OT battery packs for Mk1 & Mk2

Elektron Gear Octatrack
#1

Hi!
I’ve been searching around for an external battery that would work with the octatrack - through this forum I found out about the Tekkeon MP3450 but it’s not available anymore.
Found this though which appears to have identical specs -
http://www.powerstream.com/PST-MP3500-I.htm

Has anyone used this - or is there a cheaper option (Tekkeon MP3300?) that anyone can recommend?

Thanks!

1 Like
Octatrack MK2 Powerbank
#2

May be this ! Not tried but mentioned in another thread

http://www.ravpower.com/ravpower-23000mah-portable-charger-external-battery-charger.html

#3

Thanks for the reply - the price is great on that one but i’m not sure it’ll work with the Octatrack as it’s DC output is 9v and over - only the USB output does 5V.
I found another one that appears to be identical to the Tekkeon, but it’d be great to find one that’s been tested with an OT.

#4

Hey, instead of creating a new thread regarding this topic, I decided to reanimate this one.

Has anyone made real life experiences regarding a battery pack that works with powering the Octatrack (and therefore maybe other Elektron machines?)

I especially would like to to hear about products that are available on the European market.

Thanks in advance and best regards,
Bolandross

2 Likes
#5

adding a slim flat rechargeable battery pack to the elektron store that

  • switches 6v or 12v;
  • fits under the full width n breadth of any electron machine;
  • attaches via the rack screw holes;
  • is indented to accommodate the machines rubber feet;
  • with a short cable with combo plug to simultaneously power the machine and socket to accept charging via 6v or 12v wall wart and;
  • a USB charging socket; and,
  • remaining charge meter

… would be of great interest!

7 Likes
#6

I would second this!! Another option would be one attaches to the rack sides but resides in a front bumper (like the bumpers on the MPC 5000)
It could also angle the Octa…

#7

Front bumper is a good idea, or integrated into an angled stand.
However a backplate battery could function with the EIT stands :wink:

#8

I have a Ravpower 23000mah which works great for my RYTM and A4, but it doesn’t output 6v which is needed monomachine/octatrack. (Eventually I’ll own an octatrack) That Powerstream one mentioned by OP seems a tad overpriced (170$ vs the 90$ I spent on the ravpower)

So if anyone knows a portable batter bank similar to Ravpower 23000mah that works for Octatrack/Monomachine please let me know!

#9

Do you guys think this one might work ?

#10

Hey Tokin,
I see a problem at the available output voltages. As onoffon said, the Octatrack needs 6V to work, but the Poweradd Pilot Pro2 does not have such an output-option.

#11

Oh yeah, thanks

#12

If you need a battery pack you can take a simple power bank with 5v usb out put or a 12 v acid battery off a motorbike. they are all dc and building a converter is very easy. there even are step up and step down modules available that go for less than a euro.

#13

This sounds very interesting!

I have a question though, how do these converters behave when the voltage of the batteries starts to decrease? Are they flexible and just reduce what’s necessary?
For example:
9V -> 6V
8.5V -> 6V
7V -> 6V
…
6.5V -> 6V
5.5V -> 5.5V ?

I know it might not be that easy as I think, that’s why I am asking :slight_smile:
Also, it would be awesome to have an indicator that shows when the battery is low, so projects can be saved before shutdown.

Thanks in advance,
best regards,
Benjamin

#14

It depends on how much is decreasing and how much the instrument consumes. There are capacitors to buffer but I wouldn’t rely on it. Anyway I think a converted 12 V from a motorcycle battery can power a machine for quite a while. Not sure what the average consumption is but not that much I guess.
I can’t tell for sure but I doubt you will have a constant output when the capacity is dropping.
There are converters that can do this but they will need some kind of intelligent regulation and you won’t get this for a euro

#15

Have you got any example of these intelligent converters? The other ones you are referring to - are they something like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/To-6V-18W-Max-3A-Power-Supply-Waterproof-DC-DC-Converter-12V-Step-Down-/130981183428 Apart from that the rating does not seem good at all, would not mind to pay a few euros extra for something more “reliable”
Have anyone found a tekkeon alternative?

#16

I use this one every time i go on holiday:

http://www.millets.co.uk/equipment/124679-powertraveller-powergorilla-charger.html/723165/?istCompanyId=b238823a-59fd-4816-9c36-7dd47877f2a8&istItemId=raxrmlrtp&istBid=tzil&gclid=Cj0KEQjw9tW5BRDk29KDnqWu4fMBEiQAKj7sp4NvRNCfMcI_QckMZK7rNkc7jn3wJS5e0kommtBz0NYaAnNE8P8HAQ

#17

Squirts - the spec for that powerbank says it only does 5v, 8.4v, 9v etc … does it work with octatrack since it’s 6v 3amp input ?

#18

yup, the 8.4v works perfectly and I get about 5 hours playing time out of each charge.

#19

Thanks for the info.

I was hesitant to try a higher voltage IE: 8.4v or 9v going into the monomachine or octatrack.

1 Like
#20

That looks interesting and I’m tempted to pull the trigger, but how do I know that it won’t hurt the OT to be sending it 8.4 volts instead of 6? Have you had any issues with it getting hot, etc? Seems kinda sketchy