Battery lifetime: result

[guenter]

In another thread the question arose if it is useful to disconnect the cord from the bass during a playing break. Does it?

Here we go...

Precondition:
All measurements were made on my 2007 StingRay HS 3-BandEq connected to the input of my amp. Results may be a little different for other models or basses (HH, H, piezo...)

Interesting facts:
* No setting (volume, bass, mid, treble) does affect the power consumption of the preamp
* Turning down the volume and leaving the cord plugged in will not lengthen the battery lifetime. This also means that turning up vol, bass, mid, treble to 100% will on the other hand not shorten the battery life time
* power consumption also does not vary when the strings are plucked and generate input for the preamp.

The current consumption of my StingRays preamp is always 0.32mA (@9V)
If i take a standard 9V battery with a capacity of about 500mAh the lifetime of a battery (inserted in a StingRay HS with the cord plugged in) is: 500mAh / 0.32mA = 1563h (Playing each day for 2hrs results in a battery lifetime of a little more than 2 years!)

If you have a break of 30 minutes during your concert and you do not disconnect the cord, this will cost about 1/3000th of the battery lifetime.

Interesting link: Nine-volt battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[FunkyPunky]

...hab' noch nie darüber nachgedacht, wie lange ein Block hält, aber vielen Dank für Deine empirischen Beobachungen!

That's definitely a nice one, thanks a lot!

 

[MadMatt]

Danke! Thanks. Good to know that leaving it plugged in during the break is not going to have a huge effect.

-Matt

 

[Kamakiriad]

This is an awesome post. Great work!

The next question is, of course, a subjective one: when does there begin to be an audible degradation in tone/sound quality? Maybe I will experiment with this.

 

[five7]

Very interesting, thanks for posting!

 

[adouglas]

Interesting indeed.

I should point out, though, that the useful battery life will be somewhat less than the data might indicate. As the battery voltage drops over time, it loses the ability to drive the preamp effectively.

This is based on my own personal experience, not any actual measurements.

I use the batteries that won't drive my bass any more in non-critical places like my bathroom scale. So they're definitely not dead....

Still, the life is very long indeed.

 

[todddlur]

good info for sure. i've always left the cable plugged in on breaks but i change my batteries every two months anyway. same as my wireless system , i never use a battery for more than one night this way i'm sure my batteries are at thier best.

 

[Alex001]

Interesting....

The only thing I'm paranoid of: Battery Leakage! - not cool.

 

[danny-79]

Interesting data thanks for the post.
Still I change my battery's on average every 12 months, needed or not, generally every other time i change strings, (old habits die hard).
Just figured that seeing as the amount of power thats pulled off the battery is so small you don't notice the gradual degradation in sound quality until you do put a fresh battery in even though there is still life in the old one.

 

[keko]

Very interesting information guenter!

I don't unplug the cord jack during the gig brakes, just mute the volume pot.
Average my break last about 15 minutes long (weddings, party...etc.) and whole gigs are between 6-12 hours long!

Anyway, I use to change batteries every 6 months just to be sure, or when voltage drops lower than 9 volts. After that I give old battery to my son to use it in guitar overdrive pedal ...and he use it for a long time more!

 

[Petebass]

I love a thread with scientific content! Well done!

Next experiment - battery consumption on the 2 band pre Vs the 3 band pre

 

[guenter]

I love a thread with scientific content! Well done!

Next experiment - battery consumption on the 2 band pre Vs the 3 band pre

Sure

I'd be glad to compare power consumption of a Bongo 5 HH[p] vs a Bongo 5 HS[p].

I'm just looking for somebody to borrow me one of those basses

Nobody? It's a pity.

 

[TGL]

Batts

Thanks for that info--I'm happy to see that batt usage is very slight. That's a good thing. I'll probubly change mine every 6 months. It's nice not to have to worry about a batt.

My wireless eats one batt per gig (not even 4 hrs of use)

 

[tkarter]

I only change mine after a year or so of use and then just carry new ones unless I have a gig.

But since we are talking science. Is every bass the same? Is every bongo the same? Is everyone using the same cable? Is every battery the same?

tk

 

[nashman]

Interesting indeed.

I should point out, though, that the useful battery life will be somewhat less than the data might indicate. As the battery voltage drops over time, it loses the ability to drive the preamp effectively.

This is based on my own personal experience, not any actual measurements.

I use the batteries that won't drive my bass any more in non-critical places like my bathroom scale. So they're definitely not dead....

Still, the life is very long indeed.

Maybe you weigh more than you think

 

[BloxBass]

I was wondering on the Big Al, when you switch to passive does it stop draining the battery completely? Meaning if you were to leave in the cord and simply switch to passive mode does that stop the battery from draining?

 

[tkarter]

To answer that the scientist would have to buy a Big Al.

tk

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I was wondering on the Big Al, when you switch to passive does it stop draining the battery completely?

Wild guess: No.

Otherwise you'd get a huge pop when switching back to active, as the preamp powers up.

Again, just a guess.

 

[gjj]

I agree

Interesting....

The only thing I'm paranoid of: Battery Leakage! - not cool.

I have concerns about this as well. Has anyone ever experienced a 9 volt leak while in the bass?

 

[Petebass]

I have concerns about this as well. Has anyone ever experienced a 9 volt leak while in the bass?

Nope never, and I've been known to leave batteries in my lesser-loved basses until they die - years sometimes. The MM basses get new batteries every 6 months whether they need it or not.