How To Build A: DIY Portable Battery Powered PA System for Busking

Today Weezna shows how to build a DIY Portable Battery Powered PA System for a street performance/busking. Enjoy
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Materials List:
1. Car Battery - $50 new
2. Car Battery Charger - $30 new
3. Car Amplifier (120Watt) - $20 used
4. Battery powered mixer - $20 new
5. 12inch 2 way passive speaker - $70 used
6. Small Dolly cart - $8 new
7. short rca stereo cable - $4 new
8. rca to 3.5mm cable - $4 new
9. momentary contact switch - $3 new
10. 12v power switch - $5 new
11. dc voltage display/meter - $4 new
12. short speaker cable - $12 new
13. power cables - $6
14. 2 large alligator clips - $8 new
15. Wood, screws, and paint
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We Produce: HIP HOP - EDM - POP - ROCK Tracks
We Mix Tracks $30/hour & Master $30/track
*NEW* $60 Mix & Master Package (limited track count) - Check out the deal here: • Video
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TRUE SOUND STUDIOS:
Located in: Lancaster NY
Contact Email: [e-mail]
Facebook: / tssrecording
Instagram: / truesoundstudios
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Find Our Beats HERE: / truesoundstudios
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MIXING ($30/Hour) - If you’re looking for True Sound Studios to mix your next track or album, please email us at [e-mail]
Typical the amount of hours to mix 1 song:
Hip Hop: 2-4 hours
Full Band: 4-6 hours
Acoustic: 2-3 hours
Pop/EDM: 3-5 hours
(This is all based on track count, amount of processing needed, length of track, and amount of production required)
MASTERING ($30/Track) - If you’re looking for True Sound Studios to master your next track or album, please email us at [e-mail]
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BACKGROUND: Ryan Weezna - Producer, Mix Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Keyboardist, Drummer, Singer
• Shared the stage with acts including Rihanna, Plain White T's and Teddy Geiger
• Performed and toured on the East Coast
• Produced and recorded over 3400 tracks of mixed musical genres
• Created music and appeared on major TV networks including, MTV, VH1 and CMT and ABC Family
• Worked with industry leading producers such as Shep Goodman, Kenny Gioia, and Sam Conjerti Jr.

[@danilo352]

I like how this build is not all polished. It’s very real, like using a piece of shelving that was sitting there. It should’ve been deep cycle battery, but I love the idea. I specially like the voltage meter and the push button for it. Thanks!

[@jeh4138]

For a situation like this you should use a deep cycle battery. They are designed for going for through charging cycles where it gets fully charged then periods of use without charge then back to full charge again. Automotive batteries are designed for simultaneous use/charging cycles. Electric vehicle (scooters, bikes, golf carts, etc.) batteries are generally of this type. This will give you more reliable battery life.

[@TrueSoundTV]

Thanks for the info!

[@Smitty-op4ld]

Or small lithium batteries in series parallel combination circuits to get your 12V. Since large batteries go bad and are expensive to replace if the reconditioning fails.

[@NavehHalperin]

Jeez man that is intense! Don't know if I have it in me to put in that work, but I really appreciate the vid. Thanks!

[@TrueSoundTV]

Haha i know, it's not an easy build but it sounded great! Thanks for watching, much appreciated!

[@StickOnHair]

My Tono 50W stereo PA system has 5 inputs with wireless mic with reverb, bluetooth, foldback speaker with earpiece option etc. Handle pulls out when you drag it. Battery lasts 12 hours. Fits on the back of my motorbike. $50 brand new. Backing track lyrics appear on ipad that sits in the ipad /mic stand that telescope out of the speaker. My Jammy digital guitar clicks in half and sits in my backpack. 100% wireless.

[@partypatrol3900]

Many comments here suggest buying a proven portable product, and it's very good advice, most of these use "lithium ion" battery packs and there are specification reasons for this. Sustainable power = quality. D class amplifiers have come on a long way, however, a car battery is not designed for this solo longevity performance purpose, and will very likely make your equipment unstable. Keep surfing, there are many subject matter examples here on KZbin for comparison purposes.

[@Christianthemagician_]

Thanks for the upload, this is my next build!

[@TrueSoundTV]

Awesome! Good luck, let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for watching!

[@Mocasin99999]

What is less cumbersome and faster set up would be a car battery . One 400w inverter And a powered pa speaker with built in mixer .

[@charliebakken2074]

Was the car amp bridgeable? I noticed that you used just one channel of the stereo car amp. If bridged (combine both output channels into one channel), the amp would render more power to a single speaker busker setup.

[@no1reviewercommenter899]

Well done buddy! Just a small comment at 10:30. I will remove those metal side caps and drill, and then put them back on. Those metal fragments go inside and cause short circuiting!

[@Smitty-op4ld]

Great job, very intuitive!

[@traderpete007]

You’re gonna wreck that battery by deep cycling a battery that was not made for it. Really should have used a marine deep cycle battery that’s made for load, not starting like that one. Also would have been a ton easier to front end that marine battery with a simple 800w inverter and a small dj or mixing setup he already had would be fine

[@RA-el6zj]

Hi, good video, thanks! I have a question. If I use a battery like that to run a car amplifier, do I need to ground it to something metal, or just to the ground connection on the amplifier? And why do people use AC amplifiers with a power inverter? Wouldn't it be easier to just use a car amplifier connected directly to a battery, so you don't have to carry a power inverter?

[@Smitty-op4ld]

Believe it or not a larger guage power wire will increase the power to the amp. Crutchfield used to put a chart for the guage wire vs the amp size, I'm sure those charts are online somewhere.

[@RadicalRocks]

How would the volume & loudness compare to a 50 watt hand held megaphone, for out door speaking event near a busy intersection? Thank you

[@TH-pv5xn]

hi, i want to run 2 krk rokit 5's, my laptop and a dj controller off grid all at the same time for about 6 hours. can i do this with batteries and an inverter?

[@bentstrider]

I've been looking at getting a mixer like this just to give my bicycle trailer sound system a PA-upgrade. Especially on those group rides where I've got to call an "obstacle up" on a bike trail or on the road.

[@TrueSoundTV]

Oh very cool! Is there a video on your KZbin channel of your bike system? Thanks for watching

[@bentstrider]

I don't know why this reply didn't pop up. There's a few videos floating around, but none of them I recorded on my channel. If you check my IG under the same name(bentstrider83), I've got a few short vids where I'm riding with a crowd. I also wanted to ask: Will hooking up the 9V mixer to a 12V battery harm it in any way? I just don't want to be changing out a nine-volt battery all that often.

[@Cr0zzAlpha]

my problem.would be on the charging of the battery,i got a subwoofer amp module with its two mic inlet..it has a 12v and a 220v inout socet..so i was thingking if will the battery be charging conected through 12v input socket if the speaker amp is also connected to 220v ?

[@ericcastillo2577]

Pretty neat

[@88s10Durango]

Power wire to thin ... No Fuse in Battery circuit Turn Voltage meter right way up ... Deep cycle Battery is required , Car batteries are not meant to be run down ! They are constantly charged by the Alternator ...

[@SethSchoenfeld]

Could I make it power a bass, keys, and guitar? Maybe by chaining a couple of car batteries and a pair of 200w or 300w car amplifiers?

[@rickeydenler4272]

I got a four channel amp only 25 per Channel could I use this could these four channels be bridged together

[@MrJaybo87]

cool build, or you could get the BEHRINGER EUROPORT MPA40BT-PRO for $199.

[@TrueSoundTV]

Thank you!

[@NicksPerspective15]

Agreed. I went with 200watt for $299

[@michaelguear1633]

Instead of a car battery try a deep cycle battery for boats or RVs, they are better designed for this

[@RadicalRocks]

Do you think this is better than or more powerful and louder than a 50 W megaphone system the handheld type? Thank you

[@SecretEyeSpot]

If you decide to make a triangulated Speaker set up with sub woofer. What kind of cables would you need, and is there a way to keep the cost low? Also, any low cost high quality mixers you recommend with 8 channels and a FX send and return? Awesome video by the way, i hope this is a series!

[@EveryDayaCleanSlate]

Weezna, u r my Hero...Do you wear a Cape? I need ur advice, Doctor: I am going to drum/percussion busk to 1400 ‘drumless’ tracks. (Later, it will evolve into inviting folks off the street to: A. Added Drum Karaoke B. Added Vocal sing along (sm 58) C. Added Guitar Karaoke playovers/& jam. (2020?). My street rack is large and varied, but all instruments are small: 14” kick, 10” sn, 10” hi hats, LP practice congas, no shell, Cajon, etc. I will be all unplugged/acoustic of course. Playing w/hands 60%, small almost timbale sticks 40%. I would like encompass the volume spectrum of playing in quiet settings like school classrooms n coffee shops with a clean signal, no buzz...up to kicking pretty strong outdoors on a biker pub porch at a Busy Friday nite intersection...(hopefully I can plug in to the bar’s AC). Ok. I have just about everything except: A. Complete Off grid power B. Any more money. For A, I have: new 12 V Interstate car battery, gator clips, and a quality charger. This Summer, I would like to A. Run my drumless tracks from an iPhone thru a Behringer XENYX qx602 mp3 into One powered 15” JBL EON G2. B. Maybe after getting it to run smoothly for 8-12 hrs each day, shoot for adding a single Vox SM 58 thru the Behr mixer as well (it’s got some cheap reverb). Looks like I need a pure sine wave inverter. I have 200’ of extension cords (yuck). I have driven semis coast to coast w/no fridge, so A. Im a pretty good off grid camper n B. I AM, however, planning on future van living with a future quality quiet Honda generator. C. My busking set up has a 6’x8’ ROOF. I’m planning on Solar Power in 2020-21? But for next 3 months, I would really like to perform, sans generator or a football of extension cords. I can sell a Nice snowblower n lawnmower to raise funds for a sweet/strong/Clean/efficient Pure Sine wave inverter... providing enuff strong to power to kick Heart’s BARRACUDA with bigger sticks, stronger strokes, and a Cranking 300lbs Female Vocalist for 75 Bikers outdoors by Friday nite traffic. Please Doctor Weezna, “I just stopped in, to see what condition my Condition is in...? “ PLEASE AND THANK UUUUuuuuu !!! -Hatchet-Jack

[@ferdinandtoribio7800]

Master thanks for uploading this video. Yahoon no need to buy spensive amp.

[@TrueSoundTV]

Thanks for watching!

[@acroastro5032]

I was thinking to make this battery set up for yamaha 400tb anyone can help me with some suggestions? Pls

[@dogsauce19]

Is there any reason to use a car battery over lithium ion batteries these days?

[@jimbodowling]

great build! Is the amplifier basically a power inverter?

[@badtvmovement]

Ok I have a 7,000 watt turbo sound set up that I would like to install in mt truck any idea on how I can do that considering it has built in amps? please help. I want to perform on my small trailer and pop the back hatch open and power on and go without a loud ass generator

[@alphamusic3990]

At that price you could just buy an ion block rocker, basically a portable Bluetooth amp with wheels for around 200

[@pjaro77]

I would like to ask you on the battery powered mixer ? Can you place the type ?

[@jaggercontreras9270]

Cool yeah

[@TrueSoundTV]

Thank you!

[@djkingjames1359]

What your play time at full volume before battery dies

[@thatenglishguy101]

I don't need it for busking I need it for a rave would this be loud enough

[@stellarshores8565]

You can buy a 500watt portable speaker for less than 200 on amazon. Lounder than this setup and way less work.

[@Smitty-op4ld]

Which one doesn't have crappy sound. I'm terrified of buying a set up and it doesn't work out for whatever reason. Can't trust reviews, people get paid to give bad reviews and paid to give good ones.

[@MichaelAddlesee]

The lead acid battery is a bit of a hazard if it ever gets tipped over and acid spills out. A gel based, or sealed, lead acid battery would be safer.

[@airbake]

We are wanting to build our busking pack too. My idea was to use batteries from a cordless hand tool. These come in a variety of voltages and last for lon periods. All fitting in a carry on piece of luggage. Any thoughts on this possibility?

[@MrPaul8870]

golf buggy battery

[@ESLinsider]

Hi~ I want to make a cart so I can take my DJ turntable set up out on the street. That's 2 decks a mixer, speaker/amp and laptop. What's the difference between a car battery and deep cyle? I just heard a deep cycle is better. Or will last longer. How long does your set up last? Or power that?

[@MrPaul8870]

1 car batteries need a lot of power to start the engine in the engine is a alternator which recharges the battery a deep cycle battery also known as a leasure battery is better in the life of battery did you notice in video the only think is running from the car battery is the stereo and that the mixer runs of its own batteries there is a online converter to help with maths and a rough estimate on length of time but as a basic rule the amp hours on battery is divided by 12 watts example 100 hours battery will last 8.5 hrs another general rule people think this is ideal believe us on this go for the biggest battery on amp hours and divide this by 2 when buying Why you may ask you want value for money in the long run and also batteries do not like to be drained fully and you will get more charges over the lifetime of the battery if using lithium the optimised level is 50% these don't like full charges best scenario for these 20% to 80% and the battery will last 3 to 4 times longer so remember to keep eye on phone battery charging level or anything else you are charging up on to get the most out it's battery life

[@MrPaul8870]

do not run a laptop from this unit best to make sure battery is full before starting out and buy a powerbank a good one shouldn't cost more than 30 quid a belkin 20000mAh is ideal is what you can expect for the money spent and is ideal for lithium devices and remember not over 80% charge and it will lasts years if looked after 😊

[@ezekiel9788]

I have a 800 watt 4 channel amp. Can I use that?

[@stoneyrunva]

Nah. Just get a lithium solar battery like Jackery or Bluetti and a busking amp like a Roland or Bugera AC60 watt. Lighter(can fit on small wheeled luggage carrier), cheaper, thousands of recharges before battery reduction, and safer(no off gassing). Plenty loud.

[@richf6111]

Portable ? !

[@badcatlu]

What would you recommend for busking with my electric guitar and guitar amp. I tried battery powered amps. They are either not loud enough or to expensive. Was looking in to buying a power generator or the old battery and battery converter. The latter seems to be the cheapest route.

[@badcatlu]

Whoops correction not battery converter, but power inverter

[@lanphanh]

Why don't you disassemble them and put everything in the same box?

[@taliwaya89]

Nice!! Okay, help me out. I have amps. Really nice. Cheap too. I got a Roland Mobile AC, 2.5W x 2 which has a great sound. Of course, the volume can be a bit low if there is car traffic near, etc. But portability is awesome. I also got it's big brother, a Roland AC-33. Even better sound, very sweet. It's also battery powered, and a bit heavier and bulkier, but it's 10w x 2 (plugged into the AC it's 15w X 2). But surprisingly, although it's not actually much louder considering the much higher cost, wattage and weight. (Mobile AC was $129, and AC33 is $399). So here's where I can get your help... either 1) Can you help me get 10 more watts out of the AC 33 somehow, without having an AC socket? Or 2) Can I get a much louder but still super light system like these two? (I can carry these amps in my backpack, Mobile AC in any backpack and AC33 in a largish backpack). Thanks in advance!

[@FairDo1]

whats the song playing? its not PMX is it?

[@southamericanrocker]

Pushable frankenstein... not quite portable looking for something like the Roland 330

[@dannysweet7775]

Getting a buzzing sound of the speaker? Any ideas why?

[@TrueSoundTV]

It probably is a ground issue. Is there an option somewhere to lift the ground?

[@importryderify]

use lipo battery

[@natanyofsho]

Just get the jbl party box 310’s

[@coreymcniel3390]

I love use Avasva Solutions for that issue.

[@mattellings]

This is all so so wrong 😂 Yes it work but why are you relying on the fuse in the amp? Should have one in line, if it’s going to be permanent then why are you using alligator clips and not proper terminals? Also why are you using a standard car battery? Could of gotten a smaller sized deep cycle or something similar for a similar sort of price

[@delphinoaleon6436]

This is a seriously flawed system and an absolute joke you obviously never put this together and used it. One you don't understand batteries very well obviously. You have to use a deep cycle if you want to recharge it. Then you're going to haul a car battery around. Have fun with that there's these things called lithium ion I don't know if you've heard of them. But don't build anymore systems for anyone please.

[@kolekinc]

Too complicatedd

[@alphamusic3990]

At that price you could just buy an ion block rocker, basically a portable Bluetooth amp with wheels for around 200