Today I dreamed up the following. 20 x lithium NP1's wired as a 12 v
battery - it would still weigh not very much, but would provide 100 AHrs -
2
days worth of work. Surely someone could make this beast!!

Regards to all,

Simon B

Respect to Glen Trew!!

Glen,

you make stuff that I want to buy!!

I wanted a Z-Tap battery - I delayed - I missed the opportunity.

Glen, any chance of telling us what really happenned with z-tap?

the product appeared to be brilliant - twice the capacity, half the weight
etc...

I am aware that it was based on a trolling motor battery, for fishing
etc..
You did the 4 pin XLR conversion and it seemed to be a great thing. I was
just about to buy one when - oopphhss - no longer available, in fact,
don't
want anything to do with this battery????

I guess that the company that made that battery went out of business, but
please Glen, let us know.

Today I dreamed up the following. 20 x lithium NP1's wired as a 12 v
battery - it would still weigh not very much, but would provide 100 AHrs -
2
days worth of work. Surely someone could make this beast!!

Regards to all,

Simon B


"Glen Trew" <glen@nixtrewaudiothis.com> wrote in message
news:rrDac.56136$1A6.1253159@news20.bellglobal.com...
"Mack" <nfa917nospam@hotmail.com> wrote:

Kind of expensive @ $199.00 don't ya think. I mean does everything
that has to do w/ this business, have to be outrageously overpriced?

the pieces of this ar probably under $20. Factoring in research and
development, marketing, etc. I can't see it being any more than $100,
and that's a stretch.

IMO

Then I guess Mack won't be getting the additional hooks?

Seriously, I'm sure that many people find the price high. But
interestingly,
just as many are surprised that it's as low as it is. As those who make
things for sale know, it's very tough to make a profit, no matter how
you
price them.

But, just to shed some light on the Ground Adapter (boom stand), here
are
some details of what's involved, starting with the hook assembly:

The hook assembly is not an off-the-shelf part from Home Depot. It had
to
be
designed and built from the ground up specifically for mounting under
this
stand. It, alone, costs about $30 if 50 are ordered. (The prototypes
cost
even more, and have no resale value.) The hook is aluminum for light
weight,
and forged so that it doesn't bend under the weight of a 100' boom
cable.
It's pivot point was designed so that it flips up to become a handle.
The
hook's receptacle is custom punched out of stainless steel so that it
will
not rust. There is a steel role pin pressed into the hook to lock it in
place, and the stainless steel receptacle has two notches to allow quick
removal. The back side of the hook is drilled and tapped for mounting
the
rubber bumper to keep it from clanking against the support. A neoprene O
ring was sourced and added to the assembly to keep the hook from
accidentally working its way out. Tapping 4/40 threads into a bottomed
hole
in forged aluminum is tricky, and more than several bits have broken off
inide the hooks, trashing the bits and the hooks. Before quantity
production
runs were made, prototypes were ordered, tested, refined, and re-tested.

The nuts, bolts, washers and lock washers begin ordinary enough, bought
in
bulk, but are then taken across town to a company that does a heat-n-dip
oxide treatment. This gives the hardware a black appearance and reduces
rusting.

I won't go into much detail on the material used for the seat and base
(it's
top secret), but it will probably never be found at Home Depot. It is
trucked in from several states away. The material is not cheap, and
neither
is the transport, but it is ideal for the stand.

Even the center post is not a common material (it's not PVC). It was
chosen
because it is black all the way through, stronger, and lighter than PVC.
It's also about 5 times the cost of PVC. Relatively large quantities
have
to
be ordered, and then cut to length when it arrives, and stored until
sold.

Several hundred T-nuts were ordered for mounting the hardware to the
base,
then it was discovered that the T-nuts do not recess into the composite
material like they do in wood. So, several hundred threaded bushings
were
ordered. This makes sure that no metal is exposed on the base to scratch
floors. Anyone need several hundred 3/8" T-nuts?

The truth is that an obsessive amount of thought, effort, and money goes
into a specialty product like this, and the hope is to make a profit
(you
know, that paycheck we all work for). But the truth is, if it wasn't fun
to
do, $199 would not be worth the trouble, or the expense, which is why
you
don't see them at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack.

But it is fun seeing that once a boom operator uses one, they usually
don't
want to be without it, so we'll keep making them. It is also encouraging
that we are sold out again, and have quite a few back orders to fill.

Thanks to all for the comments,

Glen Trew

It has taken so long that
we have decided to take another approach and develope a powering system that
should be shown very soon.

Glen Trew


"Simon Bishop" <sb@simontakethisoutbishop.com> wrote in message
news:c4fn0j$n17$1@titan.btinternet.com...


Respect to Glen Trew!!

Glen,

you make stuff that I want to buy!!

I wanted a Z-Tap battery - I delayed - I missed the opportunity.

Glen, any chance of telling us what really happenned with z-tap?

the product appeared to be brilliant - twice the capacity, half the weight
etc...

I am aware that it was based on a trolling motor battery, for fishing


etc..


You did the 4 pin XLR conversion and it seemed to be a great thing. I was
just about to buy one when - oopphhss - no longer available, in fact,


don't


want anything to do with this battery????

I guess that the company that made that battery went out of business, but
please Glen, let us know.

Today I dreamed up the following. 20 x lithium NP1's wired as a 12 v
battery - it would still weigh not very much, but would provide 100 AHrs -


2


days worth of work. Surely someone could make this beast!!

Regards to all,

Simon B


"Glen Trew" <glen@nixtrewaudiothis.com> wrote in message
news:rrDac.56136$1A6.1253159@news20.bellglobal.com...


"Mack" <nfa917nospam@hotmail.com> wrote:



Kind of expensive @ $199.00 don't ya think. I mean does everything
that has to do w/ this business, have to be outrageously overpriced?

the pieces of this ar probably under $20. Factoring in research and
development, marketing, etc. I can't see it being any more than $100,
and that's a stretch.

IMO


Then I guess Mack won't be getting the additional hooks?

Seriously, I'm sure that many people find the price high. But


interestingly,


just as many are surprised that it's as low as it is. As those who make
things for sale know, it's very tough to make a profit, no matter how


you


price them.

But, just to shed some light on the Ground Adapter (boom stand), here


are


some details of what's involved, starting with the hook assembly:

The hook assembly is not an off-the-shelf part from Home Depot. It had


to


be


designed and built from the ground up specifically for mounting under


this


stand. It, alone, costs about $30 if 50 are ordered. (The prototypes


cost


even more, and have no resale value.) The hook is aluminum for light


weight,


and forged so that it doesn't bend under the weight of a 100' boom


cable.


It's pivot point was designed so that it flips up to become a handle.


The


hook's receptacle is custom punched out of stainless steel so that it


will


not rust. There is a steel role pin pressed into the hook to lock it in
place, and the stainless steel receptacle has two notches to allow quick
removal. The back side of the hook is drilled and tapped for mounting


the


rubber bumper to keep it from clanking against the support. A neoprene O
ring was sourced and added to the assembly to keep the hook from
accidentally working its way out. Tapping 4/40 threads into a bottomed


hole


in forged aluminum is tricky, and more than several bits have broken off
inide the hooks, trashing the bits and the hooks. Before quantity


production


runs were made, prototypes were ordered, tested, refined, and re-tested.

The nuts, bolts, washers and lock washers begin ordinary enough, bought


in


bulk, but are then taken across town to a company that does a heat-n-dip
oxide treatment. This gives the hardware a black appearance and reduces
rusting.

I won't go into much detail on the material used for the seat and base


(it's


top secret), but it will probably never be found at Home Depot. It is
trucked in from several states away. The material is not cheap, and


neither


is the transport, but it is ideal for the stand.

Even the center post is not a common material (it's not PVC). It was


chosen


because it is black all the way through, stronger, and lighter than PVC.
It's also about 5 times the cost of PVC. Relatively large quantities


have


to


be ordered, and then cut to length when it arrives, and stored until


sold.


Several hundred T-nuts were ordered for mounting the hardware to the


base,


then it was discovered that the T-nuts do not recess into the composite
material like they do in wood. So, several hundred threaded bushings


were


ordered. This makes sure that no metal is exposed on the base to scratch
floors. Anyone need several hundred 3/8" T-nuts?

The truth is that an obsessive amount of thought, effort, and money goes
into a specialty product like this, and the hope is to make a profit


(you


know, that paycheck we all work for). But the truth is, if it wasn't fun


to


do, $199 would not be worth the trouble, or the expense, which is why


you


don't see them at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack.

But it is fun seeing that once a boom operator uses one, they usually


don't


want to be without it, so we'll keep making them. It is also encouraging
that we are sold out again, and have quite a few back orders to fill.

Thanks to all for the comments,

Glen Trew

And just "WHO" is the "my" in "IMO?" Come on Mack...if you are going to be a
rude price policeman and hammer Glenn Trew who is a regular "member" of this
newsgroup and makes some of the most useful products out there for
production sound, please let us know who you are with your real name and a
little background. That way all of the people who try to make a reasonable
living from production sound products can be sure to give you a "great" deal
when you come knocking on their doors. Have you posted here before?


Charles Tomaras
Seattle, WA

First of all what is so bad about posting my opinion on a topic?
Secondly, giving my opinion does not make me a "rude price policeman",
and I didn't "hammer" Glen Trew, I was stating my opinion on a topic.

And if I'm a rude "price policeman", I suggest you are a " posting
police nazi", since all I offered was my opinion, it was neither rude
or otherwise nasty.

Oh and I didn't realize there was a "membership" involved in Usenet
Groups. Where do I take the test, and give my "dues" to.

I have been working in NYC for the past 12 years working in sound
production, in one capacity or another. I have enjoyed reading the
posts here, and have gotten great advice from it.

I've rec'd responces from Glen Trew, and regularly view his website
for product info, and information.

I've even enjoyed your posts Charles, that is until now.

If you all are so openminded about stuff, ie: sklills, equipment,
contacts, billing issues, etc. maybe be a little more receptive to
someones opinion. After all, there may be (God Forbid), others with
similar opinions who are now afraid to post their thoughts, lest their
whole internet history gets posted, and BIG BROTHER is watching!!!!


Wait wasn't Big Brother supposed to be an evil presence, something to
despised, rather than emulated?? I thought so. Then again, thats my
humble opinion, and if someone doesn't agree, I suppose I'll get
railed for that also.

I mean really, get a life.

I guess when you decided to come back for a 2nd time to annonymously berate
Glenn's price in that thread I felt it was a bit unfair and as we do have
"core family" or whatever you want to call it on this group I don't think I
was the only one who felt that way.

So I'm sorry, not for what I said, but for offending "the powers that
be", for being so bold as to challenge the status quo. Isn't that what
a lot of us stood up for in the 60's and 70's. Maybe I
thought,(erroneously), that since there are a lot of woking class guys
and gals here, especially union people, that maybe I shared a liberal
point of view with some.

I will cease to post here, and lurk at my own risk.

First of all what is so bad about posting my opinion on a topic?
Secondly, giving my opinion does not make me a "rude price policeman",
and I didn't "hammer" Glen Trew, I was stating my opinion on a topic.

And if I'm a rude "price policeman", I suggest you are a " posting
police nazi", since all I offered was my opinion, it was neither rude
or otherwise nasty.

There's nothing wrong with having an opinion. It's all how it was

Oh and I didn't realize there was a "membership" involved in Usenet
Groups. Where do I take the test, and give my "dues" to.

I have been working in NYC for the past 12 years working in sound
production, in one capacity or another. I have enjoyed reading the
posts here, and have gotten great advice from it.

I've rec'd responces from Glen Trew, and regularly view his website
for product info, and information.

I've even enjoyed your posts Charles, that is until now.

If you all are so openminded about stuff, ie: sklills, equipment,
contacts, billing issues, etc. maybe be a little more receptive to
someones opinion. After all, there may be (God Forbid), others with
similar opinions who are now afraid to post their thoughts, lest their
whole internet history gets posted, and BIG BROTHER is watching!!!!


Wait wasn't Big Brother supposed to be an evil presence, something to
despised, rather than emulated?? I thought so. Then again, thats my
humble opinion, and if someone doesn't agree, I suppose I'll get
railed for that also.

I mean really, get a life.