How can I save batteries? Or my sanity

[equill]

Regarding rechargable batteries: get low-self-discharge ones. Maha make them in 9v, as do a couple of other brands.
They put out full voltage, and do so right up to the last; apparently it's a side-effect of whatever makes them hold their charge for so long.

The old-style ones are the short-lived ones that people are thinking of here.

 

[noi5emaker]

Take a clothespin with the spring or a piece of tape and write "unplug bass" on it. Clip it to s place on your amp you have to move it to shut off the amp, thus reminding you to unplug the bass. After playing actives for so long I even unplug my passives. Hope this

Thank you for gracing me with a respectful answer. I've come to the conclusion that there probably is no practical, electrical option (reed switch, for example) but 'mind hacks' are probably best.
Just saying "learn to unplug" is not exactly helpful. Im amazed how people think they are contributing to the world with such comments.
Anyway, thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Notes-to-self will be liberally plastered on my gear, and nasty swinging objects hanging from all the door posts in my house!
Ok, maybe not the second one...

 

[brianrost]

as hard as I try, I keep forgetting to unplug the thing and I end up draining the battery

Unplugging on a gig during breaks...not necessary

Unplugging at home...well, we now know you do not have OCD

I have never, ever had an active bass die on a gig from a low battery. I always bring a spare 9V anyway. When I am regularly gigging an active bass, I replace the battery every 6 months (New Years Day and July 4th) without even checking the voltage.

PS: Ned Steinberger has just started selling EUBs with an active circuit that uses no battery at all

He has said he plans to offer that in his Radius bass guitars soon. It uses a slow drain capacitor, you plug it into a power supply for a few minutes and it has enough juice for 60 hours of play time. Hopefully, other mfrs will lok into this technology.

 

[noi5emaker]

Haha nice one Brian! Ned comes up with some great ideas.
Bass headstock, looper pedal, amp and studio doorpost are now adorned with reminder labels!

By the way, the reason I don't habitually unplug is because I use a looper with other guitars and routinely switch instruments, so things stay plugged in after I put them down and the remembering to unplug bit has to be part of the packing up habit rather than the putting down the instrument habit. My excuse anyway...

 

[Jonathan D]

LED thing got me thinking. Could I, I mean would nit be possible to wire an LED inline with the battery so when I unplug the light goes out? I would only then need a hole just big enough for the LED to poke out

You can wire the led in series with a resistor of around 500 ohms and connect neg to ground 9slleve

 

[RoadRanger]

No power drain to fear. A simple status led will consume less than 1 mA. Its impact on battery life is neglictible, a 9V battery could keep it lit for more than 10,000 hours.

Where do you get those 10+ ampere/hour 9V batteries ?

 

[Aloe]

I solved this problem with a wireless: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It has a light, so I remember to plug it out. And no clicks and pops while connecting the dongle to guitar (you don't have to mute before plugging or unplugging). (AFAIK this applies only to G10)

 

[Ric5]

I have an Ibanez SR505 with active pickups. Love it. But as hard as I try, I keep forgetting to unplug the thing and I end up draining the battery. It's not that big a deal, and I have resorted to exchanging two rechargeables to compensate for my stupidity.
But I was wondering if there is a way to have it turn off automatically, or install a light somewhere? Perhaps something like a knob with a light that reminds me to do the obvious thing that anyone else with an ounce of common sense could do anyway?
Am I the only twit who can't unplug a bass when he's finished playing, or has somebody devised something ingenious to aide memory and bypass the forgetfulness?

It probably has passive pickups with an active preamp ...

and all you have to do is .... ALWAYS UNPLUG THE BASS EVERY TIME YOU PUT IT DOWN!!!

 

[two fingers]

Off course the LED will cause a bit more battery drain.
It's figuring out if you save enough by turning off to be worth it.
Or if you forget to notice the lamp.

How 'bout a Mercury switch? Set it up so it is making contact when in playing position.
Put it on a stand (upright) or layed flat, however you store it and set the merc switch to turn off in that position.
That being said, I haven't shopped for a merc switch in decades. They may not make em anymore, cause, you know, Mercury... bad.

If you can find an old mechanical home thermostat, you might get one out if there.
Just don't break the glass.

These days, any number of tilt limit switches will work. Shop for them in the marine (water sports) world. They are used a lot on trim mechanisms for boat motors.

I actually love the mad scientist aspect of this.

The only potential problem I see is that if you get your McCartney on you might kill your signal. (Meaning if you tilt your bass up like he does sometimes your switch will open the circuit.)

 

[JGbassman]

Thank you for gracing me with a respectful answer. I've come to the conclusion that there probably is no practical, electrical option (reed switch, for example) but 'mind hacks' are probably best.
Just saying "learn to unplug" is not exactly helpful. Im amazed how people think they are contributing to the world with such comments.
Anyway, thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Notes-to-self will be liberally plastered on my gear, and nasty swinging objects hanging from all the door posts in my house!
Ok, maybe not the second one...

I've found its just a habit to train yourself to get into. You turn your amp off when done because its a habit. When you put your bass down it gets unplugged. Every time. Practice this habit enough and it will become as automatic as putting your seatbelt on before driving

 

[eddododo]

The real answer is that you have to make it a habit- an LED will eat your battery and adding a switch a) is still something to have to remember and b) will make a big POP if you're plugged into the amp/house

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

These days, any number of tilt limit switches will work. Shop for them in the marine (water sports) world. They are used a lot on trim mechanisms for boat motors.

I actually love the mad scientist aspect of this.

The only potential problem I see is that if you get your McCartney on you might kill your signal. (Meaning if you tilt your bass up like he does sometimes your switch will open the circuit.)
View attachment 2748061

Even madder science. A couple of tilt switches and the right wiring scheme could minimize the accidental Sur Jac Shutdown.

Or tie piece of string from your wrist to the plug.
Kind of in the same way you didn't lose your mittens because they were tied together by string going through your coat sleeves.

 

[eddododo]

Just find a reminder- if you won't feel like a dork, drape the chord over your shoulder or something that makes it awkward to put the bass down- it'll remind you and then after a couple weeks it will be a habit to unplug it

 

[punchdrunk]

Gut your electronics. Install passive pickups. Use the EQ on your amp. No more worries.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

The real answer is that you have to make it a habit- an LED will eat your battery and adding a switch a) is still something to have to remember and b) will make a big POP if you're plugged into the amp/house

Yeah. Hadn't thought about the switch pop. Though you could squelch that somewhat with a cap and resistor... maybe.

Well it sounds like this is getting way more complicated than just gettin' in the habit...

I've been working for many many years for a place that runs on a shoestring budget.
Making coming up with creative solutions with zero cost from leftover junk is right in my wheelhouse.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Where do you get those 10+ ampere/hour 9V batteries ?

I get them at the same shop you bought your math.

 

[equill]

These days, any number of tilt limit switches will work. Shop for them in the marine (water sports) world. They are used a lot on trim mechanisms for boat motors.

I actually love the mad scientist aspect of this.

The only potential problem I see is that if you get your McCartney on you might kill your signal. (Meaning if you tilt your bass up like he does sometimes your switch will open the circuit.)

Problem, opportunity... this has the potential to be a rad kill-switch.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Use operant conditioning.

Have an assistant give you a treat and say " good boy" every time you unplug your guitar.

If you fail to unplug, the assistant scolds you in a stern voice.

After a while you become conditioned to automatically unplug your guitar.

(You could also use this method to learn not to bark incessantly when the mail carrier delivers the mail).

 

[equill]

Use operant conditioning.

Have an assistant give you a treat and say " good boy" every time you unplug your guitar.

If you fail to unplug, the assistant scolds you in a stern voice.

After a while you become conditioned to automatically unplug your guitar.

(You could also use this method to learn not to bark incessantly when the mail carrier delivers the mail).

Noting for completeness: have the assistant only apply the positive reinforcement intermittently, because it's been shown to be more effective in the long-term than consistent reinforcement.

Or just get the assistant to unplug it for you. They'll soon get fed up enough to find ways to make you remember to do it yourself

 

[two fingers]

Use operant conditioning.

Have an assistant give you a treat and say " good boy" every time you unplug your guitar.

If you fail to unplug, the assistant scolds you in a stern voice.

After a while you become conditioned to automatically unplug your guitar.

(You could also use this method to learn not to bark incessantly when the mail carrier delivers the mail).

Tell me more about this "assistant". Is that a thing???? I want one!!!!!