DC power for cart

[Steumann Neumann]

I'm currently in the process of building a new cart. I want the entire rig to be DC powered. What is the most efficient and economical way to use one battery to power my mixer, 2 PD4s, up to 5 Lectrosonic receivers (200 series), and an NTSC monitor?

[Ellis]

Location Sound in Los Angeles, sells a 33 amp-hour battery manufactured by PSC, contained in a Pelican Case, with 2 - 4 pin xlr outputs. Combined with another product F02 (pronounced F O squared)DC distribution box - you can easily DC supply your entire cart for about $500 U.S. The only other thing you will need is a good Battery charger, that can safely work in line with the battery.
All of your hardware would be powered off the battery, and the charger can be powered via A.C. - which would trickle or bulk charge your battery.
This means you can have the cart plugged into the mains (AC), but once you pull the plug your cart still remains powered via the battery.

I have worked with more gear than you write about for over 6 straight hours
without relying on AC power.
You can check out LSC's website: www.locationsound.com

[Carl Warner]

Why spent $500. or more for someones fancy battery pack, when you can do the job for a whole lot less? Here's what I have used on many major film productions, works just fine: Purchase two Marine Deep Cycle 12V batteries. Connect then in papallel. Purchase a 200 Watt power inverter. Connect the inverter to the battery DC out. You now have 110VAC that should your equipment for the entire days shooting, (You may however, want to have two more fully charged batteries in reserve).

Cerl Warner

[Geraldo Ribeiro]

I did my own DC system using two 18 Amp/Hour batteries ( sold in housealarm shops ) inside a pelican case with one xlr 4 pin male and one xlr 4 pin female placed in the side : one is DC out to distribution box and another is DC input from the DC charger.

A special care is necessary with the charger. It must be adjusted to 13.8 Volts DC / 5 Amp Max Current. The reason to do that is to allow more charge in the batteries and a lite bit higher voltage level as Fostex (PD-2 and PD-4) had it low battery alarm usually set in 11 volts .

The distribution box ( 6 XLR 4 pin females ( output ) in the top and one male 4 xlr 4 pin in the front ( input ).
You could connect in it the battery box or a power supply ( something like 13.2 vdc - you could buy it in Amateur Radio shops ) to the distribution box.

Total cost is no higher than 200.00 and you have safe operation around 10 hours.

You could upgrade the system adding to the battery case a floating charger set at 13.6 vdc and a AC plug to feed it in 110/220 volts

regards

Geraldo