Proceed CD Library

I have the Controller for it but no batteries and strange as it may seem, no one can help me figure out what batteries it needs. Without the batteries the unit will not operate. Any thoughts, beside junking this thing? I would love to have it up and operating for nostalgia mostly.

Perhaps buy a bunch of batteries and see what fits? I would imagine you can roughly estimate the size and type of battery by the compartment. What does this device do if I may ask?

The Controller allows you to access the CD’s to play or store them. Without it you can not do anything. There are no controls on the actual player itself. I think it might have been a custom or obscure battery, I tried using some common ones but they did not fit. I am hoping someone still owns one and can help me with this.

Someone must still own one of these and can help me out I hope.

@tonyaudio 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_sizes#/media/File:Batteries_comparison_4,5_D_C_AA_AAA_...

Do you know the voltage?

Maybe there’s someone still at Lyric HiFi that can help you or inquire within Lexicon for the answer. Didn’t the Lexicon line under Harmon International take over Madrigal when they closed the doors? The original owners of Proceed were the Lyric owners I believe. You probably will not have any luck contactIng Harmon or Lexicon but Lyric might or if they have a service department they might have the service manuals.

https://www.lyricusa.com/

212-439-1900

tonyaudio

Consult Pyramid Audio in Austin, Texas. This is an authorized service center for Madrigal/Proceed.  Hope this information is helpful.

Happy Listening!

The Harmon group told me that the only info they have about the batteries are as follows:
4.85V 1/2C Cell Array Battery

Does this make sense to anyone?

Pyramid Audio in Austin, Texas told me to call Battery Plus which tried but could not help also. Both places were very nice to me though.

I am hoping I am not the only one who owns one of these, surly someone else does and can help me out with this silly battery problem. Does someone know anyone who has one or have you seen an ad for a Proceed CD Library for sale that I could ask the owner? 
Many thanks!

4.85V 1/2C Cell Array Battery
Does this make sense to anyone?

@tonyaudio  

1/2C is the battery size (Dia.26x24mm L), 4 batteries in series = 4.8V (1.2Vx4). Without seeing the actual battery compartment, just a wide guess.
http://www.batteriesinaflash.com/special-application-111/assembly-cells/nicd/1-2c

Thanks. The 1/2 C size Diameter is correct, fits great but it needs a total length of between 4 3/4 and 5" as it has a collapsable spring screwing in the top. I think I would need your four batteries for 4inches plus some tin foil folded up (on the negative end) to make up the difference. Does anyone think this would work?

tonyaudio

I wonder if Madrigal/Proceed made this battery in-house? 
Additionally, it would be interesting to learn how many Proceed CD Library machines were built? Quite expensive in 1990's dollars at full retail.  

Happy Listening!

I am thinking you might be right about the battery pack being in-house. You would think that at $13000 1990 dollars someone would still have the unit and battery pack lying around somewhere. I can not be the only human on the planet with this player. At least I hope not.

Can you get a schematic for this unit? That might offer a useful clue.

I tried that and they were quite kind but could not provide the answer. I keep looking for someone to be selling one so as to ask what I could do. If anyone sees an add please let me know.
Again thanks to everyone trying to help!

I am just afraid if I do not find the answer a piece of audio history will fall by the wayside, let's not give up.
Thank you everyone!!

@tonyaudio
Can you provide some picture of the battery compartment?
What you need is a 4.8V battery pack connect or clip to the battery compartment + and - terminal to make it work or see if the Communicator (the controller) still in working condition.
If you got 4 of those 1/2C rechargeable NiCad battery on hand, add some conductive spacer to make it to correct length.

That sounds like it would work but what kind of a conductive spacer can I make or buy that you think would work best? I probably need about 3/4" in length to fill the gap, width is perfect. I am connecting them in series not in parallel so as you say that would give me 4.8 Volts.

My suggestion is cut a piece of 1" dia wood to 1/2"-5/8" length, drill and insert a 3/16" dia x 3/4" copper rod in the center.

Another option just for testing purposes would be a DC voltage power supply that is adjustable.
We use them at work, that way you could set to 4.85vdc and clip to the posts and see if it at least works.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F113712045556

Just an example, tons of options on ebay

Thanks!! But does he have a Proceed CD Library? It has a very specific controller.

tonyaudio

No- it is not a CD Library. Mike could possibly know more about your replacement battery. It is worth a phone call.

Happy Listening!

I did email him and he was great. He did play with one once but did not know about the batteries. Very nice of him to answer me though. I am still hoping that someone still has one tucked away somewhere and can help. Even if it is just the controller with some older batteries in it.

Tony, have you try those 1/2C rechargeable NiCad battery?

Four of those 1/2C batteries would be ok in width but only 4" in height and I need 4 3/4" maybe 5. Four would put the voltage at 4.8v for each side but five would put the voltage at 6v, too high I think. Also am wondering if 4.85v is for total of both sides of the controller battery departments or just for each side which I think it is? The controller needs battery packs one for each side. Check out the old Stereophile review, it is still online. Just google Proceed CD Library. Not sure and hard to get info on this. My best bet would be to find someone with one of these units somewhere and do it right. I cannot be the only one in the world with this unit, can I?

What year is your model? If I understand 2000+ correctly?

A local shop had one from the very first day. It never sold. I asked, begged, pleaded to let me buy it.

It finally sold for $400($10k in '91!)over a decade later. 

They made the Proceed CD Library from 1991-1995.  As for its value in todays market I just want it for a conversation piece and of course hoping it will still sound good. Wow, $400, to bad you did not snag it. Do you think that shop might know the batteries or perhaps their customer still owns it?

Shop moved twice and is now defunct. Was $12k new.

I was going to have it in my l barracks room(Air Force) which would've replaced the
 Pioneer PD-75(ended up with a PS Audio Lambda and Ultralink 2).

I do not know anyone who had one nor can I find anyone on the internet discussing this older piece. Still I have not given up yet. I am thinking of calling a Rowe repair shop as they made the CD changer part but not I think the Communicator with the batteries I need to find out about. Still, at this point worth a try. 

Have you tried contacting Madrigal(haven't read the entire thread, if you have)? 

 they have no info on something that old

tonyaudio

One more contact;
Mark Levinson via his current company info@danielhertz.com
Keep us posted on your progress.

Happy Listening!

Tried that also, no luck, but I have not yet given up will keep you updated.

Still working on this. I put in three C cell batteries which total the right volts but not the right amps (I think, as I dont know what amps it needs) as the warning on the controller says "batteries need recharging". They are new good batteries ( I tested) but the controller wont let me get into the setup. They stick out a bit as they are too tall but with some tin foil wrapped around and touching the sides and top, help together with tape, at lease the controller turned on and I now know that will work. Any suggestions?

tonyaudio

Thanks for the update.  Happy Listening!

the controller says "batteries need recharging"

Could be the resistance of the tin foil caused voltage drop.