[JeffB]

I want to buy an SLA battery for my Sonic Impact.
I need help understanding the battery codes.
An example of some of the codes at the battery mart site are the following:
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?c=sla-12volt

SLA-12V4D -- 12V-4AH
SLA-HC1217W -- 12V-17Watt  4.5 AH
SLA-HR-1221W-F2  12V-5AH

There are various codes here
HC, HR, D
F1, F2
AH

Some seem to have wattage numbers and others do not.

I don't know what Amp Hours represents(AH)?  Does this give me any idea of instantaneous amp draw or is it simply a measure of how long the battery will last?

Should I be looking for one of the batteries that lists wattage?  This would seem to indicate something about current draw over time.  I forget the definition of watt though.  I am thinking the more watts the better.  

I remember Vinnie R stating that the Tripath 2024 chip could only take 4 amps.  So do I want a 4AH battery or is that meaningless.  Seems like I would want to know the watts.

I think F1 and F2 are binding posts, but I am not sure and I don't know which would be preferred.

[Vinnie R.]

I want to buy an SLA battery for my Sonic Impact.
I need help understanding the battery codes.
An example of some of the codes at the battery mart site are the following:
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?c=sla-12volt

SLA-12V4D -- 12V-4AH
SLA-HC1217W -- 12V-17Watt 4.5 AH
SLA-HR-1221W-F2 12V-5AH

There are various codes here
HC, HR, D
F1, F2
AH

Some seem to have wattage numbers and others do not.

I don't know what Amp Hours represents(AH)? Does this give me any idea of instantaneous amp draw or is it simply a measure of how long the battery will last?

Should I be looking for one of the batteries that lists wattage? This would seem to indicate something about current draw over time. I forget the definition of watt though. I am thinking the more watts the better.

I remember Vinnie R stating that the Tripath 2024 chip could only take 4 amps. So do I want a 4AH battery or is that meaningless. Seems like I would want to know the watts.

I think F1 and F2 are binding posts, but I am not sure and I don't know which would be preferred...

Hi Jeff,

>>Does this give me any idea of instantaneous amp draw or is it simply a measure of how long the battery will last?

The Ah (amp-hour) is a measurement of how long the battery will last between charges.  The larger the Ah rating, the longer the battery will last between charges.  

>>I remember Vinnie R stating that the Tripath 2024 chip could only take 4 amps. So do I want a 4AH battery or is that meaningless. Seems like I would want to know the watts.

I believe I was stating that using a 1.3Ah SLA (as in the Clari-T-Amp) or 4Ah SLA does not make a difference in the sound quality because the TA2024 chip does not draw enough current to cause any significant voltage droop, and the Clari-T has 10x the power rail capaciatance of the SI (plenty of uF for fast transients!).  

I apologize if I added any confusion.  

Regards,

Vinnie

[TheChairGuy]

Jeff,

The 7aH SLA is the one I bought and have successfully paired with my Sonic Impact.  It works remarkably well.

http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=SLA-12V7-F1

F1 is the type of clip it uses on each + and - terminal....I use alligator clips to attach to my DC 12v wire leads, but  0.205" F-Disconnects fit it perfectly and cleanly if you want to go that route..  You can get these at Radio Shack and just squeeze down on to your 12v leads - no soldering needed..

I bought the 500 maH trickle charger they offer (and leads), but I think the 1aH may work as well without overcharging your SLA and will do it 2x as fast as the 500 maH one.

I emailed BatteryMart twice and they were very responsive in answering questions - btw.

I choose the 7aH because it was the most cost effective.  It was the biggest 'wump' of an battery for least amount of dough.  It'll last longer than the lesser aH models...and cost the same or less than a few offered.

It is a helluva' value for 6 lbs of 7 aH SLA...I still don't know how thay can offer it for so cheap.  No matter, it works...tho I doubt it will sound any better than the lower amp-hour types (just last longer).

Enjoy the cheap tweek   It's a doozy.

[bubba966]

You should try to get your SLA's manufactured by Yuasa. Sure, they're going to cost a bit more than a no name battery, but they do last longer as they're built a bit better.

[JeffB]

Do the bigger AH batteries allow you to go longer between recharges or do they just last longer over the long haul?  Would 6 hours between recharges still be the maximum for a 7AH battery.

[TheChairGuy]

Do the bigger AH batteries allow you to go longer between recharges or do they just last longer over the long haul?  Would 6 hours between recharges still be the maximum for a 7AH battery.

It's about 30 hours for me on it, at low-moderate volumes, before sonic degradation is heard (to my ears).  Each user will be different based on listening levels, room size, speaker efficiency.  But regardless, 6 hours seems to be tooo low a recharge figure even if you play at ear splitting levels.

Capacity means you will go longer between charges - it's not indicative of lifespan.  For $10.00, how much of a lifespan do you want from it?

Hey, enjoy  

[JeffB]

Vinnie R had recommend 6 hours before recharging on the 1.3AH on the Clari-T.  I was just trying to be clear on what exactly the 7AH would buy me.  Longer time between charges is good imho.  You're correct, total lifespan does not matter that much.

[corwin99]

Its pretty Linear... if 1.3Ah buys you 6 hours, 7Ah would buy you just over 5 times that amount.. 30 hours. Which is consistent with TheChairGuy's experience with the 7Ah battery. You can basically use that to decide what size of battery you would want.