Angie Dickinson Mickle
The Studio
http://www.avocadoproductions.com/ze.../recording.htm
Chris' tribute site
http://www.micklesong.com
Not sure I'd bet on that leakage record. The power density and usable shelf life are also heavily in favor of alkaline chemistries.
"While an alkaline battery can last for as long as 7 years, zinc batteries can only last anywhere between 1 to 3 years before becoming unusable. The zinc casing is slowly being eaten away by the acidic electrolyte that is contained inside."
good article here: http://www.differencebetween.net/tec...-and-alkaline/
The best move is to shift to NiMH or Li-Ion which don't have the corrosive leakage issues of the Lead-Acid/Alkaline type chemistries.
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Philip G.
Judging from the discharge curves, and depending what your priorities are (saving money, saving the planet, top-notch sound etc), it could still be worth setting yourself up with a NiMH kit. Maybe they won't start out with the same sparkle as the alkaline, but there's a good chance they'll sound more consistent for longer periods (flatter discharge curve).
https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/nh22-175.pdf
https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/522.pdf
https://www.duracell.com/wp-content/...604_US_CT1.pdf
If the NiMH sound good enough for everyday practicing and general use, then for special occasions maybe try the 9v lithium batteries.
https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/l522-1119.pdf
I have experience running the AA's in Lectro transmitters and they are impressive.
https://data.energizer.com/pdfs/lith...l92_appman.pdf
New idea: phantom power over your guitar cord. Enough of this voltage and discharge curve tomfoolery.
Somebody—make it happen! Maybe you'll end up a millionaire in the process. But the best part is that John will have to find something new to get all curmudgeonly about. (Kidding, John. Love ya, buddy. )
Dave "it aint the heat, it's the humidity" Labrecque
Becket, Massachusetts
Angie Dickinson Mickle
The Studio
http://www.avocadoproductions.com/ze.../recording.htm
Chris' tribute site
http://www.micklesong.com
Angie Dickinson Mickle
The Studio
http://www.avocadoproductions.com/ze.../recording.htm
Chris' tribute site
http://www.micklesong.com
I wanted to provide an update to the rechargeable lithium ion 9 volt battery in a musical instrument question. As you will recall in our last episode, we left it that I would actually buy one of these beasts and actually try it out. Then, unbeknownst to everyone else, there was a long delay, as I dropped the proverbial ball and delayed ordering. At least part of the reason for that is that I discovered that a Sire bass, despite devoting a toggle switch to the choice of active vs. passive electronics, and having no document describing its function, apparently uses battery charge whenever it is plugged in - even when the toggle is set to passive electronics. So, I have been able to cause my batteries to last longer than a few days simply by not leaving it plugged in.
But, I have finally gotten back to it. My idea was that I needed two at a time for my bass. So, when they were exhausted, I would swap them out for two that were already pre-charged. So, I bought four of these:
https://www.amazon.com/EBL-USB-Rechargeable-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B086GTFGPP/ref=sr_1_9?crid=4JHLXMOI18GK&keywords=9+volt+recha rgeable+battery+ebl&qid=1641770493&sprefix=9+volt+ rechareable+b%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-9
Recall, that these are only 9v batteries in name. In reality, due to the vagueries of lithium ion chemistry, and bolstered by the fine print, they are actually only 8.4 volts. And there is a question as to whether 8.4 volts will sound the same as 9 volts does - with the details of the preamp circuit itself determining this. That was something only actually trying them out could verify.
This four-battery set comes with a USB-powered charging cable. On one side is the USB connector, on the other are 4 battery plug-ins suitable to connect to the EBL batteries themselves. Amazon provides a picture, if that isn't clear.
I have a couple of old wall-plug-to-USB phone chargers. I connected the charging cable, on one side, to the four batteries, and to the USB connection on the charging plug-in on the other - and plugged it in. In short order, the little viewing hole on the batteries began to emit a red light - signaling that charging had commenced. Later, I checked, and the little viewing hole on all four batteries had changed to blue - signaling that charging had completed.
Terrific. Charging accomplished.
Then, I removed the batteries from the charging cable and checked the voltage output of one of them using my ancient analog volt-ohm meter. 7.5 volts. Huh? Wait, am I reading the correct scale? Yes I was. The 9 volt battery, which was actually only an 8.4 volt battery, had finished charging and was putting out 7.5 volts. That can't be right, can it? Maybe my ancient VOM is out of adjustment? I got out a brand new 9v Duracell and tested it. It read just a shade over 9 volts. So - it's not the VOM.
Well... now what? Maybe they would charge better if I didn't charge all four at once? Seemed unlikely, but worth a try. So, I plugged two batteries back into the charging cable and again plugged it back into the wall. Again, they flashed the red charging light. A little later I checked and they were glowing blue again. Again - tested the result with my VOM. Again - 7.5 volts. Just to thwart Murphy, I reduced the charging batteries to one and tried it again. Still 7.5 volts on the other side.
As a result, I'm not very impressed with these batteries, y'all. I'm going to try two more tests, just to be sure. The first will be one in which I use a different wall-plug to USB connector. Presuming that gives the same result, I'll try running the charge in two of them down and then re-charging them again. There is some vague verbiage in the included battery 'instruction sheet' that indicates that the charge might last longer after a few cycles. Maybe, at that point, the batteries will actually make it to 8.4 volts.
Or... maybe not. I'll let you know.
That voltage (while disappointingly out of spec) may work ok. With conventional batteries, the voltage will droop on a curve according to load and duration of the load, so it is possible that in service, the lithium may be able to deliver continuous voltage that might give steady performance equal to so many minutes into conventional battery usage at a given load - and that may compare to relatively fresh batteries.
How do they sound? My concern would be that the regulation circuit may impose audible artifacts on the circuit or pickups.
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