External Voltage Possibilities

[smuprof]

Hi All -  
 
I've built an external portable supply using 9v batteries to produce the +/- 18v needed for Series II electronics with side LEDs.
 
I'm working on another external supply using Li-Poly battery packs, but I'm going to wind up with +/- 14.5v.
 
I think I've read somewhere in the forum that the electronics will work with a wide range of voltages, but I obviously don't want to damage an expensive bass for a $60 experiment.
 
Can anyone share the facts with me for sure, and has anyone had any experience operating SII electronics at lower voltages?  And how will this affect the side LEDs?  I know the internal batteries will not power the LEDs (no choice there).
 
Many thanks in advance!
 
JFT

[mica]

Let me check with dad, but I think the Series I/II uses +/- 22V with the power supply.
 
The battery packs we've made for the Series I/II to operate LEDs and the output is usually 4 - 9V batteries. You can actually use the 2 on the bass, but the battery life is silly short.

[JimmyJ]

We'll get the official answer from Mica & Ron but I've been running +/- 15v supplies in several of my rigs and they seem to work fine.  I think the original DS5 was closer to +/- 18v (that's why the multiple 9v batteries work great).  
 
Because the preamp board can run on the TWO internal 9v batteries we know the range is from +/- 9v to at least +/- 18v.
 
So the preamp should be plenty happy with +/- 14.5 but I don't know what the LEDs require.  You could certainly try it without damage (after Mica's OK).
 
Jimmy J

[mica]

Dad days you can use less voltage, but he can't say if the LEDs will illuminate or not. It depends on the color, the blue/violet might, but the red/green/amber might not.  
 
He also said using less voltage won't hurt anything, providing that's the only variable from the expected circuit.

[mario_farufyno]

probably some loss on the headroom...

[gtrguy]

I assume we are talking about DC...

[smuprof]

Hi All -  
 
Thanks for the feedback.  Yes, definitely DC.  The small pack is 4 9v's, was looking for something even simpler with the li-poly package (obviously too much time on my hands).
 
I'll give it a shot and let you know about sound and LED illumination.
 
Thanks again!

[FC Bass]

Would something like this work? Link with charger: Link
 
This was posted on facebook:
 


 
 
The battery box has the Alembic logo on it, there?s another pick clearly showing it.  
Did Alembic offer these in the late 80?s/early 90?s?  (it also looks similar to Newsteds powerpack)
 
Mica should recognize the bass, it has been at the Mothership not so long ago. Also I?m pretty sure this one was at one of the meetings in the past years, not sure if the owner is registered here?
Though this looks like it could be one of the basses Newsted ordered, the owner told me he specced it out like this and has a similar taste like Newsted :-) (incl identical knob layout) (!)

[smuprof]

Hi Flip -
 
That's the direction I'm heading (the rechargeable external batteries).  (Didn't see a link for the pic showing the box with Alembic on it mentioned in your post).
 
I've got a nice Li-Ion battery pack set now with slightly different dimensions that I'm wiring up (19v + and -).
 
I'll post more when I get it done.
 
JFT

[smuprof]

Here's the link to the build on my custom external battery pack for the SII if you're interested.  Curiously Strong indeed.
 
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/167572.html?1378661938