Rechargeable batteries - recommendations

Subject: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 06:12 AM

Just got one of these Zoom 24 track recording machines. It uses six AA batteries at a time.

However it only lasts at the most 4 and a half hours.


So ideally, I'd like to have six batteries ready to go as soon as the display starts showing that its lossing power.

Now I've never had much luck with rechargeable batteries - I tried them when they first come out - but they really were rubbish at that early stage.
So if anyone has a system or product sussed that will sort me out, I await you recommendation. Thankyou in advance.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 06:39 AM

You can buy 8 packs of rechargeable NiMH AA batteries now for less than £3 so experimenting needn't be expensive. I've bought similar from £ shops with reasonable success. The old Nicad batteries suffered from a 'memory effect' but that could be sorted by draining the batteries. More modern batteries don't suffer the same problems.

If I were using the recorder at home Id be tempted to sort out a mains power supply, if that is an option. With batteries you will have to get a charger. Smart chargers come for mains or USB. I've seen 6 slot mains chargers but not 6 slot USB chargers. There's a variety of prices but I would expect to pay less than £30 for batteries and charger.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 06:54 AM

Word of warning, the USB chargers appear to be for the larger 3.7 volt batteries rather than AA or AAA types. Ebay has an 8 slot mains charger for £7.30 with free postage.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 07:18 AM

I semm to remember Zoom advise against using rechargeable batteries - I'll check later
Personally, I found it worthwhile paying out for the accessory pack which included the table stand and the mains unit well worthwhile
Otherwise the cheapos from bargain shops are cheap enough to stock up with more that enough aas long as you don't rely on them too much
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 09:09 AM

Yes obviously the mains lead is best -less chance of it stiffing on you and losing the gen. But I thought it might be nice to wander round, put the Big Sleep on the TV without the sound and do a bit of mixing and bouncing!

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 09:16 AM

Personally, I’ve more or less given up on rechargeables. For starters, they only put out around 1.2 volts whereas a dry cell will put out 1.5. Digital equipment seems to have some sort of sensor which shuts the thing down unless a certain voltage is available and this will happen far sooner with a rechargeable battery than a normal one.

By way of example, we had a digital radio in the bathroom which was used regularly but not for that long and I was recharging the batteries every week. We bought an anologue one a couple of years ago and that uses the same set of batteries. I last charged them at Xmas!

If you must go for rechargeables, check out the milliamp-hour rating printed on the side. The higher the better. If you want normal alkaline ones, chesk out 7dayShop. I buy them in boxes of 40 and they’re on offer quite regularly.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 09:47 AM

Also a smart charger will recharge an alkaline battery a couple of times at least.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 09:54 AM

@Personally, I’ve more or less given up on rechargeables@
I have dozens from the days Aldi and Lidl sold them for half-nothing
Now I only use them for remote keyboards and mice
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 11:51 AM

I've never had much use for rechargeable batteries. They seem to hold a charge for a much shorter time. The exception is in cameras and phones, but those aren't your standard aa and aaa cells.
I was very unhappy using batteries for my Zoom recorder - but the plug-in battery adapter works just fine.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 11:56 AM

I use and recommend the batteries made by Panasonic.

I bought a couple of their kit assortments and find they outlast any other rechargables I can find. I DO use them (one) in my Zoom H-1, and in my digital camera. I know that in the UK, a power adapter would be needed, so I have no info on that setup.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 12:43 PM

I use rechargeable where I can and prefer them to the standard ones. A couple of thoughts as far as i know though.

While they are lower voltage, they can have a much higher capacity than alkalines and keep a device running longer. Not all devices are suited to them though.

I believe the rechargeable generally have a relatively high self discharge rate. i've not used them but the enloops BillD mentions are supposed to overcome this and i'd guess could be the best option if you have the batteries sitting idle for long periods.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 02:20 PM

Right... they do self discharge very slowly. They actually come charged in the package.
Nothing is perfect, and I do have a supply of regular batteries for emergencies.

Also... many devices are using AAA instead of AA now, and I seem to run out of charged AA. I may have to go buy an extra package. (The kits with included charger that I began with had more AAA, but my needs have changed.)

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Nick
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 03:24 PM

I use rechargeable in my old zoom h2 recorder and in my second best camera and my irig acoustic stage and a couple of other things and have never had a problem. I have a charger that seems to take for ages and a faster one. So that’s 8 batteries and it’s just a matter of planning. Tend to record all our music and practice and have never lost anything apart from I didn’t realise I hadn’t pressed record...

But I don’t mix or doing anything other than record stuff. Do any mixing on computer with Reaper or other DAW.

The charger that checks the charge is much better than the one that assumes they are flat. Have had a few batteries which have failed after a lot of use. But I haven’t bought a battery for years.

Though I would agree on using mains where possible and have three or four variable transformers

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Nick
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 03:39 PM

Duracell mostly. Have some Energizer. The Energizer charger is MUCH quicker than the Duracell one but it is a lot newer

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 03:54 PM

On chargers, I've been using an Ansmann Powerline 5 for a fair while and been happy with it. It's not the fastest but it does have the nice feature of turning itself off after all cells are charged.

The one before that (GP??) was faster but I think was responsible for a few batteries having a short life.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Aug 19 - 09:25 PM

many thanks for all these ideas.

of particular interest are the chargers that have a led assessment of the strength of the charge. i've bought a cheap one to make a start.
but the zoom machine will probably be part of my plans - so i need to establish a way of wotking that doesn't screw up too much and too often.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 22 Aug 19 - 08:34 PM

Batteries are a simple chemical reaction.

The higher the ambient temperature the better the reaction.

This is the reason battery sales spike in the winter months of the northern hemisphere when temperatures are lowerest.

1. Boil a cup of water.
2. Stand back and gently plunge 4 AA baterieries into the cup.
3. Let sit...untouched... for five minutes.
NEVER MICROWAVE THE BATTERIES ! ! !

In most cases the batteries are good for 3 to 6 months more.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

(I have used nearly a dozen hacks....but the hands down best....is to turn the #1 battery backwards until needed for use...the pack is always fresh.)

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: BobL
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 02:12 AM

Distilled water I hope. Otherwise you will start to electrolyse it into its components, hydrogen and oxygen - so DON'T SMOKE anywhere near!
Although yes, a warm battery will indeed work better than one that's freezing cold.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 05:22 AM

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 07:12 AM

I use Duracell HR6 rechargeables in both my camera and Tascam DR-05 digital recorder - the green & gold ones. I run the batteries to zero before recharging which does seem to give them a longer recharging life. I always have spares with me just in case.

Subject: RE: Rechargeable batteries - recommendations
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 19 - 02:32 PM

The higher the mAh value on the rechargeable batteries the longer they will last. I use these batteries from Amazon in my zoom R16 and in my little zoom Q2n. They last long enough for whatever I want to be doing. The ones I initially bought with a lower mAh rating were pretty useless, so I stick those in less demanding equipment.