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Batt-o-meter, had a good run

mikeswals

mikeswals

Supporting Member
Nov 18, 2002
18,671
20,193
Seattle / Tacoma
#1
Had a Batt-0-Meter for probably 11 years(?) now. Went to use it last week and every 9v would only read 1.7-1.9v, even new ones. AA/AAA's wouldn't even register, and no, a new battery installed didn't make a difference. No broken wires inside.
I guess that's a good run, but funny it worked fine the weekend before, then nada.
 
#5
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#6
Axtman said:
BTW, checking the voltage is only somewhat indicative of the battery life. The battery really needs to be tested under a load to be more accurate.

I had a battery that tested 9 volts on my multimeter but did not work in the onboard preamp. I used a cheap tester below (that has a load) and the battery tested 'Replace"

https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bend...-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
Click to expand...
After trying various methods for keeping up with battery life, I finally decided to just change the damn things every 4 months. And I can write it off.

And no, I'm not an evil eco-destroyer dumping 9V batteries with some life in them all over the globe. I have several gadgets that can take half-used 9V battery and go quite a while. And when that gadget uses up the battery and quits, I'm not standing in front of a few hundred audience members.

I've had one battery die prematurely on me and it was during the very last note of the last song of that service.
I ran into the team room, checked the bass over, then I pulled the batteries. WOW, one of them was very hot! I mean, tough to remove even! Well, that ain't right. And a little swollen at that.

I replaced both batteries and plugged in the bass for the 25-minutes left on the break. No overheating, bass worked fine. And has ever since.

I guess a bad battery that overheats isn't common, but not out of the question.
 
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#7
I have heard that professional sound people buy batteries by the gross. They then go around with a bucket and replace every battery in wireless/active equipment before every show. It is just not worth the chance of a wireless microphone dying mid show. I wonder what they do with the bucket of slightly used batteries?
 
#8
Axtman said:
I have heard that professional sound people buy batteries by the gross. They then go around with a bucket and replace every battery in wireless/active equipment before every show. It is just not worth the chance of a wireless microphone dying mid show. I wonder what they do with the bucket of slightly used batteries?
Click to expand...
Yes, in most events with wireless, a fresh goes in for soundcheck and the another fresh set goes in for the show/event.

Back in the days of Walkmans and similar small personal devices, the slightly used batteries would be handed out among the crew and cast/band members (some theater-think there) for their devices.

Nowadays, they are saved and given out to whomever would ask, but unfortunately, a lot of them go into the garbage.

I try to collect the unused slightly-used batteries after a while and send to a battery store for recycling.

For the last several years, I've had great luck with the Enveloop rechargeable AAs for my wireless and IEM rental use. There's two sets for everything. The first set is for soundcheck, the second set is for the event. This has worked great and saved me a bunch of money.

I've not seen very good luck with rechargeable 9volts.
 
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#9
Axtman said:
I have heard that professional sound people buy batteries by the gross. They then go around with a bucket and replace every battery in wireless/active equipment before every show. It is just not worth the chance of a wireless microphone dying mid show. I wonder what they do with the bucket of slightly used batteries?
Click to expand...
Years ago when I freelanced at BET, they gave them to the crew.
 
#10
Geri O said:
For the last several years, I've had great luck with the Enveloop rechargeable AAs for my wireless and IEM rental use. There's two sets for everything. The first set is for soundcheck, the second set is for the event. This has worked great and saved me a bunch of money.

I've not seen very good luck with rechargeable 9volts.
Click to expand...

I've had really good luck with AA Eneloop rechargeable batteries for my Wireless Instrument and IEM systems. A set of 4 AA's (2 in IEM pack and 2 in Instrument pack) last me the whole day... and maybe halfway through the week before they die on me. I do carry 4 sets or 4 AA's (16 total) with me... which is totally overkill... so I just cycle them in weekly. As for 9 volts for onboard preamp's, I've read that rechargeable 9 volt's aren't recommended, so I've never tried them.
 

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