Tekkeon Coonectivity

G

ggrantly

Veteran
I took the plunge and purchased a Tekkeon All-Power to power my DR-680. This is pretty decent power for a reasonable price. For under $125 you get a battery, with equivalent output to a NP1, complete with charger, usb port, and enough adapters to make you happy. I haven't done a full scale test on how long it will power the 680, and that would vary anyway depending on how many phantom miss etc, but suffice to say compared to running on AAA power, it is a huge improvement. My only real complaint is the output port is a mini-din or what we used to call a scsi plug. It isn't bad, but a 4pin xlr would have iced the cake.

Now the question:

I want to split the power output to include my 302 when using both in my bag. I could make or have a splitter cable built or buy a BDR box and all the cabling (ouch!) or some other to be determined option. I have scoured most of the stock cable options and come up dry on a great option, but it seems the best bet is to adapt to 4pin xlr since it a standard. Anyone have any great ideas to keep the cost down?

TIA
Grant
 
Thanks Keylight,

I had seen that previously and forgot about it. That guy is seriously challenged with things like soldering, polarity....and using a volt meter.

For lack of a better option, I'm going to cut and splice a OEM Tekeon cable with a 4 pin XLR female making a Y connector out of it. Cost using all new stuff, under $40. Someday I'll up my game with a BDR system. As often as I need high endurance with my audio bag, this is a pretty reasonable option and the Tekkeon can be used for other purposes as well.

Another source for thrifty Li-Ion batteries is through Paul C Buff, the strobe manufacturer. They manufacture a small, strobe capable full sine wave inverter called the Vagabond. They have loose replacement batteries for about $80 and the inverter with charger and battery is a steal at $280. If the battery plug connection could be done, this would be a nice alternative to NP1 which seem very overpriced to me.

I have always wondered why someone doesn't make a mounting cup for some of the common 12-14v drill motor batteries. Seems like a no brainer to me. Batteries and chargers are readily available. Some of the name brand drill batteries are obnoxiously expensive as well, but I recently purchased some Chinese knockoffs for my Makita gear from a highly rated LA based eBay vendor. Under $50 for an 18v Li-Ion battery. I can't tell the difference from OEM, seems well made, and I bet in some cases, could be made in the same factory. Just sayin' it seems like the whole battery market is a rip because of the extra distribution hands in the video supply chain. I'd bet that 99% of all the batteries made and marketed by video gear suppliers are already made in China, albeit by specified contract, but nevertheless, with some digging, quality and more thrifty options do exist. Sorry to ramble on, but I have so many freaking batteries it has become a bit of an obsession, just looking around my office, I have over 10 different Li-ion battery types (over 30 batteries total) to maintain and replace......OK, rant finished.

Grant
 
I hear ya Grant,
Just look at the cost of OEM replacement batteries for cell phones and such, about 1000% more than the generics, if one knows where to look for them.
 
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