Reliable rechargeable batteries with active basses

[kiat]

My J-TONE preamp eats batteries like noone's business!  Maybe 10 in the past 18 months, I've lost count. I do use that bass (Lakland JO5) a lot though and try to limit battery drain by removing the instrument cable at every opportunity.  I bought good quality batteries from Amazon and Thomann, but still they seemed to last a couple of months at most.

I'd like to give rechargables a go.

• has anyone installed a USB extension cable, neatly, into their guitar so you can simply plug a 5V power cable into the body? If so, any tips?
• reading through the answers it seems good quality NiMH 9V batteries help reduce noise and maintain 9V for longer than Lithium Ion, is that what people are seeing now with recent batteries?
   

[TimR]

5 minutes ago, kiat said:

try to limit battery drain by removing the instrument cable at every opportunity. 

 

That's confusing. Do you sometimes leave the bass plugged in for days?

 

Unplug whenever you have finished playing.

 

Other than that, check your jack plug isn't shorting and if it's not factory fitted, that it's wired correctly in the first place. 

[TimR]

• Battery drain in passive mode: Some East UK preamps draw power from the battery even in passive mode. This is a design feature to avoid loud thumps when switching between modes, but it means the battery will drain regardless of the selected mode. 
• Make sure the black battery lead terminal has only one wire connected.
• Always remove the jack plug from the instrument when not in use, as inserting the jack activates the battery connection.
• Use a new, high-quality battery for best performance.
• Check that the jack socket is not touching any wiring outside of the preamp circuit, as this can cause unnecessary power drain.

[kiat]

10 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

That's confusing. Do you sometimes leave the bass plugged in for days?

 

No Tim, I always unplug (and rarely forget) when I stop playing. I do play every day.  What I meant by that,  is even short terms breaks in playing (going to the loo, making a cuppa, answering my wife when she interrupts me 😉) I take the cable out.

[kiat]

38 minutes ago, TimR said:

• Battery drain in passive mode: Some East UK preamps draw power from the battery even in passive mode. This is a design feature to avoid loud thumps when switching between modes, but it means the battery will drain regardless of the selected mode. 
• Make sure the black battery lead terminal has only one wire connected.
• Always remove the jack plug from the instrument when not in use, as inserting the jack activates the battery connection.
• Use a new, high-quality battery for best performance.
• Check that the jack socket is not touching any wiring outside of the preamp circuit, as this can cause unnecessary power drain.

Thanks for the tips.  A week ago I installed replacement Lakland pickups and had the opportunity to reseat the new cables, check the jack socket wiring etc. I'm not keen on replacing batteries so often, even when they are fine, though I will do it for the more important gigs rather than take a chance (it would be not cost effective to put a new battery in for every gig! - hence thinking about rechargables, ideally if they can be charged in place, from what I see that is not possible with NiMH (more stable voltage) unless I get some funky wiring set up, but would be with Li-ion.)

[TimR]

I'd contact them, as new batteries every 8 weeks seems wrong to me. 

[Dad3353]

27 minutes ago, kiat said:

Thanks for the tips.  A week ago I installed replacement Lakland pickups and had the opportunity to reseat the new cables, check the jack socket wiring etc. I'm not keen on replacing batteries so often, even when they are fine, though I will do it for the more important gigs rather than take a chance (it would be not cost effective to put a new battery in for every gig! - hence thinking about rechargables, ideally if they can be charged in place, from what I see that is not possible with NiMH (more stable voltage) unless I get some funky wiring set up, but would be with Li-ion.)

 

Wikipedia has an exhaustive article on 9v batteries ...

 

Wikipedia : 9v Batteries ...

 

... in which we learn that alcaline PP3's have much longer life (ma/h...) compared to NiMH. Lithium can last much longer yet, but will cost ten times more per battery. I would suggest that you invest in a battery tester, and test your alcalines before playing, so as not to change before it's necessary, and to include the cost of battery replacement as an inevitable cost of playing. Lithium batteries of the right type will mean changing less often, but at a much higher price. Your call, of course... Hope this helps. 

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, kiat said:

Thanks for the tips.  A week ago I installed replacement Lakland pickups and had the opportunity to reseat the new cables, check the jack socket wiring etc. I'm not keen on replacing batteries so often, even when they are fine, though I will do it for the more important gigs rather than take a chance (it would be not cost effective to put a new battery in for every gig! - hence thinking about rechargables, ideally if they can be charged in place, from what I see that is not possible with NiMH (more stable voltage) unless I get some funky wiring set up, but would be with Li-ion.)

 

If you have a multimeter, you could check to see if there's still a current drain when the jack plug is disconnected. Just unclip one side of the battery and connect the multimeter, on a low current range, between battery and clip.

[Geek99]

I’d ask John east himself - he is a member here 

[Franticsmurf]

There was a recent post somewhere on the forum about a battery tester which plugs directly into the jack socket. I can't remember where now, but it may be of some use. I've had a quick look but can't find it. 

[TimR]

 

 

[RogerDodger]

3 hours ago, TimR said:

• Battery drain in passive mode: Some East UK preamps draw power from the battery even in passive mode. This is a design feature to avoid loud thumps when switching between modes, but it means the battery will drain regardless of the selected mode. 
• Make sure the black battery lead terminal has only one wire connected.
• Always remove the jack plug from the instrument when not in use, as inserting the jack activates the battery connection.
• Use a new, high-quality battery for best performance.
• Check that the jack socket is not touching any wiring outside of the preamp circuit, as this can cause unnecessary power drain.

So if I'm not in Kent, Essex, Norfolk or Suffolk I should be OK?

[Dad3353]