Dodd Battery powered Preamps

rollo · « **on:** 30 Nov 2015, 05:03 pm »

All Dodd preamps use an external 12V 12A battery. Can one use a plug in power supply without modifying the Preamp ? Just two wires from Preamp to battery.
I'm getting tired of charging recharging and so on.

charles

usp1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 01:36 am »

Have you tried using a CTEK charger. It keeps your battery optimally charged at all times. When I bought my pre from Gary, he told me to leave the CTEK connected to the battery at all times. I don't notice any adverse effects on sound when I do this and I always have a charged battery.

TrungT · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 01:45 am »

Yes, you can use 12v external PSU.
Astron PSU work great.

MttBsh · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 02:55 am »

For several years now I have had a CTEK charger connected to my battery and my Dodd preamp. My only issue is that the batteries seem to need to be replaced every year or so as they slowly lose their ability to charge. Right now, the LEDs on the charger show a low charge after just a few hours use and I need to turn off my preamp.

It's funny, earlier today I was thinking, is it time to move away from the battery power? and then I saw this post.

The Dodd is by far the best preamp I have ever used in my system so I don't want to use anything else.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 03:23 am »

Rollo, your battery is just too small. A bigger amp hour battery will increase dynamics and drive. And sound better across the board.

If you go to a A/C based power supply you'll spend a lot more money doing it and it will be a backwards step in performance.

I have mine plugged into a 100 amp hour Power Sonic battery. It's six years old at least and it never drops below 12.5 volts running it constantly with the smallest C-Tek charger on it. And I have my DAC plugged into too.

srb · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 03:49 am »

Quote from: Danny Richie on 1 Dec 2015, 03:23 am

Rollo, your battery is just too small. A bigger amp hour battery will increase dynamics and drive. And sound better across the board.

That makes sense for a battery-powered amplifier, but for a battery-powered preamplifier, which in comparison has relatively low current requirements?

Steve

Danny Richie · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 03:56 am »

Quote from: srb on 1 Dec 2015, 03:49 am

That makes sense for a battery-powered amplifier, but for a battery-powered preamplifier, which in comparison has relatively low current requirements?

Steve

Yep, it makes a difference.

My highly modified Mac Mini has it's own 100 amp hour Power Sonic battery too. And the bigger battery makes even more of a difference on it. Not all batteries are the same either. Some brands aren't as good as others. And now that battery feeds a battery buss made by Dave Elledge. Then it's plugged into my Mac Mini. And that made an improvement as well.

MttBsh · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 04:36 am »

Danny, is this the battery you use for your Dodd preamp? http://www.atbatt.com/power-sonic-12v-100ah-sealed-lead-acid-battery-w-u-terminal.asp?gclid=CJWP5aLcuckCFdKDfgodYgML8g
If this bigger size will improve the dynamics and extend my battery life I'm getting one
Thanks

Danny Richie · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 04:42 am »

Quote from: MttBsh on 1 Dec 2015, 04:36 am

Danny, is this the battery you use for your Dodd preamp? http://www.atbatt.com/power-sonic-12v-100ah-sealed-lead-acid-battery-w-u-terminal.asp?gclid=CJWP5aLcuckCFdKDfgodYgML8g
If this bigger size will improve the dynamics and extend my battery life I'm getting one
Thanks

Yep, and that's a really good price on that thing too.

MttBsh · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 04:54 am »

Quote from: Danny Richie on 1 Dec 2015, 04:42 am

Yep, and that's a really good price on that thing too.

Thanks a lot Danny, one is on it's way!

Danny Richie · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 04:33 pm »

And if you don't ever discharge those things down below 12 volts they just about last forever with a C-Tek charger on them.

DaveC113 · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 04:37 pm »

IMO batteries aren't better than a good linear PS anyways. I'd put this kit up against a battery anyday:

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/lvregulatorkit.html

Danny Richie · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 04:42 pm »

Quote from: DaveC113 on 1 Dec 2015, 04:37 pm

IMO batteries aren't better than a good linear PS anyways. I'd put this kit up against a battery anyday:

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/lvregulatorkit.html

No thanks, I'll stick with a big power house battery. Even if the linear supply is pretty good, I'd still spend $3,000 or more on power conditioning and power cables to get it close to the battery.

DaveC113 · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:03 pm »

That hasn't been my experience, but whatever works for you....

ctviggen · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:08 pm »

Which C-Tek charger do you use? I have my Dodd preamp in storage, but was thinking of getting it out to get the batteries charged (unless they're already dead).

MarkR7 · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:24 pm »

Just a quick question for which I think I already know the answer....but want to verify...

I already have a 12v 22AH on my Dodd preamp already, but I want to increase the AH to get a higher capacity to add a DAC. I plan to get one more battery and I will connect it in parallel (not in series!) with my existing battery to maintain the 12v, but this should increase my capacity to close to the 45AH range (assuming the new battery is similar).

Thoughts??

Danny Richie · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:43 pm »

Quote from: MarkR7 on 1 Dec 2015, 05:24 pm

Just a quick question for which I think I already know the answer....but want to verify...

I already have a 12v 22AH on my Dodd preamp already, but I want to increase the AH to get a higher capacity to add a DAC. I plan to get one more battery and I will connect it in parallel (not in series!) with my existing battery to maintain the 12v, but this should increase my capacity to close to the 45AH range (assuming the new battery is similar).

Thoughts??

It will but it is hard to keep them charged the same. One can get a little off from the other, and then one never really gets topped off well.

Gary used to have four of the 5 amp hour batteries in the original battery pre-amp and had issues with them charging.

As soon as we went with the bigger batteries there was no going back.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:44 pm »

Quote from: DaveC113 on 1 Dec 2015, 05:03 pm

That hasn't been my experience, but whatever works for you....

This is particularly an issue when we'd go to a show. The A/C noise at the hotels was really bad.

The batteries were dead quiet every time.

rollo · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:55 pm »

Thanks for all the help guys much appreciated.

charles

rollo · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Dec 2015, 05:57 pm »

Quote from: Danny Richie on 1 Dec 2015, 05:44 pm

This is particularly an issue when we'd go to a show. The A/C noise at the hotels were really bad.

The batteries were dead quiet every time.

I will confirm that as we used batteries in our room as well. Where we did not the Uberbusses did their job. very very well.

charles