Topic: Tascam DV-RA1000 DVD Recorder Surprise

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

have you already purchased the Exeltech unit yet?
this place had the best price in a frooogle search, by a considerable amount.. : http://www.affordable-solar.com/365.html

That's who I'm waiting on a call back from, they were checking to see if they could get that rack bracket from their supplier.   

That is the best deal by far.

Even after shipping from NM to OH it was cheaper than an east coast retailer ($215.00+s&h)

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

have you already purchased the Exeltech unit yet?
this place had the best price in a frooogle search, by a considerable amount.. : http://www.affordable-solar.com/365.html

I checked my messages when I got home, Mark from Affordable Solar said that they can get the rack face-plate and that it's $36.  Calling to order...

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

I'm gonna make mine outta diamond plate

blang blang! 

"pimp my rig"

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

have you already purchased the Exeltech unit yet?
this place had the best price in a frooogle search, by a considerable amount.. : http://www.affordable-solar.com/365.html

I checked my messages when I got home, Mark from Affordable Solar said that they can get the rack face-plate and that it's $36. Calling to order...

As of tomorrow, it will have been a week since I ordered the exeltech through these guys, and I still haven't gotten shipping confirmation, even after calling twice.
It might be worth kicking down the extra $$ elsewhere.

I saved my search results:

Alternative Energy Store: 1-877-878-4060
http://shop.altenergystore.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=EXEXP125%2D12
Price: $209.00 S/H:aprox $15 UPS ground

Affordable Solar: 1-800-810-9939
http://www.affordable-solar.com/365.html
Price: $195.00 S/H: aprox $10-$12 UPS ground

I haven't recieved any confirmation either, I placed my order Tuesday... 

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

email of this morning to affordable solar.com

Greetings,

I placed an order last week, on friday. I was told by the sales associate that because of the holiday weekend, that the package wouldn't be shipping until the following tuesday.
Its friday a week later, I've called twice trying to finish this sale, and get my purchased part, and still no confirmation of purchase or shipping.
Why can't this part be shipped?
Are you not interested in my business?

I really need this part. At this point, I need it much quicker than it appears that your company is capable of.
Would you rather that I contacted my credit card company and canceled the order? Maybe place it with one of your competitors?

I'm really disillusioned and disappointed at this point in my choice of doing business with this company.

Please get me my part, as I've already wasted valuable time waiting for your company to proceed with the purchase.
I can't express my disappontment with this company enough.

Mike French

[/size]

Damn, I didn't have a chance to call them today to inquire about my order, I still don't have a confirmation e-mail.  Did you get any response?

 

[VA_TAPER]

I reccommend "Northern Arizona Wind & Sun" 

quick shipping $191.25 for the unit and $8.50 for shipping for a total of $199.75

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

inverter finally in hand.

fwiw,... it came equipped with a cigarette lighter plug end.

DV-RA and Gator Bag in hand, inverter (maybe?) and battery/charger in transit.

OK SCREW Affordable Solar, phuckers said it isn't expected to ship until July 15th. 

Exeltech is on backorder, http://www.wind-sun.com has/had 3 in stock, looks like you bought my inverter moke. 

If there's still room in that rack mount face, to make sure I don't run the SLA dead:
Features scrolling 'Hi' warning if voltage reaches 16 V and scrolling 'Lo' warning if voltage reaches 10 V. Adjustable low 'gauge flashing warning' can be set by user where desired.

I ordered one in green.

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

inverter finally in hand.

fwiw,... it came equipped with a cigarette lighter plug end.

DV-RA and Gator Bag in hand, inverter (maybe?) and battery/charger in transit.

OK SCREW Affordable Solar, phuckers said it isn't expected to ship until July 15th. 

Exeltech is on backorder, http://www.wind-sun.com has/had 3 in stock, looks like you bought my inverter moke. 

The saga continues, Arizona Wind & Sun left a message today letting me know their "inventory was off" and that they don't have any in stock. 

On to the next shitty online merchant...

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

D'oh!!  contact the manufacturer and tell them, and see if they'll help you out.

Where did you order the meter?

+ for the troubles

Turns out they have 1, it's was an open box and has a "scratch".  He said to call him back tomorrow and that he could offer me a discounted rate.  Becides the inventory being off, they did contact me the next day to resolve the problem, offered expedited shipping at no extra cost (because he knew I wanted it sooner than later) unlike Affordable Solar.  Affordable called me today (a week later) to let me know that they could not fullfill the order I had placed last week.  Not that it matters, once they get caught up, I'll probably recieve confirmation of me cancelling my order on Monday.

Exeltech says 4-5 weeks backorder, no dice there.  Hopefully AZ Wind & Sun doesn't lose that inverter before the morning.

The meter is from Summit Racing, I'm actually going to pick it up at Summit on Friday.  Get this, they had 3 (visable check) in stock, there was another voltage gauge that was about $20 more, the display is slightly better looking, but it doesn't have the low voltage warning feature as far as I know and... it's on backorder (estimated June 20th).   

Green: CYB-A000E160N
Amber (like the picture above) CYB-A000E060N

http://www.summitracing.com/

Summit does free shipping but charges a $8.95 handling fee, if you want me to pick one up for you, it's not a problem.  It's $39.95 + tax (7%-8%) I'm not sure how much it is in Tallmadge.  I'm not sure if they charge tax for out-of-state orders, but it's likely they do.  I think they have a store in Sparks NV also, they might have one in stock too.

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

that meter is going to be key,... to making sure that the AUDIBLE low voltage alarm on the inverter doesn't mess up any intimate occasions 

Let me see if I can find anything around here. I have a ton of auto boutiques and hot rod supplies around here.
thanks for the offer, I might take you up on it? I'll let you know asap.

scrolling 'Lo' warning

I'm thinking it's display only, if it's audible, screw it, I'll take out that prick.  Whenever I get a new vehicle the first thing I do is get under the dash and kill that annoying buzzer.

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

Not the meter! The exeltech xp-125 makes an audible warning noise when it overheats, or at low voltage.

Oops, it helps when I read ALL the words. 

It'll shut off at 10.4v, I want the meter to know when I'm getting close.  It might be possible to swap out that little noise maker for a warning light without much expertise.  If I only HAD ONE!   

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

that meter is going to be key,... to making sure that the AUDIBLE low voltage alarm on the inverter doesn't mess up any intimate occasions 

Let me see if I can find anything around here. I have a ton of auto boutiques and hot rod supplies around here.
thanks for the offer, I might take you up on it? I'll let you know asap.

some other toys:
pretty straight forward:

only goes down to 11v, but it does temperature and will worn you of black ice conditions:

plain level meter:

cigarette plug in type:

like this one, but it's in .5v increments, and it's 99 bux:

another simple display:

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

warns of black ice conditions!?!?!
yes!! thats the unit!!

thanks, +t

I figured with you being in so-cal, that feature alone would seal the deal.

+t backatch, 2699 just looked stupid.

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

Test underway.
Started recording television audio signal at 7:25am via 12v 20ah deep cycle sla -> exeltech xp-125 -> tas dvra1000 (24/48 for extended length recording time. recorder spec'd at 34 watts)

Battery charged overnight to full float.
full charge = 13.00 volts at start of recording.

voltage reading after:
~ One hour recording time = 12.70 volts
The exeltech inverter is now just above ambient room temp, though not considered warm.
(its drizzling hard out right now @65º The house windows are open, so its about 65º)

~ Two hours recording time = 12.49 volts
the inverter is just slightly warmer than the last check.

~ Three hours recording time = 12.33 volts
the inverter is no warmer than before.
there is a noticeable transformer hum at this point, though not in the recording. Up 'til now, I had the lid of the batt box off. Putting the lid on helped reduce the noise. Some vibration dampening might help.

~ Four hours recording time = 12.05 volts
same inverter results as above.

~ Five hours recording time = 11.75 volts
inverter is a low level of warm @ 90º (measured)
ambient transformer noise persists.
Recorder start up load surge caused a very, very brief low power warning blip that was barely detectable when the unit was fired up to begin the sixth hour recording period.

*** Low power warning buzzer at 5 hours 53 minutes **** (very audible!)
The battery reads 11.29 volts. this was under no load except the multi-meter
117.5 volts ac output at this time
inverter = 90º with thermometer on the case.

per inverter manual specs;
10.6 volts = inverter warning noise
10.4 volts = inverter automatic shutoff

I'm not going to push to inverter auto shutdown, as you wouldn't be able to record past the warning noise, and you'd piss everyone off around you.

+t

Thanks a ton, I'm still waiting on my battery (just as much hassle as the inverter) but I'd like to fire this thing up next Wed, if my 12v 18mAh battery shows up it should power the unit fine.  If not I'm yanking the car battery. 

I'll finally have a little time to actually play with the unit this week, I read through the manual a couple times and I think brain has recovered enough to try and do something with it.  Is it just me or is this manual written in a totally incoherent manner?  It leaves out tons of information I want answers to, but can't find.  I'm hoping a supplement is coming soon.

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

THANKS mOke
 

I ran the DV-RA last night for Gov't Mule, used the first amber light on the V3 as a guide for levels in bypass mode and it worked perfect...

No more pre-show new gear jitters, I don't think things could have went more smoothly.   Thanks for all the good info/feedback and help!

+t