Author Topic: Batteries in my Europa (Read 190 times)

jazzyvee · « **on:** August 03, 2010, 12:06:23 AM »

I opened up the back of my recently acquired Europa/signature bass yesterday and found there were 4 x 9v batteries in the cavity to power the LED's and one battery in the control cavity to power the bass.

I expect to use the LED's little in comparrisson to the time I use the bass so I wonder if there is any way of utilising some or all of this power pack for the bass and using less batteries for the LED's.

As an example I have another bass with fretfx LED's installed on the side of the fretboard and they still have the AAA original batteries in them since 2006 so there is not much current drain on the battery. I know the alembic ones are different but how much power do they need.

Would there be any benefit to me utilising this?

Jazzyvee

terryc · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2010, 05:53:48 AM »

I have always wondered why the LED's needed 36V when the SIMS LED's in my MK use the 9V that also powers the pre amp.
If they are wired in series then looking at an example of a hyper bright LED from Maplins(UK) with a forward voltage of 2.5V x 11 = 27.5V so there must be a resistor in the circuit to bring it down from 36V. I they are wired in parallel then they would only need 4.4V but I guess they are not.
You would have to split the power using another battery clip as 36V would fry the op amp chips.
I guess you could use the whole 4 batteries but would have to calculate the ohm value to place a resistor to protect the pre amp.
Unless one of the other club members has a better idea.

sonicus · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2010, 06:26:42 AM »

4 x 9 volts in parallel will result in 9 volts
4 x9 volts in series will result in 36 volts

This link explains it better then I do http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/battery5.htm

However it makes sense that the Alembic configuration is wired as it is with what I believe are discreet power sources for the LED and Audio circuit for battery power.

terryc · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2010, 12:40:12 AM »

Sonicus..I was calculating the voltage for the LED's.
Forward voltage in parallel would be 1/2.5 x 11 = 4.4.
Series would be 2.5 x 11 = 27.5
Have I got this wrong??

sonicus · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2010, 05:06:00 AM »

You seem to be calculating as load voltages of the LED devices .
I have not seen a schematic wiring diagram of the Alembic instrument in question to know how this battery wiring issue is addressed.

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2010, 06:24:45 AM »

I remember when I visited the factory in 2000 Kris was installing LED's on a fretboard and they were in series.

terryc · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2010, 06:31:21 AM »

This link explains it all
http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/led.htm

Apparently don't connect in parallel!!!

sonicus · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2010, 11:23:54 AM »

Yes , series circuit , I remember another conversation regarding LED's from another blog site. Terry, that is a good link .

rjmsteel · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2010, 08:42:28 PM »

Thanks Terry, Great link.. that certainly explains the four batteries required for the series circuit, (LED).

Ordered my bass, (in construction), with only the 5 pin supply so as not to require all those batteries.

terryc · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2010, 07:15:09 AM »

SO I wonder how the 9 LED's in my MK are wired up by SIMS as they only use the battery that powers the electronics?? and there is a resistor on the switch