive!

[voltronic]

Here are some options:

1. NP-F battery mounted directly on the recorder. If used as your primary power, the voltage will drop off fairly quickly especially when more than 4 mics are being powered. Below a certain voltage threshold, the recorder will power off.
Regardless, you should have one mounted all the time as a backup even if using external power.
I recently bought the older version of this one, and it's great. You can recharge from the 788 if you have an AC adapter, or charge via USB-C.
https://www.amazon.com/SmallRig-NP-F970-Rechargeable-10500mAh-Monitors/dp/B0D1QZBX9L/

2. Take the above battery, and mount it in this adapter which connects to the Hirose input. Make sure to get this exact version which steps up the battery output to a constant 12V, so you'll be able to use that same battery capacity for longer.
https://www.trewaudio.com/product/hawk-woods-dv-sqnr/

3. This battery and charger combo are what I bought for my first 788. Very expensive, but very reliable and goes forever. The cable you need is also linked below.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1709545-REG/idx_system_technology_np_9x_96wh_lithium_ion_battery.html
https://www.amazon.com/SZRMCC-Hirose-Coiled-Zaxcom-Devices/dp/B08998C8WP/

4. This battery looks like a much cheaper alternative to the expensive IDX I have, and specs on the D-tap output indicate it should work perfectly with the 788. Use the D-tap / Hirose cable linked above.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D73TGYY4

You will want an AC adapter if you don't already have one:
https://www.amazon.com/Hirose-Power-Adapter-Devices-ZAXCOM/dp/B01J2YQXB4/


So if I were you, I would buy (1) the Smallrig NP-F battery as your backup, (2) the Smallrig V-Mount as your primary, the D-tap to Hirose cable, and the AC adapter. Just that V-mount battery should let you power 8 mics for many hours, and you'll be able to recharge both batteries via USB-C.