I’d never remember to charge them, it’s rare that anything comes out out the trailer between gigs except the laptops, park it the garage till the next show if I don’t take stuff out I don’t forget to bring it
How many of you use rechargeable batteries?
- Thread starter MIXMASTERMACHOM
- Start date
My take on rechargeable batteries is purely a practical one.
For institutional users it makes sense because the option to recharge a battery provides relief from the persistent problems of inventory management including restocking, pilfering, waste, compatibility errors, loss, theft, etc, Non-removable rechargeable batteries are becoming the norm for wireless mics used in business and educational settings.
At home, it would be nice to have a way to get (or re-establish) working battery power when running out to buy batteries is not possible or more inconvenient than a recharge. Rechargeable batteries don't have a great historical consumer record of performance - so age plays a big part in who's willing to buy into the product and any advances in battery technology. Even when a product may last a long time an owner's perception may not match up. When the LED uplights will no longer recharge - the owners' disappointment is probably not well mitigated by the reality that he's had them for 10 years.
Mobile DJs don't generally spend a lot of constant time with live mics so, I think the issue becomes personal preference. For my purposes, I would still need disposable batteries as a backup, and given that the product cost savings is offset by the initial purchase price and charge cycle - the benefit of rechargeables in my business isn't high enough - especially when you add the increased labor and/or risk associated with the re-charge process, neglect, or risk of inventory that doesn't end up where it should be.
Videographers have these habits trained into their soul because the camera battery is the life blood of their product. Not so with a DJ - where the mic is largely an accessory to an otherwise hardwired system.
For institutional users it makes sense because the option to recharge a battery provides relief from the persistent problems of inventory management including restocking, pilfering, waste, compatibility errors, loss, theft, etc, Non-removable rechargeable batteries are becoming the norm for wireless mics used in business and educational settings.
At home, it would be nice to have a way to get (or re-establish) working battery power when running out to buy batteries is not possible or more inconvenient than a recharge. Rechargeable batteries don't have a great historical consumer record of performance - so age plays a big part in who's willing to buy into the product and any advances in battery technology. Even when a product may last a long time an owner's perception may not match up. When the LED uplights will no longer recharge - the owners' disappointment is probably not well mitigated by the reality that he's had them for 10 years.
Mobile DJs don't generally spend a lot of constant time with live mics so, I think the issue becomes personal preference. For my purposes, I would still need disposable batteries as a backup, and given that the product cost savings is offset by the initial purchase price and charge cycle - the benefit of rechargeables in my business isn't high enough - especially when you add the increased labor and/or risk associated with the re-charge process, neglect, or risk of inventory that doesn't end up where it should be.
Videographers have these habits trained into their soul because the camera battery is the life blood of their product. Not so with a DJ - where the mic is largely an accessory to an otherwise hardwired system.
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I'll stick with buying name brand disposable batteries. Nothing like having to change a battery while doing an event because the mic died due to a dead battery.
No more than you do in events you should remove battleries in between gigs so as not to have an acid leak.
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That's not funny. That might have happened to you but not me rookie. Just having fun. Don't take this post serious.
Really Mixx? Are you just trying to keep this thread to continue with something that you should already be aware of./? ....
Adrian, What threads are you going to repeat that has been already posted this weekend while most of us are busy working events??
Nothing. I will be working on Saturday August 26th in Branch Brook Park.
I'm going this Saturday to the Wellmont Theater to see Parliament Funkadelic.
Pull out your calender Mixxy. The Sat. Is the 19th.
Good for you Mixxy. Keep moven your feet.
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Reread what I posted. I said the job we're doing is on the 26th. The show is tomorrow.Pull out your calender Mixxy. The Sat. Is the 19th.
I used to use rechargeables in my wireless when I was doing a kids production with 24+ systems in use at once. As others have pointed out they are a pain. The biggest issue I had was their size. There is no universal definition for battery size. Each brand is a hair different, especially the cheaper rechargeables. The high capacity models were usually thicker and I had lots of trouble getting them out of the transmitter with some brands. This was in the days where we were using NiCd and NiMH, not Lithium derivatives. I found the memory effect to be pretty significant if they didn't get regular use.
These days I only use standard alkalines. I did have an issue a few weeks ago. We were doing karaoke and the mic kept turning off. First, I suspected I may have loaded dead batteries instead of fresh ones. I switched batteries but that didn't help. Then I thought bad contacts but they seemed good too. The problem was the handheld's screw-on cover. It had been over-tightened and split just enough that you could tighten it to the point that it would hit the on/off/mute switch on the bottom of the mic. That was a new one for me.
These days I only use standard alkalines. I did have an issue a few weeks ago. We were doing karaoke and the mic kept turning off. First, I suspected I may have loaded dead batteries instead of fresh ones. I switched batteries but that didn't help. Then I thought bad contacts but they seemed good too. The problem was the handheld's screw-on cover. It had been over-tightened and split just enough that you could tighten it to the point that it would hit the on/off/mute switch on the bottom of the mic. That was a new one for me.
I typically use tenevolts AA rechargeables. They hold a constant 1.5 volts, supposably. They seem to work fine, except they trick my sennheisser mics into thinking they are always on full charge. But they don't take long to charge so I charge them full at event during set up and they last well past the event end.
I always have a few packs of normal AA 's in my kit as a back up.
I always have a few packs of normal AA 's in my kit as a back up.