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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive through January 07, 2011 » Archive: 2009 » Archive through May 01, 2009 » Check your batteries... « Previous Next »

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bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2242
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 6:53 pm:   Edit Post

Just a reminder. My battery bit me tonight. Hard. I played the bass at the rehearsal last week and it sounded great (I use a Duke for living room practice in between). Plugged it in tonight, and I thought someone had blown the speakers in the bass amp I leave in the rehearsal space. When I opened the bass up, the battery was 100% dead on the tongue tester. The bottom of it had also busted open a bit. Sixty to zero in 3.2 seconds.

I assume what happened was that the voltage was dropping as the battery got old and, as a result, the current through the battery went up, generated some heat and blew open the battery. I'm glad the battery fried and everything else held together.

In any case, periodic battery replacement is a concept we all should embrace. Consider this a friendly reminder.

-bob
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 747
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 1:31 am:   Edit Post

Highly unusual that as all batteries now are designed to prevent heatup when voltage drops, I remember back in the 60's it was a regular occurrence but not now. Maybe you have a faulty battery, as you say lucky it didn't damage the internals.
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 1590
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 5:08 am:   Edit Post

I had battery problems they would die very quick & get soo hot i could feel the heat on my stomach while holding my bass so i took it to a local tech & the problem was just a bad wire.

(Message edited by keavin on March 29, 2009)
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2208
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 5:24 am:   Edit Post

Good reminder Bob. Something else to think about, if you have an instrument in storage for any length of time, TAKE THE BATTERIES OUT. Even dead batteries can leak after setting around after a year or so.
In fact I have a few at home I probably should remove the batteries from.

OO
byoung
Senior Member
Username: byoung

Post Number: 1198
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 8:56 am:   Edit Post

I have a better solution:

Get a series instrument, and don't use batteries.

:-)

Bradley
glocke
Senior Member
Username: glocke

Post Number: 576
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 10:31 am:   Edit Post

I get burnt on this time after time...Every time it happens I check my amp, cable, and always end up checking the batteries last....one of these days I'll learn.
mike13
Junior
Username: mike13

Post Number: 38
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 - 6:22 pm:   Edit Post

Use lithium batteries
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 749
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 7:54 am:   Edit Post

byoung..well I would love a series II if you care to donate one to me for free LOL

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