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Alembic Club » Owning an Alembic » Troubleshooting » Archive through December 18, 2006 » How to test 9 volt battery « Previous Next »

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daveo
Junior
Username: daveo

Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 1:44 pm:   Edit Post

Hi,

I started getting some weird output from my Tribute and found that changing the 9volt solved the problem. Can anyone tell me what the thingy is that tests a battery's voltage and if it is possible to buy one for a reasonable price?

Thanks,

DaveO
olieoliver
Intermediate Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 112
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 1:51 pm:   Edit Post

Radio shack should sell multimeter for under 20 bucks. They are always good to have.
Or you can rely on the old faithful test, Stick your toungue on it. (Warning this can be painful & addictive)
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1126
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 3:41 pm:   Edit Post

I use my tuner to test 9 volts. A transister radio works also.

Bill, tgo
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 694
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:51 pm:   Edit Post

The old faithful is not very accurate . . . in the old days when i worked in music stores, we used to check the batteries that came with BOSS pedals that way. And man, they would part your hair! Finally we took a couple into the shop and the tech put 'em on a meter: 10.5, 11 volts consistently. Called Roland in LA: "We get them REAL warm, as who knows how long they'll be on the shelf, and want our customers to have their first battery on us" I appreciated their thoughtfulness . . . after my tongue quit smoking!

J o e y
jazzyvee
Advanced Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 379
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post

I personally use the old faithful and have for years, you kind of get a feel for a suitable voltage.

I was told years ago but never checked... that when you put the battery on your tongue, it makes your pupils dilate.
I'm sure its rubbish. lol

When I was doing more regular bass gigs, I used to change the batteries very regularly maybe every two or three gigs and keep the "used ones" in my case as backups for my tuner and wireless transmitter etc.

I figure about £3.50 off my gig fee is neither here nor there to ensure confidence that the bass is always on full power and performing to spec.

Jazzyvee
crgaston
Intermediate Member
Username: crgaston

Post Number: 133
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 4:43 am:   Edit Post

Ollie is right on the money.

You can use your tongue. Try it with a new one a few times to get a baseline. You really can feel a difference when they start to go.

A multimeter is certainly handy to have as well, and is small enough to slip in your gig bag, too.

(Message edited by crgaston on March 18, 2006)
olieoliver
Intermediate Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 114
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 8:14 am:   Edit Post

I can hear it now,"....but officer I just checked a 9 volt batery....."
I agree Joey the tongue method is not very accurate. The multimeter is one thing I have on every gig. It's great for checking cables, speakers, batteries, wall outlets....
bassdr
Member
Username: bassdr

Post Number: 60
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 11:10 am:   Edit Post

Go to Ace hardware, they sell a tester for batteries that will test all the common batteries for about $10- I use mine all the time and it takes the guess work out of "is this battery good or not?", it is a load type tester rather than voltage tester and as such is more accurate to determine if the battery is still good. Michael
daveo
Junior
Username: daveo

Post Number: 42
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:54 am:   Edit Post

Thanks everyone! And Michael, I did actually get the Ace hardware battery tester. It's small, light and cheap and it seems to work well. Thanks for the advice.

DaveO

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