| Author | Message | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 120 Registered: 2-2011 |
What kind of life can I expect to get out of my battery that powers the electronics? How will I know when it is fixing to die, does it begin to distort, or just quit working? Does low voltage on the battery harm the electronics? I have been practicing several hours a day everyday lately & I don't want it to die in the middle of a gig! It seems like I read that it should last about a year, but how much playing time is included in that estimate? Any suggestions for a routine change out schedule? I know I should keep a spare, but if I'm not going to use the spare for 3 or 4 months it may not be good when I need it. Thanks! | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 2409 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't do too many gigs these days maybe 6 or 7 per year but I play my Alembics a lot at home so when it comes to gigging I always check the charge on the battery with my tongue. I'm pretty good at determining if it has much charge left by that method. If It doesn't sting I change it for a new one. So Far I've never had one fail on a gig. I've taken batteries out that have sounded fine but on the tongue test they were pretty dead so I changed them anyway. I would say if you have any doubts about the charge left in a battery, change it before the gig. Remove the risk. Jazzyvee | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 121 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks Jazzyvee! I will keep a spare just in case & change mine before any big gig. I do bring my Jazz bass as a backup if the battery ever dies mid set. I was just curious if anyone had a set schedule where they change them every 6 months, or whatever. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4833 Registered: 7-2004 |
I picked up a small battery tester. I always test my batteries before a gig and always bring backups. I've seen people do the tongue test, ala Jazzyvee, but could never do this myself ... I cringe even thinking about it! I guess I'm just the kind of guy who doesn't like pain. I also stay away from roller coasters. I've never understood the concept of spending money to feel like you're going to die! lol Bill, tgo | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 123 Registered: 2-2011 |
Hey Bill, I'm with you on the tongue testing! I have friends who do that too & I never have, never will! I have a battery tester that works just fine! I wish they could put test holes in the plates so you can test the battery without having to pull the plate off. I guess that would attract a bunch of dust & lint inside the electronics that would not be good for them. I used to love roller coasters when my kids were young, not so sure I would enjoy them as much now! I prefer the Harley for that kind of thrill, at least I'm in control! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4834 Registered: 7-2004 |
Someone is making a battery tester that just plugs into the 1/4" jack, but all the reviews I read panned it. When someone gets it right, such a beast will be most welcome around here. Bill, tgo | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 124 Registered: 2-2011 |
That is a great idea! | ||
| lembic76450
Advanced Member Username: lembic76450 Post Number: 288 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have an idea, just plug a new 1/4" switchcraft into the jack without the jacket and test at the terminals with a multi meter. Should work, right?? | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 125 Registered: 2-2011 |
I thought it would too, but I tried it & got no voltage reading. | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 804 Registered: 1-2008 |
To answer the "how do you know its going bad" portion of your question: the tone will start sounding distorted and will go from bad to worse fairly quickly. There is no chance of finishing out a gig with a "weak" battery, so always keep spares on hand. | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 126 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks Mike! That's the answer I was looking for! How long do your batteries usually last? | ||
| mike1762
Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 805 Registered: 1-2008 |
I play several hours a day and I would guess that I get about 6 months between changes. Don't forget to unplug when you're not playing or it will continue to drain the battery. (Message edited by mike1762 on April 25, 2011) | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7318 Registered: 6-2000 |
I usually suggest to change every 6 months or so to avoid surprises. You can pick something like the Summer and Winter Solstice or other bi-annual event in your life to remind you it's battery changin' time. And yes - unplug when you are not playing - good for the battery and good for not tripping over the cable and causing damage. | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 127 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks Mike & Mica! I do unplug it when I'm not playing, even at the gigs during breaks for both reasons you suggested Mica! I don't need anyone tripping over my cable & yanking the bass off the stand! | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1685 Registered: 9-2002 |
In the old music store days, I tried the 'tongue tester' on the batteries that came with the BOSS pedals, just to check before they went out the door to their new home. They used to straighten my eyebrows, could not understand why a BOSS battery was noticeably stronger. One day during a phone conversation with Roland service, I asked about this, and the guy says, 'Oh yeah, they charge them up to 10, 10.5 volts so they'll last on the shelf a long time.' Bought a battery tester the next day . . . . J o e y | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 128 Registered: 2-2011 |
I think Don King got his start as a battery tester!  | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 4840 Registered: 7-2004 |
 | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 491 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hey, battery testing nerds... If you want to build a plug in tester, you need a STEREO 1/4" tip/ring/sleeve plug (like on the headphones in your studio). You should be able to read the battery voltage between the ring and sleeve (the tip is audio!). The way that the jack switches power is that you bring the - battery terminal to the ring connector (the one in the middle). When you plug in a regular "mono" guitar cable (which is tip/sleeve only), the longer sleeve conductor of the plug touches both the ring and sleeve conductors on the jack. This connects the battery - to ground and power starts to flow through the circuit. This won't work on a Series bass which has a more complicated 1/4" output jack with uses the tip/ring/sleeve for stereo output and has separate physical switches for the onboard batteries. David Fung | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 147 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks for the info David, but I tried it on my SC Signature Deluxe & it only read .08 volts. | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 492 Registered: 5-2002 |
rustyg61 - Interesting. I didn't try this out before I wrote it, but just went and did so. The first test was on a Modulus Bassstar (basically a P Bass with and EMG pickups) and reading from ring to ground did show the battery voltage. This is the "normal" active wiring with a Switchcraft stereo 1/4" jack. But I tried it on a Musicman Stingray and it didn't work. I pulled the jack to see what was going on, and it turns out that this bass has a plastic 4-pin output jack. On this bass you can't read the battery power externally because it has a discrete battery switch. Anybody have a picture inside the cavity on a Sig Deluxe like this? I'm curious if it's a 4-pin jack on Alembics now! David Fung | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 151 Registered: 2-2011 |
Mine has the 4 pin jack. When you plug the cable in it pushes the 2 contacts together completing the battery ciruit.   | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1557 Registered: 11-2004 |
Here's one for you..was at a gig on Monday, heard this really horrible fuzz sound coming from amp, now I use extremely high quality(they were very expensive!) rechargeables as the SIMS LED's run of the same battery. Anyway back to the fuzz sound..SO I thought change the battery..same fuzz sound..change bass..same fuzz sound...answer..speaker blown in combo..ARGHH. | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 158 Registered: 2-2011 |
I HATE it when that happens! Sorry about your luck! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1558 Registered: 11-2004 |
rustyg61..all fixed now, Ashdown sent me a new one even though it wasn't covered in the warranty, anyway 4 screws and two solder joints later and it's fixed | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 159 Registered: 2-2011 |
Cool! I love a happy ending! We did a New Years gig 2 years ago in an airplane hanger & we unknowingly tied our power distribution box into 330 instead of 220, so instead of having 110 on each side of the circuit, we had 220 on one side & 110 on the other. Unfortunately I was the 1st to power up & was hooked to the 220 side! I thought I blew my whole rig up, sparks & smoke went everywhere! Luckily it just fried my power conditioner! I upgraded to a Furman that will shut itself down if it detects high voltage. So it protects itself as well as my equipment. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1807 Registered: 5-2009 |
Rusty , I am curious what kind of plug outlets were in this distribution box. The kind of "temp" box" on a construction site has round twist locks for anything over household 11O AC volts. All the 220 AC volt outlets can not be connected to with a house hold plug. Did some one defeat such safety and NEC code features or modify adaptors ? Even the 110 AC volt 20 amp are twist lock on most " temp boxes" What kind of box was this ; not to code ? | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 160 Registered: 2-2011 |
We have a power distribution box with pigtails that we hardwire into the main power terminals, then it splits into several different 110 circuits to keep our PA & lights on a seperate breaker than the stage. In this hanger they had lathes & drill presses that ran on 330, so there was 220 on one lug & 110 on the other lug where we tied our distro into. We learned a hard lesson to test the lugs now before we tie into them! I had never even heard of a 330 circuit! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1808 Registered: 5-2009 |
Rusty______ PIGTAILS ! hard wired ! OK now I under stand ! _____ Sorry to hear of the result. It is a good thing you guys did not get hurt. Oh well, I once got a big zap from a flyback transformer (25,000 volts) that made me look like the the guy in your post number 128 above , and I made sure that would not happen again . We learn from our own experiences , the good thing is we get better as we get older ; LOL____ I have to write that to make my self feel OK having turned 55. | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 161 Registered: 2-2011 |
Hey Wolf, I have seen the result of getting zapped from a flyback transformer! I took radio & TV repair in high school, & a guy grabbed the 2nd anode to disconnect it from the CRT & he got hit with the 25K! It turned his arm purple! I turn 50 in 16 days, so I'm fixing to join you "old" guys! LOL! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1809 Registered: 5-2009 |
Well ___Pre-Happy Birthday to you Rusty! | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 162 Registered: 2-2011 |
Thanks Wolf! I'm celebrating by touring the Mothership June 22! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1559 Registered: 11-2004 |
Okay an update, new 10" driver installed and the old one on the bench. I moved the cone in and out to see if I could feel the coil grating against the housing and on a closer look the + terminal connector wire to the coil had only one strand, it look as if the wire had parted, maybe it wasn't properly wound, SO I grafted a twisted piece of copper wire onto it, soldered securely and yes you guessed it it work perfectly. Now I have a spare 16 Ohm 150W 10" driver. | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1813 Registered: 5-2009 |
Good job Terry . That is the kind of thing that can make your day shine bright. | ||
| jcdlc72
Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 72 Registered: 11-2009 |
So, Rusty, it seems we do share birthday! Only I'm turning 39  I also plan on having an Alembician celebration... by giving my beloved Epic 5 its first "formal public appearance" -until now I've only used it for recording and photo shoots)- in concert, opening for ASIA on the 26th!. So... Happy Alembician Birthday too! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1561 Registered: 11-2004 |
sonicus...well I hate getting rid of anything that can be salvaged..I was considering trying to get a re cone kit if the voice coil had gone. Anyway it turned out good, I cannot fault Ashdown as their service was excellent..called on the Tuesday, speaker arrived on the Wednesday..top service!!! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 1815 Registered: 5-2009 |
Terry , that is good to know about Ashdown. I recently also did a speaker repair on a Gauss 12" that had a cone tear . It will be just fine now. Next I need to clean my computer keyboard ! (Message edited by sonicus on May 05, 2011) | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 168 Registered: 2-2011 |
Great news Terry! You found the "Silver Lining!" That's better than finding $20 in your pocket! | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 169 Registered: 2-2011 |
Happy early birthday Juan Carlos! What a way to celebrate opening for Asia! WOW!! Get someone to take pictures & post them! There is nothing like the first gig with an Alembic, it's a magical moment for sure! Have fun!! | ||
| jcdlc72
Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 73 Registered: 11-2009 |
Oh, I will post pics indeed! I've been waiting for "the right gig" to bring this beauty on since about a year and a half now, and this seems way appropriate. My birthday is today, by the way But I will celebrate -maybe double?- on 26. WAY interesting the note on Ashdown. Where are you located? I reckon within the UK the service would be that fast (I believe Ashdown is an English company) but, Do they have service in the US that fast? WOW, now THAT's amazing!. My rig is pretty much mixed up right now, but that kind of service would definitely be a heavy weight to consider when changing the amp to accompany such a wonderful instrument as the Alembic! | ||
| rustyg61
Intermediate Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 172 Registered: 2-2011 |
Well, Happy Birthday today then! I hope it's your best one yet! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1564 Registered: 11-2004 |
jcdlc72...Ashdown are definitely UK based, don't know if they have a USA distributor. | ||
| tcube
Member Username: tcube Post Number: 81 Registered: 8-2007 |
To answer the original question: Battery on my 1981 Distillate died in 7 months. Always unplugged it when not in use (except during breaks between sets). I gig/rehearse nearly daily for 1-5 hrs. Battery on my 1992 Essence lasted more than 1 year. Didn't try to push it. (Same treatment as above). So, maybe the different battery-consumption rates are due to pre amp design. In both cases when the batteries died, it sounded like going through a fuzz bo. That lasted for 10-15 min before going silent. | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 1024 Registered: 8-2005 |
same experience with my old 76 Series 1! I get (IIRC) about 7 hours on the 2 batteries) I have a cable made up just incase the Blue Box fails. George | ||
| herbbone
Junior Username: herbbone Post Number: 12 Registered: 5-2011 |
My 74 Series 1 eats batteries. When I first got it I plugged it in and played nice for a few hours. Then came the fuzz, then terrible squealing. I am new to Alembics and thought something was horribly wrong. The members here helped greatly. The problem was with the batteries. If you must use batteries have spares on hand. Mark |
