Author Topic: Battery Question (Read 324 times)

goop · « **on:** May 25, 2009, 01:55:51 PM »

I am getting an aweful sound from Distillate, aside from my playing. At first I thought it was my amp because it almost sounds like a blown speaker. I changed cables, changed bases and believe I have narrowed it down to the Alembic. Could it be my battery has, or is about to die? I hope so!

I am a little concerned though, as I thought the bass would simply go from active to passive without the battery.

What happens when the battery is on death row? Funny, the LED still lites up.

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2009, 02:17:28 PM »

When the battery starts to go it does indeed sound like a blown speaker. Change the battery.

kilowatt · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2009, 03:41:53 PM »

Dave is right. I have had this happen to me and you would swear that one of your speakers had bitten the dust! Be thankful, batteries are much cheaper than speakers.

Pete

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2009, 03:45:23 PM »

It usually happens when you're on stage in front of a bunch of people.

lbpesq · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2009, 09:48:28 PM »

Colin:

The LEDs don't run on the same battery as the electronics. The LEDs have a separate battery compartment with four 9v batteries. The electronics run on a single 9v.

Bill, tgo

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2009, 01:35:38 AM »

Goop..for the technical record, Alembics will not run without a battery as the pu's do not have enough electromagenetic 'push', they require power from the pre amps.
Alembic pu's are low impedance, those without the need of a battery are high impedance.
As everyone has said, the most awful sound appears from nowhere and immediately you go to panic mode.
change the battery..make sure it is a high quality Alkaline(Duracell) as these last the longest.

goop · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2009, 06:32:29 AM »

gentlemen, thanks very much! this has completely resovled my problem and is a heads up for future.

man, i did panic there for a moment and wondered for a while what to do.

she sounds sweet again...

thanks guys!

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2009, 06:42:37 AM »

Hi Bill,
I believe goop was talking about the single LED on the front of the Distillate, next to the output jack.

I carry spare 9v s in all my cases and bags, so I never get caught without.

Mike

goop · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2009, 07:12:39 AM »

thanks Mike. yes I was referring to the single LED. i knew what Bill meant though and of course appreciate his response.

i don't gig that much, but it is probably a good idea to test it, or replace it beforehand. failure during a gig would be a disaster.

lbpesq · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2009, 07:29:29 AM »

Radio Shack has a cheap little battery tester that works for 9v and AA,AAA,C,and D too. I carry it in my gig bag and always check my batteries before playing out.

Bill, tgo

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2009, 04:05:49 PM »

Thanks, Bill I wondered how to tell when it's battery kilin' time

I'll have to check my local RS store for same.

Mike

hodge · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2009, 10:25:24 AM »

here,s my input. when ichange the battery i scrape the date on it.on average they last one year. cheers..

chalkie · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2009, 07:51:22 AM »

Mike, The voltage of an alkaline battery (zinc and manganese dioxide electrodes with potassium hydroxide being the strong alkali solution) will decay as it wears out. For a nominal 9V battery you'll probably see about 9.5V when its new, and I'd look at replacing it once you get down to maybe 8.0V. It'd be interesting to test the battery voltage *just* as you get the effect described here to see what value that is. Actually I might try that by putting a pot in series with the battery and turning it down until I detect the effect, and then measuring working voltage.

I thought this was a nice simple explanation