I found with the 744T, that if you have an internal battery fitted, the
machine will shut down safely when the external power is removed.
I made a hirose power lead that only charges when the machine is actually
on, otherwise the external battery will always be trying to top up the
Lithium Ion, even when the machine is not running..
Also (as I found to my cost) if you use daily folders, then the machine will
sit there patiently waiting for your input when it powers up, but won't
actually record anything !
Andy UK
_____
From:
On Behalf Of Rob Danielson
Sent: 08 April 2008 06:55
To:
Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Controlling a Sound Devices recorder
automatically
The coincidence of animal events clear of man-made and natural
interruptions is another key reason I bother with unattended, long
takes. A wind sensor/over-ride would also be useful. Much less
chance of getting primo stuff when the wind is up.
If you develop a timer, do let us know. How about 500GB external
FireWire drive and a solar panel? I've used the power-up feature. I
need to test the power-down option. That one scares me. Rob D.
= = =
At 10:22 PM +0000 4/7/08, ozrall wrote:
>Rob,
>
>Thanks for that tip.
>That would certainly do the trick for me.
>I'll try it tonight.
>
>My aim is to have some recorders situated in semiremote areas in the
>field automatically start and stop at the same times starting before
>dawn and periodically thereafter for shorter sampling periods and
>again prior to dusk.
>The critters I want to record are mobile and may not necessarily fly
>in to the area that I setup at, by recording at some selected key
>sites I am virtually guaranteed of recording something.
>
>At another site my subject circles the little lake/pond first - if
>there is anything it doesn't like, it continues on its way.
>
>My presence disturbs the normal bird/wildlife activity when I tramp
>in, so I would like to try it without my disturbances and see if it
>works any better.
>Plus the advantage of not having to get up at 4.30am to get setup on a
>working day is a more attractive option !
>
>With 16gb CF cards I can obtain many hours of unattended recording at
>prime times. By systematically recording at times known to be good for
>recording and then sampling at intervals for shorter periods of time,
>I can identify what else is going on there and thereby optimise my
>recording times.
>
>That is theory (yet to be proved) anyway !
>
>Your solution is possibly much better because of the battery life
>issues (although I already bought some big batteries to handle 24-48hr
>periods - its also easier to construct and code a micro that does this.
>
>Thanks
>
>Rally
>
>PS - If anyone has the PDF file I would like a copy if possible.
>I sent a message to Sound Devices so hopefully they can accommodate my
>request.
>
>>
>>
>> I'm not clear what folks' goals are, but for starting/stopping the
>> recorder at programmed times, there's a setting in the 722/744T menu
>> that will instruct the recorder to start recording every time you
>> supply power at the external power jack and to stop recording every
>> time you cease power at the external power jack. Seems like it might
>> only take something like a Programmable Thermostat Timer and a relay
>> rated at 2 amps or so. I've not tested it thoroughly, but the power
>> on/off approach could save on battery requirements too. Rob D.
> > --
> >
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