Rechargeable 9v batteries

[Faithless]

So, I desperately need a pair of decent 9v rechargeable batteries to use in my bass, but, I've found that rechargeable ones are slightly bigger, bulkier compared to their unrechargeable sisters (Energizer, Duracell, etc..), and they don't fit in the battery compartment well enough..

I've bought rechargeable [url="http://www.laptopakkustore.com/images/Rechargeable%20Battery%20Batteries.jpg"]GP's[/url], and they're simply too bulky ....

I need batteries just about the size of Energizers are..

I've been looking at these at Amazon - [url="http://www.amazon.com/pieces-250mAh-capacity-rechargeable-Battery/dp/B001CON7PS/ref=pd_cp_e_2"]http://www.amazon.com/pieces-250mAh-capaci...S/ref=pd_cp_e_2[/url]

While they don't seem too bulky, they seem kinda cheap for quantity - does anyone know if they're any good.. Thankfully their measurments finally appeared, so I'll check 'em out..

Does have any suggestions on these things to meet size of regular 9v batteries?

I'd really appreciate it,
Laimis

[BassBod]

I seem to remember that (apart from being slightly bigger) re-chargables also never charge up to a full 9v? They only got to around 7v and give pretty short service, so need to be changed more often. I used them in my headphone amp (two last around 10 hours = expensive) and found they lasted about half as long....but it was worth it for that application. I wouldn't put them in an active bass, even if they fitted.

[chris_b]

We use a lot of rechargeable batteries at home but I don't trust them for the bass. They can loose the charge quite quickly as they get older.

[martindupras]

Just my opinion and experience here: I use nothing but rechargeable batteries in everything now: basses, effects, metronomes, etc.

Don't buy cheap batteries, it's a false economy.

Buy Ni-MH batteries, which are the modern kind, hold their charge better, and are more environmentally-friendly (or so I'm being told.)

I check mine with a little battery tester and they give more than 9v (like fresh alkalines.)

I've bought tens of different brands, and found that even within brands there is variation in performance and quality. I find it's not unusual to get maybe 1 in 20 that doesn't quite hold its charge very long.

The ones I tend to use at the moment are the 250mAH Maplin 9v that come in a three-pack for £9.99. At that price, it's cheaper than good quality alkalines, and even if you only got twenty uses each, that would still be a long way cheaper than alkalines.

My advice: if you don't trust them, don't use them. The worry is not worth the hassle.

If you rely on batteries, keep several, rotate them and keep them fully charged. I change the batteries in my basses every couple of weeks at most, so I always have relatively freshly charged batteries.

- martin



[quote name='chris_b' post='1181614' date='Mar 29 2011, 10:56 PM']We use a lot of rechargeable batteries at home but I don't trust them for the bass. They can loose the charge quite quickly as they get older.[/quote]

[Faithless]

[url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/extra-high-capacity-nimh-rechargeable-battery-value-packs-46414"]http://www.maplin.co.uk/extra-high-capacit...lue-packs-46414[/url]

I've only found these at maplin, and they're 22.99 pack..
Anyway, ar these slightly bigger than 'regular' 9v batteries, Martin?


cheers
Faith

[martindupras]

Wow, that's really expensive.

I've bought many three-packs of the 250mAH for £9.99. Maybe they stopped doing them. Might be worth popping in a store, they might not have them online, for some reason.

The ones I have look the same but are definitely 250mAH. As far as I can tell, they're nearly the same size as alkalines, but they have the "maplin" sleeve on top (sort of metallized plastic, with the green and silver Maplin livery). They fit in my Bongo 18v compartment, but you can remove that sleeve and they'd be about the right size, I think. (Underneat the metalised plastic, they're just black plastic.)

I'll swing by Maplin tomorrow on my way back from work. If anything, I want to get some more if they still have them at £9.99/3. I'll let you know if I find them.

- martin


[quote name='Faithless' post='1183884' date='Mar 31 2011, 08:49 PM'][url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/extra-high-capacity-nimh-rechargeable-battery-value-packs-46414"]http://www.maplin.co.uk/extra-high-capacit...lue-packs-46414[/url]

I've only found these at maplin, and they're 22.99 pack..
Anyway, ar these slightly bigger than 'regular' 9v batteries, Martin?


cheers
Faith[/quote]

[s2classic]

I've found that that maplin rechargable 9v PP3 batteries last about as long as I need them to. I have a Status S2 Classic bass with an 18vdc active pick up system and an X2 rack mounted digital wireless system. The bass really isn't a prob (2 batteries will last for ages) but the wireless transmitter was eating batteries to the extent of about 4 per gig. However, using the maplin PP3's (fully charged) if I'm lucky 1 will last a full nights giging, 2 at a push, so in my experience (such as it is!!) those maplin rechargeables are worth a go!

[martindupras]

I want to Maplin today. They no longer have the 3 packs for £9.99. They've gone up to £22.99. How they can justify a 130% increase in a few months is a mystery, however.

Individually, they're still cheaper, at £5 each (on promotion; retail £9.99). £10 per battery is crazy, but £5 is acceptable.

I will investigate further. I am positive that much better deals can be had on quantities of maybe 10 or 12. I want to buy more, and if there's enough demand a few of use might be able to buy some batteries in bulk. Just an idea.

- martin

[stevie]

Don't, whatever you do, buy the old-fashioned NiMH rechargeables. The new "long life" types which don't lose their charge over time are in a different league. I used to have to recharge the 9V battery in my bass every two weeks. I've had a Uniross Hybrio in there for 3 months so far, and it still doesn't need recharging yet. They've been even more impressive in my camera - every bit as good as alkalines.

This is relatively new technology developed by Sanyo, which you'll find under various trade names. Alex Claber mentioned it in a thread on batteries here last year. The best quality brand, according to my research, is Sanyo's eneloop. Ebay is the best place to buy them at the moment.

Unfortunately, I don't know how their size compares with normal alkalines.

[martindupras]

Thanks Stevie, that's really good to know.

- martin

[quote name='stevie' post='1185876' date='Apr 2 2011, 03:18 PM']Don't, whatever you do, buy the old-fashioned NiMH rechargeables. The new "long life" types which don't lose their charge over time are in a different league. I used to have to recharge the 9V battery in my bass every two weeks. I've had a Uniross Hybrio in there for 3 months so far, and it still doesn't need recharging yet. They've been even more impressive in my camera - every bit as good as alkalines.

This is relatively new technology developed by Sanyo, which you'll find under various trade names. Alex Claber mentioned it in a thread on batteries here last year. The best quality brand, according to my research, is Sanyo's eneloop. Ebay is the best place to buy them at the moment.

Unfortunately, I don't know how their size compares with normal alkalines.[/quote]

[martindupras]

Now we're talking:

[url="http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/uniross-rechargeable-9v-pp3-battery-200mah-nimh-1pack-u0150309-p-964.html"]http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/uniross-recha...0309-p-964.html[/url]

Uniross Hybrio 9v a £3.98 each. There is a discount on quantity, so just for kicks I filled a cart with 10 of them, and that came to £40.06 including shipping. I have however zero experience with that particular supplier, I was just googlin' to see what there was out there.

- martin

[Ancient Mariner]

I've bought a lot of batteries over the years from [url="http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/body_pp3.html"]http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/body_pp3.html[/url]. They are doing the new NiMH batteries that don't self-discharge like the old ones @ £3.15. The 'instants' work well, and I suspect are OEM'd Eneloops.

The other battery of interest there is the 220mah 9.6V. I use these in radio mics, because they take a long time to drop below the minimum operating voltage for the mic. The 'ordinary' standard 8.4V batteries put out a lower voltage than the equivalent alkaline, and can drop to a point where they no longer drive the kit, even though they still have some charge left.

One thing I DON'T recommend is buying their PP3 smart charger - they don't work well. Get one of the charges that will charge all cell types, but that also has a delta V cut off.

Edited April 2, 2011 by Ancient Mariner

[mcnach]

[quote name='Faithless' post='1181445' date='Mar 29 2011, 09:23 PM']So, I desperately need a pair of decent 9v rechargeable batteries to use in my bass, but, I've found that rechargeable ones are slightly bigger, bulkier compared to their unrechargeable sisters (Energizer, Duracell, etc..), and they don't fit in the battery compartment well enough..

I've bought rechargeable [url="http://www.laptopakkustore.com/images/Rechargeable%20Battery%20Batteries.jpg"]GP's[/url], and they're simply too bulky ....

I need batteries just about the size of Energizers are..

I've been looking at these at Amazon - [url="http://www.amazon.com/pieces-250mAh-capacity-rechargeable-Battery/dp/B001CON7PS/ref=pd_cp_e_2"]http://www.amazon.com/pieces-250mAh-capaci...S/ref=pd_cp_e_2[/url]

While they don't seem too bulky, they seem kinda cheap for quantity - does anyone know if they're any good.. Thankfully their measurments finally appeared, so I'll check 'em out..

Does have any suggestions on these things to meet size of regular 9v batteries?

I'd really appreciate it,
Laimis[/quote]


avoid rechargeables.

they lose charge even without use, I would be *very* nervous using them. Duracell batteries are not exactly expensive when you know they will last from many months to... years, depending on your bass and the usage.

Using rechargeables for a bass is inviting trouble. Rechargeables are ok for things that get used over a short period of time and you change regularly.

[Faithless]

Unfortunately, I practice an awful lot (5-6 hours a day my bass is 'on'..), and ACG 18v preamp, as amazing as it is, simply eats batteries for breakfast - you have to chance Energizer's every two months at most, and, this time I think they won't last more than 1.5 month, as I've been shedding way more in past few weeks.

It's just too expensive for me to use unrechargeables, and, as far as I'm concerned, I'm totally cool to charge batteries every two weeks, as far as it helps to save me money..

Although, battery size is the biggest issue for me, and most of those rechargeable things seems slightly bigger, and won't do the trick, unfortunately..

And, I thought Sanyo don't make 9v rechargeables, do they?..


PS Don't get me wrong - battery life in ACG pre really depends on how much you play your bass - I tend to play it a lot, you can play it less and it will change things..

Edited April 2, 2011 by Faithless

[normontour]

Sod all the batteries you can buy in tescos or maplin. Just go Procell by Duracell. They are cheap and long lasting

[url="http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/paintball-9v-batteries-alkaline-duracell-procell-mn1604-p-1730.html?osCsid=4d54b12f5182e7d331913276f4562534"]http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/paintball-9v-...1913276f4562534[/url]

You can buy a box on there of 50 for £37. Almost every band I have worked with [and thats a lot] use these.

[chris_b]

[quote name='Faithless' post='1186184' date='Apr 2 2011, 08:46 PM']....Don't get me wrong - battery life in ACG pre really depends on how much you play your bass - I tend to play it a lot, you can play it less and it will change things....[/quote]
Do you play with the bass volume full up and the amp turned down? You might find you get longer life from your batteries if you turn your bass down low and turn the amp up.

[DaveB]

I use Duracell rechargeable and my volume/ tone hasn't differed at all. Not sure what the ones are I have but they last ages

[TheBear]

My 2p here, can't you simply plug a power supply into the 9V clip (out of google in 2 sec [url="http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&biw=1440&bih=678&tbm=shop&q=9vdc+power+supply+clip&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=7c30e117d880512d)"]http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=...30e117d880512d)[/url].
The cable should be thin enough to allow the battery to be kept close
will surely make your bass look weird:), but well, you'll save a hell lot of money.


Chris

[Faithless]

[quote name='chris_b' post='1194666' date='Apr 10 2011, 05:00 PM']Do you play with the bass volume full up and the amp turned down? You might find you get longer life from your batteries if you turn your bass down low and turn the amp up.[/quote]


How the hell does that work, man? Will try this trick...

[slazman]

[quote name='normontour' post='1194660' date='Apr 10 2011, 02:53 PM']Sod all the batteries you can buy in tescos or maplin. Just go Procell by Duracell. They are cheap and long lasting

[url="http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/paintball-9v-batteries-alkaline-duracell-procell-mn1604-p-1730.html?osCsid=4d54b12f5182e7d331913276f4562534"]http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/paintball-9v-...1913276f4562534[/url]

You can buy a box on there of 50 for £37. Almost every band I have worked with [and thats a lot] use these.[/quote]

Great tip ... thanks

[Faithless]

I've tried buying 50 of those Procell's from the link given, but we have an interesting issue with shipping..
[i]
This is currently the only shipping method available to use on this order.

EU Special Courier £38.94 [/i]


I'd get another 50 of batteries for the price of shipping..

Now, if I buy 30 of those, I can also choose First Class Airmail, which would cost me 14.40£ to ship it to Lithuania..
I've tried looking into local internet shop prices on Duracell's, and it still quite cheaper to buy them from BuyBattery.com, than locally..

I think I'll give it a go..

Thanks chaps
Laimis

[martindupras]

In case anyone is interested: the 200mAh 9V (PP3) batteries 3-packs at Maplin are back at their previous price of £9.99. If you use rechargeable, this is really good value.

- martin