Meon
You have an early morning call, outside, and it's dark... and the Electrics are still running cable... but you need to get started... No problem. With the MEON, you're on.
You're halfway through a long dialog scene... great performance... the director is loving it... Then someone trips over your AC power cord and pulls it out while recording. No problem. With the MEON, you're on.
The 1st AD calls for an unscheduled quick shot a hundred yards away. No AC power. No time for the genny. No problem. You roll your cart to the new set without having to power down. The quick shot turns into several hours. No problem. With the MEON, you're on.
How many Amps does your cart use? How many Amps does each item you are powering use? How much battery charge remains? Is your battery charging? With the MEON, you know.
Powering multiple pieces of equipment from a single uninterruptible DC supply was once a luxury but is now expected of the Sound Department for the demands of high-pressure film and television production. As the number of items needing power has grown, along with increased electrical current requirements, power supply systems that once could get you by are now inadequate.
The MEON is a self-contained power system that provides up to 18 Amps of 12 Volt DC and 27 Amp-hours of internal Nickel Metal Hydride battery backup to twelve standard 4-pin outlets. All in a single, silent, 2-rackspace module weighing less than 25 pounds.
When 120VAC-240VAC is present (120VAC only for those units purchased prior to June 2008, serial numbers prior to 0107), current is provided by a low-noise AC-DC power supply and the internal battery is connected to its charger. When AC power is unavailable or interrupted, the battery seamlessly takes over. When AC power is restored, the AC-DC power supply seamlessly takes over again and the battery resumes charging.
When plugged into AC power, the internal battery always has 5 Amps of charging current available, regardless of how much current is being used to power your equipment. Other power systems use a single AC-DC power supply for both your equipment and for charging the battery, leaving only the remaining current available to the battery. But with the MEON, when AC power is present, its internal battery is automatically connected to its own power supply for optimum charging at all times. When fully discharged, the Meon will fully recharge in about 7 hours - even while it is being used.
The MEON system has a microprocessor controller to monitor and manage the charging and discharging of the internal battery. AC power can be left on indefinitely because the controller will maintain the battery at maximum capacity without fear of over-charging. The controller also turns off the battery when the internal voltage drops below 10 volts, prolonging the life of the battery.
There are several advantages to the Nickel Metal Hydride battery chemistry used in the MEON. It is significantly smaller and lighter weight than a gel-cell lead acid battery of similar capacity. Also, Nickel Metal Hydride batteries can provide 100% of their rated capacity under high current loads that lead acid batteries cannot. This is why, when under a 15 Amp load, a typical 33A/hr lead acid battery will deplete in less than 1 hour but under the same conditions the smaller, lighter 27A/hr MEON battery will continue for 1.7 hours! A production sound cart typically draws about 5 or 6 Amps, so the MEON will usually provide four to five hours of battery power.
There are twelve 4-pin power outlets on the back of the MEON. Each outlet has auto-resetting breakers to protect against short-circuit and overload. To make the most of the 4-pin XLR connectors, the outlets are arranged in four groups of three outlets, as indicated on the back panel. Each group of three is limited to a total of 13 Amps. The first outlet in each group has a capacity of 13 Amps while the remaining two outlets in each group are limited to 6 Amps each.
This allows a typical sound cart (drawing less than 13 Amps) to be powered with a single XLR outlet if desired. For example, if power distribution to the devices on a cart is done remotely, such as with the Remote Audio Hot Box power distribution box, a single 13 Amp XLR on the MEON may be used to power the Hot Box which then distributes power to the entire cart. Or, each device being powered can be cabled directly to the MEON's outlets.
Does the MEON use fans? No. The MEON uses convection cooling so that it can be used on the set of a very quiet sound stage where cooling fans cannot be tolerated. To allow proper cooling when using AC power, it is best to mount the MEON with some free space under and over the chassis. One rack space (1-3/4") above and at least 1/2" free space beneath the MEON should be adequate.
Are the MEON outputs filtered? No. In the majority of occasions when induced noise is caused by multiple devices sharing a single power supply, simple filters would have no effect. The best way to solve these noise problems is with isolating DC-DC converters for the devices causing the noise. Having DC-DC converters on each of the twelve outputs would be needlessly bulky, heavy, and expensive. Therefore, it is recommended that when isolation is needed to solve power-loop noise, the Remote Audio "Juicer" isolation power cable (uses a 30W isolating DC-DC converter) be used between the MEON and the problem device.
To prevent accidental turning ON or turning OFF, the MEON has two ON buttons and two OFF buttons. To turn the MEON ON, press both ON buttons. To turn the MEON OFF, press both OFF buttons. Pressing any one of these buttons by itself will have no effect.
The MEON has a lot of capability in such a small package but once it's installed and connected to your equipment, all you have to do is turn it on.
You on? MEON!
Now shipping.
Specifications
- Weight: 25 pounds
- Dimensions: Face plate: 19" wide
- Chassis: 17-1/2" wide x 12" deep x 3-3/4" tall. Occupies 2 rack spaces.
- Warranty: 1 year
Words From The Field
"I've just completed a show with a newly installed 'Meon' to my cart. It has performed really well for me. Not having to add an additional lead acid battery to my cart has saved not only space, but weight as well. Drawing about 6.5 amps gives me about a 3 hour life on it's internal power supply before going down and so far, it also seems to run cooler than other power supplies that I've owned. After researching my options I found it to be a very good purchase for me."
Steve Aaron, CAS
"I've been using the Meon for 6 weeks, and have to say that for me it is the best powering configuration that I have used. The ability to take 120 or 240 volts was the big selling point for me and I also appreciate being able to see the current being drawn by my cart. I feel it is a great product and can certainly recommend it."
Peter Devlin
"I've had mine for over a year and I love it. My cart pulls about 4 amps and I can make it to lunch without plugging in."
Craig Parker
"Let me reiterate how much I have enjoyed having the MEON as my cart power supply; I have been very satisfied with the MEON's performance. The expense initially put me off, but after dragging around pelican-style lead acid batteries for years, I decided it might be worth the investment. Having used the MEON on two features since, I have found it to be both a great investment and a versatile cart power solution."
Thomas Beach, Production Sound Mixer
"For as long as I can remember, I have had power problems on the set. Virtually every 'system' out there was either dependent on the mains, caused noise due to power ground-loops or simply didn't have enough 'juice' to keep everything running. But for me, now, all that's history. Remote Audio has created the Meon power system and it has made my set life so much more anxiety free (wireless mics aside).
I’ve used the Meon now for several shows and it has proved to be a reliable, trouble free AND ground-loop free piece of ingenious equipment. With 12 outputs, it has many more than other supplies. With a capacity of 18Amps continuous, for my needs it has much more than ample power. Plus, with its internal 27A/hr NiMH battery, it can run my cart (which draws over 8 Amps) without external AC for over 3 hours. It switches instantly and silently from mains to battery, no matter what happens to the external power. Also, Electrical doesn't have to notify me or wait for me to shut down in order to repatch or shut down at the end of day. Because its innards are 'floating' relative to AC power, Sound can no longer be the cause of those nagging loops that plague video assist. It has dual volt and amp meters so I always know what's happening with my power use, and with its LED 'fuel' gauge, I always know where I'm at with internal charge.
As with all Remote Audio products, I paid retail price for my Meon and I’m happy with my investment. I'm so impressed with the Meon and with Remote Audio for giving us something we have needed for so long, that I wanted to help spread the word." - February 2008
John Pritchett, C.A.S.
"There Will be Blood" (BAFTA Nomination)
"Memoirs of a Geisha" (Oscar Nomination, CAS Nomination)
"Road to Perdition" (Oscar Nomination, CAS Award)
"A couple of more films, and this is still my feeling. VERY satisfied with the Meon. I would recommend it to everyone." - November 2008
John Pritchett, C.A.S.
"There Will be Blood" (BAFTA Nomination)
"Memoirs of a Geisha" (Oscar Nomination, CAS Nomination)
"Road to Perdition" (Oscar Nomination, CAS Award)
"I have been using the Meon on three movies so far this year and I love it. It has replaced the multi battery system I had been using and by plugging in whenever power is available, there is no need to remember to charge batteries at the end of the day or worry that the camera truck will be powered overnight for the next location. The Meon powers all my devices on the cart including wireless and monitors and has run flawlessly. On some of these films, I am talking about a torture test! We have run the Meon in rain, snow and heat. Underground in a moist atmosphere and my Meon even had a camera cart (DIT SIZE) break loose and smash into the front panel the second day I had it. There was some minor cosmetic damage, the button guards on the "on" power buttons, but much to my delight, the Meon runs great and is currently working on my latest film without a glitch. Just as you describe in your marketing information, the Meon does in fact make a run for a remote shot easy and a kicked out power cord has no effect on the electronics on my cart, no voltage drop or hits, just plug back in to charge when you can get to it. We just shot exteriors in the rain at a rock quarry in mud that coated almost everything, but a quick wipe off of the front panel and the Meon is just fine. Thanks for a great product."
Jim Emswiller, C.A.S.
"The Meon is the one box solution to my cart power needs. Solid power with distribution, no fans and no worries about the electric department."
Whit Norris, C.A.S.