Listening off grid with batteries

I looked into this long ago - started a thread - way back though. Since most gear converts AC to DC internally, I always wished I could just use the DC from the batteries to directly power the gear - get rid of the sine wave altogether. I'm not sure if that is possible, as you'd have to seriously step up the DC to high voltage. Some gear (Redwine, Teres Turntable, Sutherland PhD, etc) is designed to run off DC directly. I would certainly pursue this. I wonder if some manufacturers might be willing to accomodate a "special" version that could be switchable b/t AC and DC input. One manufacturer who might be amenable, as he is interested in the technology, would be Ralph from Atmosphere. Maybe you could get one of his amps and preamps made for DC - and be quite happy with that. I think it's a good idea to have a dedicated set of batteries for your hifi, so "sag" from other parts of the system doesn't effect your sound - but I don't know enough about it. I do know that when I was looking, the choice of inverter seemed to be an important question. The inverter makes the sinusoidal waveform, and you want a pure sine wave form - and you want to know how well the inverter can handle short peaks in power demand.

What region of the world is your island in? I'm in the Pacific NW (USA).

Agree with Lak, Tom Lyon, use name TWL is off the grid and has a very refined audio setup.

Even the MOST efficient speaker is only just over 3% efficient.
Hair Split for the day::
Sensitivity is what you would be after, if you want to go that way.

The older Rowland amps had an option of battery power but they seem to come for sale rarely. Doubt I'd sell if I had one either. There was also N.E.W.

Going from battery through an inverter to AC , which may or may not be a true sine wave, then going through a component's power supply back to DC, seems like throwing a dog at a stick but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Minimum should be a good regulator for your situation, like a Sola (MCR series) or Stabiline, but they should be mounted away from any living space because of noise. Size to at least double the amp draw, which is even more critical for a ferroresonant (regulating) transformer.

Hi T bone
In order to get to my building site I need to cross the creek.
My creek runs trough a 36 steel pipe which we have tried to measure the flow.
Fills a 5 gallon bucket in less than .5 of a second. The water fall projects past the end of the pipe approximately 2' .
If I build a 14 ' penstock the fall would be close to 25 feet. Could install four micro power turbines that would get me 4-5 Kilowatt.

Peter s
Great idea of asking for a special DC version pre amp and amp.
My pre runs on batteries and so can the Verdier.
Will contact the company that is making my new amp to see if a switch foe ac/dc can be incorporated.
We are in the Pac West as well, just a little north from you, in BC, CANADA.
The island that we are on is in the Howe Sound, Gambier Island.

Ngjockey
Thanks for your insight.
The inverter and regulator will be located in the mechanical room along with a remote monitoring station. I have heard that they can be noisy and that they will generate some heat as well.
Xantrex is what seems to be popular up here. Will get this info to my sparky and will do as much research on this subject.

Have emailed Twl.

Thanks to all for the help,