External power source for an amp?

Rudreax · #1 08-17-2010, 07:30 PM

If this belongs in another/better thread, feel free to move it mods.

Basically, I want to be able to play my bass on the street and have something for my amp to plug into that I can carry around and recharge when I get home. I think there's something like this already, but I can't for the life of me remember the name so I ask you, TalkBass.

Any suggestions?

**line6man** · #2 08-17-2010, 07:59 PM

What kind of amp is it?

If you have a tube based amp, you will need a high-current power supply for the heater filaments, and a high voltage power supply for the anodes.

That's asking a lot for battery power.

Rudreax · #3 08-17-2010, 09:11 PM

It's a small, cheap Hartke combo. 15 watts.

**line6man** · #4 08-17-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudreax

It's a small, cheap Hartke combo. 15 watts.

Why not just buy a battery powered amp?
Or are battery powered bass amps uncommon?

If you can figure out the voltage and current requirements after the rectifier stage of the power supply, you might be able to run a battery system.

Rudreax · #5 08-17-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Why not just buy a battery powered amp?
Or are battery powered bass amps uncommon?

If you can figure out the voltage and current requirements after the rectifier stage of the power supply, you might be able to run a battery system.

This may or may not sound silly but I guess I'd rather have the power source in case I need something like it for something besides the amp. There are battery powered guitar amps (no bass, but it's most likely out there) out there, so it is an alternative.

I'm guessing that it's not good that I don't understand the second part of your post, so I'll look into this.

A440Hz · #6 08-17-2010, 10:00 PM

What line6man is saying is that amps run on DC (direct current) anyway, instead of AC. Typical amps take in AC power, then convert it to DC in the power supply section. So you don't need AC power if you can figure out the correct voltage(s) needed in the amp and you can bypass the power section-- powering the thing using a DC battery.

This is a DIY project, mind you.

Rudreax · #7 08-17-2010, 10:18 PM

How would I go about finding out the information needed to do this? Is it dependent on the amp? If I gotta do it myself it's fine.

I hope I'm not asking too many questions, but I didn't expect to run into this and now I'm interested.

**line6man** · #8 08-17-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudreax

How would I go about finding out the information needed to do this? Is it dependent on the amp? If I gotta do it myself it's fine.

I hope I'm not asking too many questions, but I didn't expect to run into this and now I'm interested.

This is the part where I'm uncomfortable giving information, because if you do something wrong you'll either kill yourself or fry your gear.

Proceeding at your own risk, you can determine the voltage and current with a multimeter.

The current measurement will require modifying the amp a bit, because the meter needs to be ran in series with the positive supply's output.

ric stave · #9 08-17-2010, 10:25 PM

Crate makes some powered (battery) amps. There also used to be something available (I think from Galaxy, the Hot Spot guys) called "The Far Outlet" - basically a portable battery with outlets for equipment. It was discontinued and I don't think they ever re-released a new version of it.

Rudreax · #10 08-17-2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

This is the part where I'm uncomfortable giving information, because if you do something wrong you'll either kill yourself or fry your gear.

Proceeding at your own risk, you can determine the voltage and current with a multimeter.

The current measurement will require modifying the amp a bit, because the meter needs to be ran in series with the positive supply's output.

Really now? Hm...not to make light of it but I guess I just have to not suck at it on my first try, right?

Rudreax · #11 08-17-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric stave

There also used to be something available (I think from Galaxy, the Hot Spot guys) called "The Far Outlet" - basically a portable battery with outlets for equipment. It was discontinued and I don't think they ever re-released a new version of it.

Yeah, this was exactly what I was talking about. I'll look into this as well then, although now I'm curious about the other method mentioned.

**line6man** · #12 08-17-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudreax

Really now? Hm...not to make light of it but I guess I just have to not suck at it on my first try, right?

It's fairly simple, but obviously if you are tweaking around with your amp, there is a potential for something to go horribly wrong if you don't know what you're doing.

I don't want to get the blame if something happens.

funkometer · #13 08-17-2010, 11:25 PM

I think Roland makes amps that run off batteries.