Rechargables NiHm's vs. disposables at DVinfo.net

Steven Davis · August 6th, 2004, 09:40 AM

Hi anyone use rechargable batteries in thier mic's and such. I'm just thinking down the road this might be a cost cutting measure. I use rechargables on everything, including my digi still. But didn't know how they would perform in things such as my lav mic. I actually have bought a good number to start with for my equipment. I still need to buy a tester. Anyone gone down this road?

Ron Johnson · August 6th, 2004, 10:02 AM

I use NiMH recgargeable AA's in my film and digital cameras and AAA's in my wireless keyboards and mice with very good lifetimes.

However, I purchased some no-name brand 9V NiMH rechargeables that have absurdly short lifetimes (around 1-2 hours only; regular batteries go for 4-8 hours) in my Sennheiser wireless gear. I don't think the batteries are running out of charge - I think the voltage in these batteries doesn't start out right at 9V and sags in a relatively short itme.

Does anyone have a 9V brand they can recommend?

Thanks

Steven Davis · August 6th, 2004, 10:28 AM

Well if something goes haywire on my batteries, it will be an Energizer brand. I'm sticking with one brand to keep track of things. I did a search and didn't see much on this topic.

Mike Rehmus · August 6th, 2004, 03:53 PM

Most of the pros will not use rechargables in their wireless setups. The dropout voltage is too high and your operating time is quite low.

If you want a very long life, use the LiON 9 volt batteries at around $7 each.

Steven Davis · August 6th, 2004, 04:02 PM

I really have no idea how long a 9 volt will last in a wirless setup. Could anyone tell me. I mean if I can get 2 hours or so out of it, that'll work for most things. Umm, pardon my ignorance, but what's a drop off rate for a battery?

Mike Rehmus · August 6th, 2004, 07:07 PM

The Sennheisers will get between 4 and 6 hours out of an alkaline cell depending on environmental factors. Each unit's user manual should tell you what the factory expects. I always drop their value by about 1/4 to be safe.

Every battery starts out fully charged at some voltage. As power is drawn from the battery, the voltage starts dropping. Some, Lead Acid, for example, droop fairly fast. Alkaline, NiCAD, NiMH, & LiON all have a more flat voltage curve until they reach exhaustion and then they drop real fast.

Most radios and cameras are set up to stop well before the battery is really fully discharged. They need a relatively high voltage to perform to specification. Especially radio transmitters.

Steve McDonald · August 7th, 2004, 07:18 AM

Rechargable NiMH batteries lose much of their power within a couple of weeks, if not used within that time. For things such as mikes, remote controlers and keyboards, I always use disposable, non-rechargables. Disposable batteries have a higher actual voltage and more stored power. Rechargables in things that use small amounts of power and might
go for long periods on disposables, have a habit of failing after just a few weeks, due to the time element, not the actual power used.

If NiMH rechargables are used in cameras or bike headlights or other units that have a heavy power draw and their charge is used in just a few hours, these kinds of things are well-suited for them.

The best AA batteries I've found for mikes are non-rechargable lithium, by Eveready. One pair has lasted me for 3 years in my two big XLR mikes and they now test at 1.6 volts, after a new voltage of 1.7 volts, with a nominal voltage of 1.5. I use them for my blinking LED bike taillights and get about 750 hours from them. Most rechargables give only about 1.3 to 1.35 volts at full charge. These Eveready lithium Energizers used to cost $5. each, but now sell at 2 for $5. Perhaps they make a lithium one of the 9-volt type, as well.

I'm surprised to hear that lithium batteries only last 4 to 6 hours in a Sennheiser mike. Perhaps these are a very small, special type?

Steve McDonald

Mike Rehmus · August 7th, 2004, 12:47 PM

Got a mis-read there, Steve. The sentence refers to and mentions Alkaline batteries. LiONs are good for many more hours.

Dean Sensui · August 8th, 2004, 02:55 AM

I've been using Tysonic NiMH 9v batteries in my Lectrosonic mics. Good for about 5 hours in the receiver and a bit more in the transmitter.

With the price of 9v batteries, these have already paid for themselves.

Got them from Thomas Distributing.

http://www.thomasdistributing.com/

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions

Ron Johnson · August 8th, 2004, 04:28 PM

Dean - Nice link! Looks like a better selection of gear is available now vs. 1+ years ago when I made my purchases.

Ron Johnson

Vinny Osborne · October 17th, 2005, 06:02 PM

I have done some extensive testing of NiMH batteries with Sennheiser, AKG & Sony wireless mic's. The results can be viewed on my website at http://www.soundandmusicco.com/nimh.htm

George Ellis · October 18th, 2005, 05:40 AM

Although I think rechargables are great, I see a huge amount of logic using disposables. Disposables in their orginal packaging give you a visual checklist of what 'fresh' batteries you have before you start a shoot. With very little effort, it is easier to be sure that you have enough 'charged' batteries. But hey, I am paranoid and even test my disposables for charge with a VOM before I put them in my Beachtek (phantom with preamp LOVES batteries).

August 6th, 2004, 09:40 AM	#1
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Rechargables NiHm's vs. disposables Hi anyone use rechargable batteries in thier mic's and such. I'm just thinking down the road this might be a cost cutting measure. I use rechargables on everything, including my digi still. But didn't know how they would perform in things such as my lav mic. I actually have bought a good number to start with for my equipment. I still need to buy a tester. Anyone gone down this road? __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

August 6th, 2004, 10:02 AM	#2
Ron Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 103	I use NiMH recgargeable AA's in my film and digital cameras and AAA's in my wireless keyboards and mice with very good lifetimes. However, I purchased some no-name brand 9V NiMH rechargeables that have absurdly short lifetimes (around 1-2 hours only; regular batteries go for 4-8 hours) in my Sennheiser wireless gear. I don't think the batteries are running out of charge - I think the voltage in these batteries doesn't start out right at 9V and sags in a relatively short itme. Does anyone have a 9V brand they can recommend? Thanks __________________ Ron Johnson Portland, OR

August 6th, 2004, 10:28 AM	#3
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Well if something goes haywire on my batteries, it will be an Energizer brand. I'm sticking with one brand to keep track of things. I did a search and didn't see much on this topic. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

August 6th, 2004, 03:53 PM	#4
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Most of the pros will not use rechargables in their wireless setups. The dropout voltage is too high and your operating time is quite low. If you want a very long life, use the LiON 9 volt batteries at around $7 each. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

August 6th, 2004, 04:02 PM	#5
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	I really have no idea how long a 9 volt will last in a wirless setup. Could anyone tell me. I mean if I can get 2 hours or so out of it, that'll work for most things. Umm, pardon my ignorance, but what's a drop off rate for a battery? __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

August 6th, 2004, 07:07 PM	#6
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The Sennheisers will get between 4 and 6 hours out of an alkaline cell depending on environmental factors. Each unit's user manual should tell you what the factory expects. I always drop their value by about 1/4 to be safe. Every battery starts out fully charged at some voltage. As power is drawn from the battery, the voltage starts dropping. Some, Lead Acid, for example, droop fairly fast. Alkaline, NiCAD, NiMH, & LiON all have a more flat voltage curve until they reach exhaustion and then they drop real fast. Most radios and cameras are set up to stop well before the battery is really fully discharged. They need a relatively high voltage to perform to specification. Especially radio transmitters. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

August 7th, 2004, 07:18 AM	#7
Steve McDonald Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 366	Rechargable NiMH batteries lose much of their power within a couple of weeks, if not used within that time. For things such as mikes, remote controlers and keyboards, I always use disposable, non-rechargables. Disposable batteries have a higher actual voltage and more stored power. Rechargables in things that use small amounts of power and might go for long periods on disposables, have a habit of failing after just a few weeks, due to the time element, not the actual power used. If NiMH rechargables are used in cameras or bike headlights or other units that have a heavy power draw and their charge is used in just a few hours, these kinds of things are well-suited for them. The best AA batteries I've found for mikes are non-rechargable lithium, by Eveready. One pair has lasted me for 3 years in my two big XLR mikes and they now test at 1.6 volts, after a new voltage of 1.7 volts, with a nominal voltage of 1.5. I use them for my blinking LED bike taillights and get about 750 hours from them. Most rechargables give only about 1.3 to 1.35 volts at full charge. These Eveready lithium Energizers used to cost $5. each, but now sell at 2 for $5. Perhaps they make a lithium one of the 9-volt type, as well. I'm surprised to hear that lithium batteries only last 4 to 6 hours in a Sennheiser mike. Perhaps these are a very small, special type? Steve McDonald

August 7th, 2004, 12:47 PM	#8
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Got a mis-read there, Steve. The sentence refers to and mentions Alkaline batteries. LiONs are good for many more hours. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

August 8th, 2004, 02:55 AM	#9
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	I've been using Tysonic NiMH 9v batteries in my Lectrosonic mics. Good for about 5 hours in the receiver and a bit more in the transmitter. With the price of 9v batteries, these have already paid for themselves. Got them from Thomas Distributing. http://www.thomasdistributing.com/ Dean Sensui Base Two Productions

August 8th, 2004, 04:28 PM	#10
Ron Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 103	Dean - Nice link! Looks like a better selection of gear is available now vs. 1+ years ago when I made my purchases. Ron Johnson __________________ Ron Johnson Portland, OR

October 17th, 2005, 06:02 PM	#11
Vinny Osborne New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8	NiMH & Wireless (radio) microphones I have done some extensive testing of NiMH batteries with Sennheiser, AKG & Sony wireless mic's. The results can be viewed on my website at http://www.soundandmusicco.com/nimh.htm

October 18th, 2005, 05:40 AM	#12
George Ellis Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,241	Although I think rechargables are great, I see a huge amount of logic using disposables. Disposables in their orginal packaging give you a visual checklist of what 'fresh' batteries you have before you start a shoot. With very little effort, it is easier to be sure that you have enough 'charged' batteries. But hey, I am paranoid and even test my disposables for charge with a VOM before I put them in my Beachtek (phantom with preamp LOVES batteries).