Battery Connectors - Isn't it time someone came up with a better way?

[snorkie635]

I just snapped yet another of those flimsy 9volt battery connectors on a bass. Over the years, I've tried all ways of disconnecting and still the damned things break. I know that basses like Musicman don't use the usual flimsy connectors, but surely there must be a better way that this common method. Arrrrrrggggghhhhh! And, breathe ...

[Dankology]

Could something like this be pressed into use?

 

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/pp002080/battery-holder-pp3-pcb/dp/BT06531?st=dmx controller

 

Doesn't look massively bigger than a 9v itself. The photo doesn't really show how easily/securely it could be soldered though.

Edited February 3 by Dankology

[casapete]

1 hour ago, snorkie635 said:

I just snapped yet another of those flimsy 9volt battery connectors on a bass. Over the years, I've tried all ways of disconnecting and still the damned things break. I know that basses like Musicman don't use the usual flimsy connectors, but surely there must be a better way that this common method. Arrrrrrggggghhhhh! And, breathe ...

I agree. A few years ago one of mine snapped and my tech guy fitted a replacement which was of far

better quality - chunky and easy to change the battery. Didn’t ask him where he’d sourced it unfortunately 

but am sure there must be some out there.

An electro acoustic bass of mine has one of those nifty little compartments where you just insert the 

battery with no connector needed. Bit like the MM ones IIRC, a definite improvement.

[Mottlefeeder]

Heavy duty battery clip

https://www.bitsboxuk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=192_194&products_id=1428

David

[ead]

My active basses have a simple flip up battery box that you just open, lift the old battery out, insert the new battery and close.  Very effective.

[snorkie635]

24 minutes ago, ead said:

My active basses have a simple flip up battery box that you just open, lift the old battery out, insert the new battery and close.  Very effective.

Sounds ideal. What flavour of bass?

[ead]

1 hour ago, snorkie635 said:

Sounds ideal. What flavour of bass?

 

My ACGs all had them in, with the honourable exception of the Graft series that had battery space inside the control cavity with clips.

[Mottlefeeder]

I've seen two styles of battery box,

a) conical springs point in through the end of the box, in line with the battery terminals, and

b) curved spring contacts sit at the bottom of two pockets which are sized so that the battery terminals only fit in one way, so it is impossible to connect the battery the wrong way round.

'b' seems to be a much better way to go.

David

[Terry M.]

5 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

I just snapped yet another of those flimsy 9volt battery connectors on a bass. Over the years, I've tried all ways of disconnecting and still the damned things break. I know that basses like Musicman don't use the usual flimsy connectors, but surely there must be a better way that this common method. Arrrrrrggggghhhhh! And, breathe ...

When I had my EBMM SR5 I actually wondered why their way wasn't an industry standard 🤔 

[neepheid]

3 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

Sounds ideal. What flavour of bass?

 

The Sire Z7 (and presumably Z3) has a battery box with integrated contacts also.

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, Mottlefeeder said:

I've seen two styles of battery box,

a) conical springs point in through the end of the box, in line with the battery terminals, and

b) curved spring contacts sit at the bottom of two pockets which are sized so that the battery terminals only fit in one way, so it is impossible to connect the battery the wrong way round.

'b' seems to be a much better way to go.

David

 

b) sounds very much like a horizontal version of the battery holder that tends to be used in electro-acoustic instruments, where the battery sits in a little box with two slots for the terminals which can only go in one way round, and then the whole lot slots into the preamp unit which it can only do one way round.

 

I'm just glad that batteries last several years.

[ped]

Even battery box designs are due improvement. My Celinder had one, but they’re a pretty cheap plastic affair which is really quite flimsy, and not that secure or satisfying to snap closed. Given the choice I think I prefer the Musicman early designs with a metal plate which screws over the battery cavity. 

[Terry M.]

45 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

 

I'm just glad that batteries last several years.

Wow has that been your experience?

You got me 🤣

Edited February 3 by Terry M.

[Rich]

6 hours ago, Dankology said:

Could something like this be pressed into use?

 

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/pp002080/battery-holder-pp3-pcb/dp/BT06531?st=dmx controller

 

Doesn't look massively bigger than a 9v itself. The photo doesn't really show how easily/securely it could be soldered though.

I fitted one of those under the pickguard in my fretless OLP, when I fitted the active eq. It's a very secure battery holder.

[SpondonBassed]

19 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

Sounds ideal. What flavour of bass?

 

My Hohner B2A has this.

 

It has neither fly lead nor connector.  Just push the battery into the slot and shut the hatch.  It is a little fiddly to remove the battery though.  Keep the internal contacts clean with a dab of switch cleaner/lube (apply with a soft cloth rather than spraying it directly on) or similar to make it easier.

 

[warwickhunt]

15 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Wow has that been your experience?

You got me 🤣

 

I've got a couple of Warwick basses that I gig regular and the batteries are 4 and 6 years old (I put the month/year date on when I install).  I know this as I took them out and did a test on them to see how they were doing... well over 9v on both of them but I replaced the 6 year old battery any way.  

 

 

[Shaggy]

I guess the clips have been around for as long as the 9V PP3 battery has; which Google tells me was introduced in 1956, intended for transistor radios.     I had a mid-1960's Vox Special Mk IV guitar which had active EQ / onboard effects powered by one - actually the typical flimsy "dangly type" clip never broke on that, but they have on so many basses I've owned..   Much better connection systems in modern basses, as above.

 

At least with alkaline and modern rechargeable batteries there's no more leaks knackering your clip and electrics, like the old zinc batteries used to......

 

[christhammer666]

when i used to use active ibbys my heart would sink every time the batt needed changing. id do it way before a gig just a in case a lead snapped on me 

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, warwickhunt said:

 

I've got a couple of Warwick basses that I gig regular and the batteries are 4 and 6 years old (I put the month/year date on when I install).  I know this as I took them out and did a test on them to see how they were doing... well over 9v on both of them but I replaced the 6 year old battery any way.  

 

 

That's impressive. I also have a couple of Warwick basses but I've never had a battery even last a year on either of them.

[warwickhunt]

5 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

That's impressive. I also have a couple of Warwick basses but I've never had a battery even last a year on either of them.

 

Do you leave them with a jack plug plugged in?   

 

I'm sure Warwick used to quote battery life for their active basses to be 1000hrs+ (I think that is conservative).  If you used it 3 hours a day 365 days of the year you might deplete a battery in a year.    

 

I used to give my active basses a battery change each Christmas, I then started to do it every other Christmas... now even less so!  

[Terry M.]

44 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

Do you leave them with a jack plug plugged in?   

 

I'm sure Warwick used to quote battery life for their active basses to be 1000hrs+ (I think that is conservative).  If you used it 3 hours a day 365 days of the year you might deplete a battery in a year.    

 

I used to give my active basses a battery change each Christmas, I then started to do it every other Christmas... now even less so!  

No I'm very strict with unplugging them in between uses. I do practice more than 3 hours daily so that might play a part. 

[funkgod]

had the old battery snap on the pre stingray behind the chrome plate for years, no problem.

got the old battery snap in my wal for nearly 45 years now, no problem

got the old battery snap in both my G&L L2000 Series E since 1980/81, no problem.

got the newer chad valley / Ronco / K-Tell battery box on my newer stingray, and its had 2 new ones in 15 years !

problems with the contacts corroding inside, its junk,

next time its getting ripped out and an old snap put in with a cover.... no problem.

🙂

Edited February 4 by funkgod

[PinkMohawk]

For anyone wondering where to get the kind of battery box that has the integrated contacts, I believe you'd be looking for the Gotoh BB-02 for a press fit box, BB-04 for a screw in box, and the BB-04W for the 18v (2x9v) box. Other manufacturers may make their own, but that's the one that came to mind.