Not only that, there are portable PA systems that have their own internal battery power supplies.
One example:
JBL EON One Compact Portable PA Speaker with Rechargeable Battery
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Best Deep cycle marine batteries for mobile PA system
- Thread starter Seth Shonefeld
- Start date
Not only that, there are portable PA systems that have their own internal battery power supplies.
One example:
JBL EON One Compact Portable PA Speaker with Rechargeable Battery
Heavy duty car/marine batteries should not be decharged more that 50%. Continually discharging them below 50% can cause them not to hold a charge, which can be expensive when you have to buy another one. Lithium Ion batteries can be discharged 100% and be recharged to full capacity over and over.
Find a REAL battery store.
These won't be in a stripmall, they will be on the outskirts of an industrial area.
These are places that sell real deep cycle batteries (not marine starting batteries). They repair batteries. They know batteries. They will hook you up with a monster Forklift or Rigging battery, cheap.
Deepcycle batteries are super clean tech. They are only made of 2 things; thick lead plates and sulfuric acid.
Deepcycle batteries REQUIRE maintenance. You have to charge them as soon as you get home - it's bad to forget and leave them discharged. You have to add DISTILLED WATER and top them off occasionally.
Finally, you will probably need 2 different chargers. A **fast charger** high amp charger like you would charge a car battery with (this is when you have another gig the next day), AND a **battery tender** that turns on and off keeping the battery "topped off" - for normal storage.
Never use a **trickle charger** on a Deepcycle for storage, it will boil out the electrolyte (sulfuric acid).
These won't be in a stripmall, they will be on the outskirts of an industrial area.
These are places that sell real deep cycle batteries (not marine starting batteries). They repair batteries. They know batteries. They will hook you up with a monster Forklift or Rigging battery, cheap.
Deepcycle batteries are super clean tech. They are only made of 2 things; thick lead plates and sulfuric acid.
Deepcycle batteries REQUIRE maintenance. You have to charge them as soon as you get home - it's bad to forget and leave them discharged. You have to add DISTILLED WATER and top them off occasionally.
Finally, you will probably need 2 different chargers. A **fast charger** high amp charger like you would charge a car battery with (this is when you have another gig the next day), AND a **battery tender** that turns on and off keeping the battery "topped off" - for normal storage.
Never use a **trickle charger** on a Deepcycle for storage, it will boil out the electrolyte (sulfuric acid).
Interesting thread, I've been wondering about this myself. What about something like this:
Explorer 500 Portable Power Station
This is a new area for me so I'm just trying to figure out what might work. I'm talking a small amp without tubes for perhaps two hours.
Explorer 500 Portable Power Station
This is a new area for me so I'm just trying to figure out what might work. I'm talking a small amp without tubes for perhaps two hours.
I have some real-world experience with the ECO products. They are excellent. The lithium-ion battery technology is now state-of-the art. After buying their lawn mower, 2 5Ah batteries and fast charger, I went back to them and bought a leaf blower, string trimmer and pole saw. All well designed and perform superbly. Their new inverter product is a natural expansion of their 56v battery platform. I will probably buy one to have emergency power at the house. Will buy additional batteries as they go on sale, etc.
This inverter/generator should be great way to power a PA. You will want to make sure there are no transients that come thru the 120vac as noise in the PA. If you buy from some place like Home Depot, you can return it for a full refund. And that presents a devious option: Buy it, and return for a refund after the gig. Not saying you should, but you could.
The ability to use the batteries and chargers interchangeably is a great option. And no need to haul/store gasoline. This technology is finally ready for prime time. And, if anyone is thinking about buying a walk-behind lawnmower, this is a quiet and environmentally friendly option. (BTW, I have no relationship w/the company, other than being a fussy & satisfied customer).
This inverter/generator should be great way to power a PA. You will want to make sure there are no transients that come thru the 120vac as noise in the PA. If you buy from some place like Home Depot, you can return it for a full refund. And that presents a devious option: Buy it, and return for a refund after the gig. Not saying you should, but you could.
The ability to use the batteries and chargers interchangeably is a great option. And no need to haul/store gasoline. This technology is finally ready for prime time. And, if anyone is thinking about buying a walk-behind lawnmower, this is a quiet and environmentally friendly option. (BTW, I have no relationship w/the company, other than being a fussy & satisfied customer).
If the telecom gets good efficiency, clean power, and lots of it, then this may be a good option, too.
I deal with this a bit in the auto racing world.
Link Removed, Deka and Odyssey are the gold standards right now for Deep Cycle Batteries. I've seen some pretty impressive (if very expensive) stuff from Anti-Gravity of recent times.
In general - I don't think battery power for this is the best plan. The batteries just aren't quite there yet. Even the biggest-baddest Tesla Powerwall will only support 25 amps (at best).
You can buy a very quiet Generac generator for under $1000 that will be lighter and more effective.
Last note - there is a company called FreeWire that makes a battery system to do what you want
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It weighs over 1000lbs and costs about $15K
Link Removed, Deka and Odyssey are the gold standards right now for Deep Cycle Batteries. I've seen some pretty impressive (if very expensive) stuff from Anti-Gravity of recent times.
In general - I don't think battery power for this is the best plan. The batteries just aren't quite there yet. Even the biggest-baddest Tesla Powerwall will only support 25 amps (at best).
You can buy a very quiet Generac generator for under $1000 that will be lighter and more effective.
Last note - there is a company called FreeWire that makes a battery system to do what you want
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It weighs over 1000lbs and costs about $15K
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This. is. my favorite input ('scuse the pun) so far. Seriously looking at these guys.
A pair of the EONs, even one, would do it. Run your bass & guitar through cheap Zoom battery-powered multi-fx. Keys could play soft-synths on a laptop with a MIDI controller. No AC power, inverters, batteries, generators, etc required.
And, according to the JBL blurb, '8” low-frequency driver exhibits earth-shaking bass down to 37.5Hz'
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With regard to the 48vdc batteries used in telecom companies. The batteries are 2vdc tied together in strings to achieve the desired power. Be aware however, that these batteries are quite large and weigh in the hundreds of pounds each. Definitely not portable; you would have to permanently mount them on a trailer to haul them around. The original telecom batteries were the same as those used in submarines. Each battery was about 5 feet tall and 2 feet square with lots of lead content. Current telecom batteries are round and about 30 inches tall and 24 inches in diameter.
I think it would be much more feasible to buy a small propane powered generator that puts out more power than you will ever need. Some of the new portable generators are very quiet. Easy to haul, easy to set up, and use your existing amps and PA.
Good luck with your search.
Thump on,
One_Dude
I think it would be much more feasible to buy a small propane powered generator that puts out more power than you will ever need. Some of the new portable generators are very quiet. Easy to haul, easy to set up, and use your existing amps and PA.
Good luck with your search.
Thump on,
One_Dude
Looks like in your opinion a propane or gas generator is a good direction. I'm still leaning toward Eon battery - op PA or two.
If you have the budget, spending $3500 for two EGO 3000 systems should be pretty good.
I’m used to buskers working with $200 worth of inverter and battery...
However it’s very hard to beat a modern super quiet gasoline inverter generator. These run all day on a fill up, have very clean output, and the noise level is in the mid 50 dB level.
Just use ethanol free gas for no headaches.
The JBL Eon One Pro is a LI rechargeable stick. I used to own one. It sounded pretty good. I believe it provided ~6 hours playing time on a full charge. I never ran it down all the way. It comes with an integrated bare bones 4 ch mixer. I suppose you could use two of them if you need more channels and/or juice. I probably wouldn't run bass direct. There are LI rechargeable amps available for other instruments. Fishman makes a few. If you can wait, I guarantee more manufacturers will be jumping on the bandwagon. Not having to run AC is a game changer. SS Class D amps (like the TH500) are made for LI rechargeable power. Class D is super efficient and only draws as much current as demanded.
Anyway, hopefully food for thought. The marine battery solution sounds heavy and clunky to me.
Anyway, hopefully food for thought. The marine battery solution sounds heavy and clunky to me.
I used to have a radio shack PA that ran on DC standard.
These amps don’t actually run on AC anyway they’re running on DC. Any amp can be converted to run on battery pack but only a few are suitable to do so with a reasonable size pack.
I have a 40 watt vacuum tube PA that also has the capability to run from battery standard. It used to be more common than you might think.
You can also Theoretically trickle charge the battery bank From a running truck. The truck carrying the band, for instance. A running vehicle is likely to be less obtrusive than the clatter of an affordable generator
These amps don’t actually run on AC anyway they’re running on DC. Any amp can be converted to run on battery pack but only a few are suitable to do so with a reasonable size pack.
I have a 40 watt vacuum tube PA that also has the capability to run from battery standard. It used to be more common than you might think.
You can also Theoretically trickle charge the battery bank From a running truck. The truck carrying the band, for instance. A running vehicle is likely to be less obtrusive than the clatter of an affordable generator
Anchor Audio makes some bigger batter powered PA stuff as well. They have packages that can be ordered with wireless mics.
I believe their biggest system is called Bigfoot, which basically a portable caddy with a fliptop line array. Anchor Audio Bigfoot Sound System
Anchor also make a smaller rig called the Beacon, which uses the same concept. I have actually gigged with the Beacon and was pleasantly surprised with the volume and sound quality. Not as good as my regular PA, but it was the best battery powered rig I have ever used. Beacon 2
I have used and was unimpressed with Anchors smaller offerings. Every time I have heard them, they have been cranked well into distortion and were not very loud.
I believe their biggest system is called Bigfoot, which basically a portable caddy with a fliptop line array. Anchor Audio Bigfoot Sound System
Anchor also make a smaller rig called the Beacon, which uses the same concept. I have actually gigged with the Beacon and was pleasantly surprised with the volume and sound quality. Not as good as my regular PA, but it was the best battery powered rig I have ever used. Beacon 2
I have used and was unimpressed with Anchors smaller offerings. Every time I have heard them, they have been cranked well into distortion and were not very loud.
