What brands of batteries are best for instruments and mics?

Riaan-Combrink

Hi guys.

Some practical advice, please. Are there particulars (RSA) brands of 9v batteries that are more suited to audio equipment than others? I'm referring specifically to cordless microphones and guitars (acoustic-electric or piezo).

I did a function last week for which I borrowed a spiffy Shure wirless microphone system for the MC to use. Did a soundcheck, made sure the MC knew to switch it off when not in use, leave mic on stand between awards, etc, etc. Between sound checks, etc must have only been active for two or three minutes.

When the function started, and all guests and the CEO were seated, MC steps up to welcome all and ... silence! I thought he'd forgot to switch it on. Ran up to podium and saw that low battery light flashing red on the Shure. Swopped it out with another battery and all fine - but embarassing as hell :-[.

I particularly wanted to use a new battery, and bought one of these Eveready Powerplus Gold jobbies:

I should have realised that a R24,99 battery is not as great as the Duracell retailling at R 49,99, but who would have thought that any battery would run down so dramatically?

I'd also been hearing some fuzzy intermittent type noises on my piezo system, and the last thing I did was to check the battery! New battery in, everythings great. But I'm scared of problems by not having the most reliable battery brand in.

So in the collective GFSA experience, what do you swear by? Is it only Duracell, or are there other worthy contenders?

PeteM

I'm not fussed with the make... but only use alkaline batteries when not using rechargeables.

arjunmenon

Trust Eric Johnson...Go Duracell ?

aubs1

I have been let down by Duracells (fortunately not during critical jobs). Now the only batteries I will EVER use, are Energizer. I think they are better than Duries......

Warren

The absolute BEST batteries (non rechargeable) are Energizers Lithium-Ion batteries (the blue ones) but they are by FAR the most expensive. They last much longer than anything else I've used.

For Alkaline, I also like Duracell.

AlanRatcliffe

Wireless gear in particular chew batteries at an amazing rate. Normal zinc-carbon batteries are not an option really - you'll get less than a half hour out of them, while you should get approximately two hours out of an alkaline (depending on wireless). I find a slightly longer duration from Energizers over the Duracells, but as long as it's alkaline you're OK. The non-rechargeable lithium batteries are even better than alkalines, with a mAh capacity double of the alkalines, but are expensive and toxic (creating disposal problems).

Alkaline rechargeables aren't really an option as they do not give you a full 9V, so drain even quicker and with the memory effect/duty cycle limitations, they quickly get to the point where they are unusable for mics. NiMh are far better with no memory, but are usually only 7.2v, which some transmitters don't work on and others will drain quickly. So most pros have stuck with the expense of alkalines until now.

The new lithium polymer batteries are a great option for wireless (but not available locally AFAIK) - full voltage, no memory, mAh comparable and a much longer duty cycle. The only downsides at the moment are they self discharge rather quickly (not a problem when you're recharging every day or before every performance) and they require a special charger. They reportedly last two years (whether used or not). The iPower batteries from battery Junction get lots of kudos from wireless mic users: http://www.batteryjunction.com/9v-lithium.html

@ Warren the Energizers are Lithium, not Lithium Ion, which is a type of rechargeable.

Warren

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
@ Warren the Energizers are Lithium, not Lithium Ion, which is a type of rechargeable.

+1 yes, Lithium sorry ? Good batteries though!

Riaan-Combrink

Thanks for all the valuable advice guys. I had never before really thought about battery types, etc. Now I at least know the basics. Had no clue as to alkaline vs rest. The battery I used was just a zinc-carbon, hence the disaster.

I'm thinking long-term of going to a wireless system for both vox and guitar, so one would probably have to look at the one time expense of good quality 9v rechargables and a charger. Looks like about $25 and $50 respectively from Alan's link.

ZarK

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Wireless gear in particular chew batteries at an amazing rate. Normal zinc-carbon batteries are not an option really - you'll get less than a half hour out of them, while you should get approximately two hours out of an alkaline (depending on wireless). I find a slightly longer duration from Energizers over the Duracells, but as long as it's alkaline you're OK. The non-rechargeable lithium batteries are even better than alkalines, with a mAh capacity double of the alkalines, but are expensive and toxic (creating disposal problems).

Alkaline rechargeables aren't really an option as they do not give you a full 9V, so drain even quicker and with the memory effect/duty cycle limitations, they quickly get to the point where they are unusable for mics. NiMh are far better with no memory, but are usually only 7.2v, which some transmitters don't work on and others will drain quickly. So most pros have stuck with the expense of alkalines until now.

The new lithium polymer batteries are a great option for wireless (but not available locally AFAIK) - full voltage, no memory, mAh comparable and a much longer duty cycle. The only downsides at the moment are they self discharge rather quickly (not a problem when you're recharging every day or before every performance) and they require a special charger. They reportedly last two years (whether used or not). The iPower batteries from battery Junction get lots of kudos from wireless mic users: http://www.batteryjunction.com/9v-lithium.html

@ Warren the Energizers are Lithium, not Lithium Ion, which is a type of rechargeable.

Agreed -just to add:

From the popular re-chargeable battery types only Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) batteries have the memory effect -if you don't know how to- or care how you charge and cycle them. Nickel-metal-hydride batteries don't have the "memory" effect but cannot handle the same current draw as NiCd's. Lithium Polymer batteries (Li-Po's) are great but have the nasty habit of exploding if not charged at the correct rate and without charger thats LiPo-friendly. They're inherently very fragile in their design and don't stand up to man-handling with their cells rupturing quite easily. They're great for high current drain applications but need a lot of TLC when handling and cycling to keep them working optimally... Lithium-Ion batts are the easiest to live with for most applications but cannot handle the same current draw as Li-Po's.

Skywalker

Best AA batteries for a Line Relay G30 wireless? :-\

Using the batteries that came with it for now but will most surely need replacements soon.

AlanRatcliffe

Skywalker wrote: Best AA batteries for a Line Relay G30 wireless? :-\

Using the batteries that came with it for now but will most surely need replacements soon.

The Line 6's are nowhere near as power hungry as all the other wireless stuff (8 hours on a pair of alkaline AAs), but all the same things apply when it comes to batteries.

Another thing I forgot to mention earlier - another good reason not to use Zinc carbon batteries in any valuable piece of gear - if they leak (which does happen on occasion), the acid eats away the battery contacts and circuitry. With alkaline batteries, not only do they not often leak, but the alkaline crystallises and becomes inert on contact with air and it does no damage.

ZarK wrote: Lithium Polymer batteries <snip> They're inherently very fragile in their design and don't stand up to man-handling with their cells rupturing quite easily.

That depends on the design. The cells themselves are fragile but that's not an issue with a decent design that incorporates a protective shell (like the 9V batteries I linked).

Skywalker

Thanks Alan ?

Interesting topic this. I'll be sure to get the right batteries for the job now.

Rock n Roll 8)

dee

Talking about rechargeable's, I assume a higher mAh will always be better right?

AlanRatcliffe

With the same battery type, yes. There are other factors that can make a battery more suitable for a specific application though (the common example is using carbon-zinc in a flashlight rather than an alkaline).

Many modern batteries are designed for a specific application (like the designed-for-wireless 9V Lithium-polymer batteries I posted yesterday or cell phone batteries).

RobK

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: With the same battery type, yes. There are other factors that can make a battery more suitable for a specific application though (the common example is using carbon-zinc in a flashlight rather than an alkaline).

Many modern batteries are designed for a specific application (like the designed-for-wireless 9V Lithium-polymer batteries I posted yesterday or cell phone batteries).

If those are LiPo batteries, then they won't be 9v, but at most 8.4v (fully charged) if it's a 2-cell LiPo, which I suspect it is. It's just in a 9v type casing.

Edit: Just checked the specs on one of the batteries and they are 2 cell lipo. Working voltage is stated as being from 8.4v to 6.5v. 8.4v would be a 2 cell lipo fully charged(4.2v per cell) and 6.5 would be a 3.25v per cell cutoff voltage. Pretty much standard specs for making sure your LiPo doesn't fail or cause your garage to burn down ?

AlanRatcliffe

RobK wrote: If those are LiPo batteries, then they won't be 9v, but at most 8.4v (fully charged) if it's a 2-cell LiPo, which I suspect it is. It's just in a 9v type casing.

Correct! With a cut-off voltage of 6.4v. Better than the common 7.2v of most NiMH batteries (which is right at the low voltage cutoff of many wireless systems so the moment the voltage starts dropping, the wireless dies). The nice thing about LiPo is they give a steady 8.4v for the entire discharge cycle, only dropping off right at the end.

BTW, for anyone interested in the more technical side of batteries, I found this great site: http://batteryuniversity.com/