Batteries for active bass(electric)

[evanger]

Did a search on soft, and didn't really find any useful (to me) post on batteries.

Just wondering what kind of batteries to use for an active bass? There are basically a few kinds that I'm concern of.

1) Heavy Duty
2) Super Heavy Duty
3) Alkaline
4) Lithium

Which are the ones that is suitable to use. You've heard they say high tech gadgets (cameras, NintendoDS... scientific calculators) gotta use alkaline, or better lithium, but some household items (clocks, remote controls, normal calculators) can use heavy duty. Say heavy duty batteries will even spoil the gadgets. You know, these kind of things..
OR
What do you suggests the reasons to use each kind of these batteries? Do we consider the pickup types/brands, the electronics, the guitar brand.. etc?

 

[fretless6]

Energizers and Duracell always worked well for me. Never leaked, last long enough, etc. Stay clear from Everready, and don't use Rechargables.

 

[alanchia]

i buy the cheap ikea alkaline 9v batteries (S$4.50 each, made in germany). can last for long time too.

i think the power consumption (how long it lasts) depends on the gear (pre-amp, pickups).

 

[g13nn]

I use energizer or duracell. I am traumatized with the cheap china 9volt batteries... it leaked and spoiled my battery compartment.

 

[kerplunk182]

Don't leave your cable in the jack when you're not using it because it's gonna eat up the battery life.

 

[harmonyriver]

i buy the cheap ikea alkaline 9v batteries (S$4.50 each, made in germany). can last for long time too.

Ikea batteries leaked in my Nikon flash and left horrible residue everywhere - flash started to flash continuously and not in sync afterwards. Had to completely dry the battery compartment and clean out with alchohol before it was working properly again. Needless to say, removed all the Ikea 9V batteries from the basses. Better stick with Energizer or Duracell. At least they have some kind of warranty if your equipment gets damaged (see the fine print at the back of the package).

 

[alanchia]

Really? Oh no! But it has not occured to me. And usually I'll check the battery condition once a month with a tester, and will discard when it's approaching the other end of 'good' region.

 

[Resetti]

use alkaline and throw away and never touch "Heavy Duty" or "Super Heavy Duty".

Those that are marketed "Heavy Duty" or "Super Heavy Duty" are Zinc Carbon and has less than half the capacity as alkalines and zinc carbon battries are also prone to leaks when they lose their charge.

alkaline has at least 2 times more capacity than those, and has no side effects whatsover on electronics - don't believe the myth that certain things cannot use alkaline.... use alkaline for all stuff... the voltage is the same, and they have more capacity so the power lasts longer.

 

[Resetti]

i buy the cheap ikea alkaline 9v batteries (S$4.50 each, made in germany). can last for long time too.

energizer alkaline 9V can be bought for $3.40, at those neighborhood shop houses, expire in year 2014, exactly like those you find in NTUC going for $5.40. The worst I saw was 7/11 selling it for $6.30!!

Just go to the neighborhood shop houses and buy a bunch at $3.40.

 

[Morlock]

Always energizers alkaline for me, never trust anyone else. a fresh one would last me about 3-4 months. I use my bass about 3-4 hours everyday. and 6-8 hours a few days before gigs. and I always have spares.

 

[alanchia]

energizer alkaline 9V can be bought for $3.40, at those neighborhood shop houses, expire in year 2014, exactly like those you find in NTUC going for $5.40. The worst I saw was 7/11 selling it for $6.30!!

Just go to the neighborhood shop houses and buy a bunch at $3.40.

oh! thanks for the tip! will check out neighbourhood shop houses (hard to find here where i stay).

 

[evanger]

NEVER SAY DIE batteries

Looks like the "never say die" attitude of Energizer is winning. Haha. So generally, use alkaline batteries, and brand-wise, Energizer is the much sought after one. Haha. Hmmm. I don't see any thing about Lithium batteries here, it is said to last even longer than regular alkaline... Would it be 'too strong' for our delicate bass electronics? You know, the now regular alkaline energizer is the 'Energizer Max', any idea about suitability of 'Energizer e² Advance' and "Energizer e² Lithium'. How come avoid rechargeable? I've only heard that it does not give stable current, or something along the line... But what is the real reason?

Just wanna discuss somemore.. this is good discussion man! All thanks to soft! Making sure that these important but a'lil complex stuff (like batteries) won't spoil our precious Axe!

 

[b33r]

ditch the active electronics and go passive. no batteries to worry about.

just don't buy those cheap batteries that come in packs of a few. i used those in my air-con remote, and they leaked all over the place and now i have two spoilt remotes.

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

i buy the cheap ikea alkaline 9v batteries (S$4.50 each, made in germany).

WAH $4.50 considered cheap ah?? O_O

okay la, quite cheap considered it was made in germany. But like Resetti said, Energizers can be bought for much cheaper, at around $4 and below. I use that for my acoustic pu


@evanger:

Rechargeable, well, most rechargeable (the nickel metal hydride variants) lose their charge pretty quickly even when not in use. Only the new generation of long lasting NiMH (those that are advertised to work out of the package) can retain charge well, eg sanyo's eneloop or GP's ReCyko. But these are made in AAA and AA only, I haven't found any 9v models that retain charge. Imagine having to charge ur batteries everyday or the day before you use even when it's left untouched for one week.

I'm not sure of lithium and advance, but they seem quite expensive!

 

[fretless6]

Not only do rechargeable lose their charge fast, they usually do not push out a full 9V either. As they lose their charge, the voltage tends to gradually dip. Which means unwanted distortion for your preamp.

 

[Resetti]

Looks like the "never say die" attitude of Energizer is winning. Haha. So generally, use alkaline batteries, and brand-wise, Energizer is the much sought after one. Haha. Hmmm. I don't see any thing about Lithium batteries here, it is said to last even longer than regular alkaline... Would it be 'too strong' for our delicate bass electronics? You know, the now regular alkaline energizer is the 'Energizer Max', any idea about suitability of 'Energizer e² Advance' and "Energizer e² Lithium'. How come avoid rechargeable? I've only heard that it does not give stable current, or something along the line... But what is the real reason?

Just wanna discuss somemore.. this is good discussion man! All thanks to soft! Making sure that these important but a'lil complex stuff (like batteries) won't spoil our precious Axe!

as long as the lithium sticks to the specs and give out 9V and not more, it will not spoil any electronics.

i think lithium are avoided because it is much too expensive as compared to alkalines, but i don't think it will harm electronics any way as long as it is rated 9V.

rechargables are only 8.4V if i'm not wrong so the voltage may not be able to let the electronics work properly or work at a sub-par standard.

 

[lordie]

i just cross over to the darkside, just send my passive bass to get juiced up with 18v

 

[alanchia]

i just cross over to the darkside, just send my passive bass to get juiced up with 18v

wow! what pre-amp and/or pups are those?

 

[shinobi]

18v? aguilar is it?

anyway if i remember correctly bro subversion mentioned some time ago that he stays away from alkaline batteries for his pedals. i did not typo that, he only uses NON-alkaline for his pedals.

his reason was that the voltage of alkaline batteries drops gradually as the pedal is about to die. it is one of the ways that alkaline batteries prolong their life. as we all know, less voltage affects the tone.

yes, alkaline batteries do last longer, if im not wrong its about 3 to 4 times longer life. but purists will always stick to the old skool stuff, and they have their reasons.

anyway, for us neutrals, if lets say alkalines last 4 times longer than non-alkalines. they cost about 4 bucks per batt on average. your gp greencells are only 1 dollar, so while they have only a quarter of the battery life they are also only a quarter of the price.

so rationally, it is a tradeoff between convenience and tone, and whether you value convenience (lazy) or value tone (anal)

and lastly a little bit above 9V is not gonna DESTROY your guitar or effects. in many cases the increased headroom is desirable.

 

[AZLiGATOR]

Quite interesting question here. Not a pro but been DiY-ing quite a few of stuffs. well here's my 2 cents, hope it helps. The output voltage of pickups varies between 100 mv rms to over 1 V rms for some of the higher output types. On top of that, maximizing the power absorbed through the coil/coils depends on type & quality of cables. U with me? Most players don't use (recommend) alkaline for pu. Unlike zinc carbon cells the alkaline cell delivers about as much capacity on intermittent or continuous LIGHT loads. On a heavy load, capacity is reduced on continuous discharge compared with intermittent discharge, but the reduction is less than for zinc cells. Alkaline batts has a longer life & that is what people see it as in general. For heavy on strings players might find alkaline works best w/o knowing the batt is giving moderate voltage at 8.4v and peak at 9.2V and they are pushing the coils to absorb more than that. Makes no sense playing hard on active pu though. But there are cases while you are on stage and unable to hear yourself and that's where you tempt to do that. Pardon me for the long text, but to me alkaline = home practice and zinc carbon on 'The Day'.