Portable Power Stations for L1 Systems
Overview
These are preliminary tests using a Jackery Explorer Power Station 500 to run an L1 Model II with ToneMatch Mixer[1], two B1 bass modules, and Kemper Stage electric guitar processor.
Preliminary results - this should provide power for moderate-to-high volume for at least five hours for a L1 Model II. I expect you could get similar results with an L1 Compact. Note: The L1 Model II can cover at least four times the area of an L1 Compact.
Jackery Explorer Power Station 500 Specifications
- Lithium battery power: 518Wh/144,400mAh battery capacity,
- 500W Rated Power and 1000W Surge Power
- Pure Sine wave AC
- 13 pounds
- Time to recharge using AC adapter - 8 hours
System as Tested
- Model II with two B1 bass modules
- T8S ToneMatch Mixer
- Kemper Profiler Stage
- Approximate draw 12 watts)
- The Kemper Profiler with Remote draws approximately 17 watts was not used for this discussion
- Program material: Rock music with ToneMatch Preset set to DJ/Playback High Volume
- SPL measured at one meter, C-weighted
Results
| Equipment | SPL dBC |
Draw on display |
Net Watts |
Estimated Run Time Hours |
| Calculation 518 Watt-Hours x 85% / Draw in Watts = Run Time Hours | ||||
| Jackery 500 | 0 | 0 | ||
| AC Inverter engaged | 5 | 88.1 | ||
| Power Bar with Surge Arrest | 7 | 2 | 62.9 | |
| T1 with ToneMatch Power Supply | 17 | 10 | 25.9 | |
| T4S with ToneMatch Power Supply | 20 | 13 | 22.0 | |
| T8S with ToneMatch Power Supply | 25 | 18 | 17.6 | |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 idle | 40 | 33 | 11.0 | |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T1 idle | 49 | 42 | 9.0 | |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T1 | 80 | 52 | 45 | 8.5 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T1 | 90 | 57 | 50 | 7.7 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T1 | 100 | 72 | 65 | 6.1 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T1 | 110 | 193 | 186 | 2.3 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T4S idle | 51 | 44 | 8.6 | |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T4S | 80 | 54 | 47 | 8.2 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T4S | 90 | 61 | 54 | 7.2 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T4S | 100 | 75 | 68 | 5.9 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T4S | 110 | 200 | 193 | 2.2 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T8S idle | 56 | 49 | 7.9 | |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T8S | 80 | 59 | 52 | 7.5 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T8S | 90 | 66 | 59 | 6.7 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T8S | 100 | 80 | 73 | 5.5 |
| L1 Model II with 2 x B1 + T8S | 110 | 205 | 198 | 2.1 |
Run Time Calculation Examples
518 watt hours x 85% (for inverter efficiency) = 440 watt hours.
Example: L1 Model II + 2 B1 + T4S at 100 dB
- 440 watt hours / 75 watts = 5.9 hours
Add draw from Kemper Profiler Stage at 12 watts
- 440 watt hours / (75 + 12) watts = 5.0 hours
If using a T8S instead of T4S add 5 watts to draw
- 440 watt hours / (75 + 12 + 5) watts = 4.8 hours
L1 Compact[2] (60 watts at 100 dB) + T4S
- 440 watt hours / (60 + 20) watts = 5.5 hours
Remarks
Occasionally I perform outdoors in settings where an S1 Pro system doesn't provide adequate coverage. I wanted a solution to power an L1 Compact and a ToneMatch Mixer[1].
- Minimum Requirements
- Pure Sine Wave[3] inverter
- Minimum run time at moderate volume (85 dBC SPL) 5 hours
The smallest capacity unit I could find was the Jackery Explorer Power Station 500.
Here's my rationale that led me to test using the L1 Model II.
For most outdoor gigs:
- If one S1 Pro system will do the job - use one S1 Pro system
- If two S1 Pro systems are required to do the job, use an L1 Compact
Note: The L1 Compact power draw is similar to the L1 Model II for a given SPL- L1 Compact[4] (60 watts at 100 dB) + T4S
- 440 watt hours / (60 + 20) watts = 5.5 hours
- If two L1 Compacts are required to do the job, use an L1 Model II (or L1 Model 1S)