er? running studio equipment on 12v dc

Gogaudio · 29th January 2004, 02:15 PM

hi there, im hoping to convert a small mackie mixer and hopefully a focusrite voice channel to run on 12v dc... dont really want to lug about an inverter, so i was wondering if anyone had tryed bypassing the transformer stage, and connected straight to the 12v rail? Does a voice channel even have a 12 v rail?! excuse my ignorance, new to this game!

Would be good though: location recording, with quality audio gear ontop of a mountain, with a lead acid block battery, and not spending every penny i own on an expensive film mixing desk! ( i guess phantom powering would be a problem?)

thanks. gog

Centauri · 30th January 2004, 03:52 AM

Most of this gear uses internal positive AND negative supplies up to 15V or so, therefore direct powering from 12V would not be possible. An inverter could be designed to convert 12V direct to the voltages needed, however this would be a custom design and involve modifications to the units involved.

Think external inverter is best bet.

Cheers

Gogaudio · 30th January 2004, 09:50 AM

what would it involve to fit an inverter to go from 12 v dc to say 15 v dc? is this a phisically large bit of circuitry, or could it fit inside the existing casing?
what would happen if you did run something on 12 v if it was meant to be run on 15????

sorry- being a dullard! thanks for the advice!

Centauri · 31st January 2004, 06:21 AM

Probably only consequence of running 15V gear on 12V is lowered headroom, HOWEVER you still need a NEGATIVE supply line - so therefore inverter still needed.

Would think circuitry involved would be too large for internal fitting.

Cheers

bremen nacht · 13th February 2004, 03:48 PM

http://sound.westhost.com/project69.htm

this would provide + and - 12V, which as Centauri says might work with reduced headroom.

How small is your mixer, though - have you tried sticking an ampmeter in series with the supply rail? Rod's circuit is good for up to 40mA.

sreten · 13th February 2004, 08:43 PM

The simple answer is most of your gear would run fine on
a split 12-0-12 volt supply but you need two batteries.

A small inverter is going to be a lot less heavy than the extra
battery required but then again supply noise is a viable issue.

A specialised battery pack is another option.

Also if using car batteries nominal voltage = 13.8V.

Extra supply voltages beyond those for the op-amps would not be available.

sreten.

29th January 2004, 02:15 PM	#1
Gogaudio diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London	er? running studio equipment on 12v dc hi there, im hoping to convert a small mackie mixer and hopefully a focusrite voice channel to run on 12v dc... dont really want to lug about an inverter, so i was wondering if anyone had tryed bypassing the transformer stage, and connected straight to the 12v rail? Does a voice channel even have a 12 v rail?! excuse my ignorance, new to this game! Would be good though: location recording, with quality audio gear ontop of a mountain, with a lead acid block battery, and not spending every penny i own on an expensive film mixing desk! ( i guess phantom powering would be a problem?) thanks. gog

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30th January 2004, 03:52 AM	#2
Centauri diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Newcastle, Australia	Most of this gear uses internal positive AND negative supplies up to 15V or so, therefore direct powering from 12V would not be possible. An inverter could be designed to convert 12V direct to the voltages needed, however this would be a custom design and involve modifications to the units involved. Think external inverter is best bet. Cheers

30th January 2004, 09:50 AM	#3
Gogaudio diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London	what would it involve to fit an inverter to go from 12 v dc to say 15 v dc? is this a phisically large bit of circuitry, or could it fit inside the existing casing? what would happen if you did run something on 12 v if it was meant to be run on 15???? sorry- being a dullard! thanks for the advice!

31st January 2004, 06:21 AM	#4
Centauri diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Newcastle, Australia	Probably only consequence of running 15V gear on 12V is lowered headroom, HOWEVER you still need a NEGATIVE supply line - so therefore inverter still needed. Would think circuitry involved would be too large for internal fitting. Cheers

13th February 2004, 03:48 PM	#5
bremen nacht diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: england	http://sound.westhost.com/project69.htm this would provide + and - 12V, which as Centauri says might work with reduced headroom. How small is your mixer, though - have you tried sticking an ampmeter in series with the supply rail? Rod's circuit is good for up to 40mA.

13th February 2004, 08:43 PM	#6
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	The simple answer is most of your gear would run fine on a split 12-0-12 volt supply but you need two batteries. A small inverter is going to be a lot less heavy than the extra battery required but then again supply noise is a viable issue. A specialised battery pack is another option. Also if using car batteries nominal voltage = 13.8V. Extra supply voltages beyond those for the op-amps would not be available. sreten.

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