Safely store battery in bass?

Axtman · #1 08-25-2010, 01:08 PM

How long can I expect to safely store a battery in a bass (with active electronics or pickups) before the battery leaks?

TolerancEJ · #2 08-25-2010, 01:12 PM

Chances are you're gonna change the battery before it gets to that stage. Unless you have a passive/active setup, you simply won't get any sound or you'll start to notice the volume slipping away. The battery will last longest if you remove the cord from the bass between each use.

If you're considering storage, I would recommend to remove the battery now so you won't forget about it later.

KeithAlanK · #3 08-25-2010, 10:34 PM

Batteries hardly ever leak anymore.
I've opened old drum machines and pedals and found batteries that were 10-15 years old that still had some voltage and showed no signs of swelling or leaking.

**TheMutt** · #4 08-25-2010, 10:38 PM

I own two Active/Passive Basses and have yet to have problems with batteries swell up or burst. However, I only use the passive switch when the battery dies as an emergency backup. I generally have to change batteries out once every 6-8 months of playing. If you are going to store your bass for a long period of time, It's a good idea to get rid of the battery in the bass, just in case.

darkstorm · #5 08-25-2010, 11:00 PM

Qaulity batterys like durecell and energizer shouldnt leak unless many yrs old beyond their expiration date. Cheap batteries like made in china ones and radio shack one can and do sometimes leak before their expiration and still in their unopened package. If your not going to be playing for 4 or more months, take the battery out of it. Even if a duracell or energizer. Better safe then sorry.

Ric5 · #6 08-25-2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axtman

How long can I expect to safely store a battery in a bass (with active electronics or pickups) before the battery leaks?

Change the battery every year or two ... or sooner if it goes dead.

Jeff K · #7 08-26-2010, 08:29 AM

I think he's talking about if you're not playing the bass at all. Putting it in it's case and letting it sit in the closet un-played. And I don't know the answer...

WalterBush · #8 08-26-2010, 09:14 AM

If you're having to ask the question, I'd say just remove the battery and rest easy. I mean, is the possibility of a battery leaking all over your active electronics worth the convenience of leaving a battery in place?

Yerf Dog · #9 08-26-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterBush

If you're having to ask the question, I'd say just remove the battery and rest easy. I mean, is the possibility of a battery leaking all over your active electronics worth the convenience of leaving a battery in place?

I agree. If you're using the word 'store', yank it.

I've had a couple of 9 volts that have 'expanded', but not leaked. But still, why take a chance.

amimbari · #10 08-26-2010, 09:59 AM

YMMV but I have never had a battery leak, swell, corrode in all my stored basses that sit on the shelf for years and never get played. If they did, it would do nothing to the preamp except put battery acid on the wood in the cavity and perhaps ruin the 9v connector, it would NEVER just spill out all over the preamp board...unless it catastrophically exploded. ( never saw that in any 9v device I ever had and I'm OLD and have been using 9v batterys for 40 years )

now AA+AAA is a different story, saw many of those leakers in plenty of old units that I forgot there was still batteries in them.

Krispy · #11 08-26-2010, 11:31 AM

Pull the battery. Best insurance you have.