From: romain@pyramid.com (Romain Kang)
Subject: Re: D100 - battery capacity - anyone?
Reply-To: romain@pyramid.com
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 06:37:13 -0700

CHRISTIAN AAMODT queries:
> I was just wondering if anyone has tested
> the battery capacity on the D100. How long
> will a set of two AA-batteries record?

> Also, how long will the supplied (?)
> rechargeables record...

I haven't tested it myself, but here's what the operating manual claims for
TCD-D100 playback time (in hours):

        Alkaline        NiMH
                      ("NH-D100")

        2.5             4       Playback

        1.5             3       Recording

        2.5             3.5     Recording with only MIC/LINE input attached
                                ("no plug connected to LINE OUT, REMOTE, or
                                the REMOTE DIGITAL I/O jacks and the display
                                backlight turned off")

There's also a note to the effect that the battery metering is calibrated
for a NiMH discharge curve -- the "low battery" indicator may not appear
depending on the type of battery used.  Empirically, it looks like the
front panel meter is nonlinear with alkalines -- in playback, it stayed
at 4 LCD segments for the better part of an hour and then quickly went
to 3, 2, then 1 segment (though I didn't know the age or condition of
the alkalines that I was using).

Romain Kang                                     Pyramid Technology Corp.
romain@pyramid.com                              San Jose, California, USA

Disclaimer: I represent myself alone, except where otherwise indicated.

============================

From: "Gary Davis" <gdavis@loop.com>
Subject: D100 Battery Life and other notes
Reply-to: gdavis@loop.com
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 1997 02:17:11 +0000

I've actually *measured* the D100 battery life with various battery 
types and measured the current in every mode.  Unfortunately, being 
the "genius" of dis-organization that I am, I lost the notes before I 
got around to posting them...

But from memory, here is the real story on D100 battery life.  

Max recording time /w Mike or Line Input, no light, no headphones.

Supplied Rechargable Batteries   3hrs 20 mins  (with new batteries)
Alkaline   2hrs 2 mins
Lithium (non-recharable)  over 7hrs

Though the D100 draws less power than the D8 (rated .8W instead of 
1.1W), batteries last less than half the time.  I'm guessing the 
cutoff voltage (as percentage of fresh battery voltage) is higher.

Since only 2 Lithiums are required, it's not that much more than 4 
Alkalines in the D8... and a hell of a lot lighter!

As to current draw, this deck draws more in record than PB, so the 
batteries would probably all last longer in PB than above numbers, 
even with headphone circuit.  The headphones added 40-60ma (can't 
remember) and the light was 17ma (I believe).  The mike/line position 
or use of the mike jack didn't seem to change the current.

The deck draws quite a bit in standby (170ma?) even with nothing on 
and no tape loaded -- you really have to put it to "sleep" to get the 
low stand-by current.


--Gary