Rechargeable batteries what are best

bakeronbass · #1 04-03-2007, 03:43 PM

Anyone have an opinion on which brand of rechargeable batteries are the best? Bartolini 18v preamp just eats up the 9volts.

**ExaltBass** · #2 04-03-2007, 03:59 PM

Do you UNPLUG your bass when not in use? Most batteries will last 6-9 months in normal operation - I am using Ultralife - yielding about a year. Rechargeables usually SUCK - start with less voltage and go down from there.

Thangfish · #3 04-03-2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakeronbass

Anyone have an opinion on which brand of rechargeable batteries are the best? Bartolini 18v preamp just eats up the 9volts.

I would say that these http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/i...9e74f0e85e4c42
are the "best" but they are $15 each. You'll also have to buy the charger. These have almost as much capacity as alkaline cells.
The other rechargable 9v are either Ni-cd (not recommended)
or Nimh. Most NiMH "9v" batteries only put out 8.4 volts and may not work well with your preamp. The true 9.6v NIMH usually have a lesser capacity. ANY of the rechargable 9v batteries (except for the Lithium polymers) only have about half the capacity of a normal alkaline.

Maybe you could check the voltage of an almost dead, nominal battery (that still works ok) and see what voltage you require to run your pre and go from there.

Sorry, there really isn't a -great- solution. 4 of those lithiums and a charger are going to run you $100!

nad · #4 04-03-2007, 04:52 PM

Unless there is something wrong with your bass, or you don't unplug it overnight, batteries should last you a long time. I change mine once a year, maybe.

I had a Bartolini 18V preamp in an old Tobias once that went through batteries every 2 weeks. Why? Because the input jack was wired to always be on. A few solders later and they would last for many months.

Son of Magni · #5 04-03-2007, 05:01 PM

Remember rechargeables only last a fraction of the time that non-rechargeables do. If you want to be environmentally conscious you have to pay the price.

PilbaraBass · #6 04-03-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

Remember rechargeables only last a fraction of the time that non-rechargeables do. If you want to be environmentally conscious you have to pay the price.

I recharge normal Alkalines...(don't ask me how I do it, but I do)...

I can usually get 3 or 4 decent recharges from them with life very near the original life...

to me, THAT is being environmentally conscious

i_got_a_mohawk · #7 04-03-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

I recharge normal Alkalines...(don't ask me how I do it, but I do)...

I can usually get 3 or 4 decent recharges from them with life very near the original life...

to me, THAT is being environmentally conscious

I tried that once, and a couple actually popped and spat lovely corrosive stuff all over the inside of my CD player.

(i thought i still had the rechargables in when i tried to charge it)

bakeronbass · #8 04-03-2007, 07:25 PM

Yeah I unplug my bass. I've never had a battery last even six months. Do you play your bass?
I guess it may really depend on how much eq boost you run and volume you set your guitar at to get your tone.
I crank up the bass leave the mid flat and cut treble and tend to have my volume from 3/4 to full.
My bass is a modulus Q5 with Bart pre amp and soapbars. Its new to me and I hate to experience my guitar signal getting weak while playing. So I will change the batteries before a gig. Thats why I want good rechargeables.
Thanks for the info on the lithiums.

PilbaraBass · #9 04-03-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I tried that once, and a couple actually popped and spat lovely corrosive stuff all over the inside of my CD player.

(i thought i still had the rechargables in when i tried to charge it)

the trick is in the charger...

and no, any old charger will not do...

hint...try one of those chargers that charges "RAM" (rechargeable alkaline) batteries...this is VERY important, because you can only put so much current to an alkaline, and the "RAM" chargers are "gentler" (for lack of a better description)

hint..."learn" just how long it takes to charge a battery (regular voltage checks, the first couple of times)...and DON'T overcharge (a timer on the plug is handy here)

bassandbeyond · #10 04-08-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thangfish

I would say that these http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/i...9e74f0e85e4c42
are the "best" but they are $15 each. You'll also have to buy the charger. These have almost as much capacity as alkaline cells. Sorry, there really isn't a -great- solution. 4 of those lithiums and a charger are going to run you $100!

I've seen these lithium rechargeables online and been tempted, but since it is a new technology, I'm a bit wary. Has anyone actually tried these in their bass? The specs say that actual output is only 8.4v.

Even at the high price, it might be a good investment (and eco-friendly). I've got six active basses, most of which are 18v, so my battery consumption is ridiculous.

JKT · #11 04-08-2008, 11:17 AM

Back in the 90's I has this Nady wire-less rig that ate batteries like they were goin out of style. I got swet up with rechargebles but back then as now, they didn't last as long. I compensated by changing them outafter every set and in order to makesure I always had a hot battery ready, I mounted the charger in the back of the amp rack. I was rehearsing with the same rig so it was plugged in a lot. Before the set (or after) I just reached back and swapped out the battery.

JKT

CrashClint · #12 04-08-2008, 11:24 AM

I saw my friend hassle with the rechargeable batteries, they just never performed that great in his X2 Wireless they only seemed to last about 4 hours. When I bought my X2, I went to Batteries Plus and bought a box of 12 9v Duracell batteries for $1.49 each. I get about 8 hours of use out of each battery.

Batteries in my Roscoe bass last 3-6 months, depending on how much I play. If I have to set up early, I do not leave my bass plugged in but in between sets it stays plugged in and the same goes when I am practicing.

Back in the mid to late 80's I had a Kramer Spectre that ate batteries like there was no tomorrow. Two 3 hours gigs and they were dead.

bassandbeyond · #13 04-08-2008, 02:51 PM

Thanks for your input. I realize that most rechargeable 9v batteries are impractical, especially for wireless units, but I'm specifically interested in hearing about anyone's experience with the iPower lithium rechargeable 9 volts used in an active bass.....anybody tried this?

Downunderwonder · #14 10-27-2010, 01:40 AM

More life in this thread...I just charged a pair of NiMH which are supposed to be 8.4V and they are both reading over 9.4V on my voltmeter.

Maybe they are the 9.6V ones but I think seller would have got that right.

Will 9.4V do any harm to preamp?

ggunn · #15 10-27-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

More life in this thread...I just charged a pair of NiMH which are supposed to be 8.4V and they are both reading over 9.4V on my voltmeter.

Maybe they are the 9.6V ones but I think seller would have got that right.

Will 9.4V do any harm to preamp?

No, 9.4V won't hurt anything, but that battery probably doesn't put out 9.4V under load, anyway.

Downunderwonder · #16 10-27-2010, 09:54 AM

Bigger problem is that it doesn't fit! It's a little bigger every which way than a standard V, what a crock!

I mashed it up against the contacts on my wireless sender and it works fine so I might run with that anyway, thanks DuctTape! The voltage dropped down to 8.6V after a half hour of noodling.

After that I tried it in my bass and it just barely fits in the flip in/out cartridge thingumie. Too tight to mess with any way. Good thing that bass doesn't chew batteries.

It fits my EUB, which does chew batteries. Or I should say it doesn't like much less than a new battery, they go fine for months more in the other one after the EUB has given up. Have to see how that goes.