My DIY battery amp / acoustic jam solution .

[Snert]

I'm doing the same, sort of. I used to do a regular coffee shop gig to accompany a friend. She plays her acoustic guitar and sings unamplified. Where we sit we can get power for me but it's a small hassle so I'm going to use my NuX 50BT that I have as a bedroom practice amp. It needs 28VDC and I have a bunch of 18V Makita batteries, so I bought a similar battery adapter (2 actually) and a boost converter. I'm building a small open frame base to put under the amp to hold the batteries and converter and will use a cut down tie down strap to hold it all together to the BT so I can carry it one handed.

The longest we've ever played has been maybe 2hrs so one battery should be enough, but I'll have 2 anyway. I'm waiting on the converter to build and wire it but I'm in no hurry as she's away on business until late August. I'll do a build thread then.

 

[johnh89]

I'm doing the same, sort of. I used to do a regular coffee shop gig to accompany a friend. She plays her acoustic guitar and sings unamplified. Where we sit we can get power for me but it's a small hassle so I'm going to use my NuX 50BT that I have as a bedroom practice amp. It needs 28VDC and I have a bunch of 18V Makita batteries, so I bought a similar battery adapter (2 actually) and a boost converter. I'm building a small open frame base to put under the amp to hold the batteries and converter and will use a cut down tie down strap to hold it all together to the BT so I can carry it one handed.

The longest we've ever played has been maybe 2hrs so one battery should be enough, but I'll have 2 anyway. I'm waiting on the converter to build and wire it but I'm in no hurry as she's away on business until late August. I'll do a build thread then.

I would be interested to see how it turns out . The only downside of boost converters and inverters is efficiency . It all takes its toll on battery life . As you need 28v you dont really have an option . Good luck .

On a side note , I have been pleasantly surprised by the volume of these low wattage amp solutions .

 

[johnh89]

Used it for an acoustic rehearsal tonight for two hours . Battery voltage had dropped less than 1volt ! It looks like there may be four hours or more out of one 2Ah battery . Moderate volume used as there was a banjo , cornet and guitar to compete with .
It appears to do what I intended , with some room to spare .

 

[Snert]

The only downside of boost converters and inverters is efficiency . It all takes its toll on battery life . As you need 28v you dont really have an option

Boost converters can be very efficient. If this off the shelf unit proves not to be, I'll design one of my own, but for $15, I can't be bothered and with 2 6Ah Makita 18V to play beside a single girl and acoustic, I'm sure it's not going to be an issue. The 50BT has a compressor and some FX, the latter most likely not used, but who knows, it's still likely to be more efficient overall than a separate comp pedal of small board like a Zoom B1.

I'll test it by connecting it to the radio as source in my back office one day at a sensible level and see how long it is before it switches off, but I expect several hours.

 

[johnh89]

Good luck . Let me know how you get on . 6Ah batteries should be fine . I worked on max current draw and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was very pessimistic in my calculations .

 

[lomo]

I have been using a pricier solution (if labour is excluded from the equation). I have no electrical skills. I bought a Li battery with an AC outlet for $99 Canuckbucks and use it to power a Quilter Interbass pedal amp. I can use this with my PJB C2....lasts about 3 hours at loud volume.....or if I wanna bring the thunder, I use my Barefaced One10.....which is lighter (but bulkier) more sensitive and faaaar louder than the C2.

 

[lug]

Boost converters can be very efficient. If this off the shelf unit proves not to be, I'll design one of my own, but for $15, I can't be bothered and with 2 6Ah Makita 18V to play beside a single girl and acoustic,

I fail to see what the girl's marital status has to do with this.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

I fail to see what the girl's marital status has to do with this.

I read that as ONE, I play with just a single person and her acoustic guitar, not a full band. The rig should handle it.

 

[Snert]

I read that as ONE, I play with just a single person and her acoustic guitar, not a full band. The rig should handle it.

I'm glad someone understood*.

She's 35, I'm old enough to be her Dad, and I keep asking her to run away with me, but she says I can't keep up with her, but my wife can, and she'd soon catch up and slap the stupid out of me**.

* Sometimes a friend of hers is available and they sing and play guitar, so I play with 2 single women, together. Menage a guitrois.

** All of this is a running joke between the three of us.

 

[agedhorse]

I'm glad someone understood*.

She's 35, I'm old enough to be her Dad, and I keep asking her to run away with me, but she says I can't keep up with her, but my wife can, and she'd soon catch up and slap the stupid out of me**.

* Sometimes a friend of hers is available and they sing and play guitar, so I play with 2 single women, together. Menage a guitrois.

** All of this is a running joke between the three of us.

Same thing with most of my riding partners, I'm the only guy at a large facility and while I could have the "pick of the litter" (university town), I've had the same riding partners for close to 20 years now. A couple of them joined us out on the road doing the equine theatrical entertainment shows until I retired from that a few years back. Wife's cool with it, she friends with them too.

 

[lug]

I read that as ONE, I play with just a single person and her acoustic guitar, not a full band. The rig should handle it.

https://app.box.com/shared/static/564ycxgvp6.wav

 

[Snert]

Same thing with most of my riding partners, I'm the only guy at a large facility and while I could have the "pick of the litter" (university town), I've had the same riding partners for close to 20 years now. A couple of them joined us out on the road doing the equine theatrical entertainment shows until I retired from that a few years back. Wife's cool with it, she friends with them too.

She's a great girl, and I love her heaps. When I see her after even a few days I'm treated like I'm her best beau and that makes me feel young and a million $ for a little while. Wifey know I know where the boundaries are and trusts me, and loves her too.