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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 0:34:44 GMT
A Subject That Came To Mind TodayThis morning we planned to broadcast a Breakfast Conversation program from the Forest Park Cafe next to Highway 44, practically within sight of the Internet Building and KDX Worldround Radio. But the Zoom H4 Recorder kept shutting off and re-booting and shutting off and rebooting, and I hadn't stocked any backup batteries, so we only had omelettes without a show. The two Radio Shack re-chargeable Ni-MH AA batteries had taken about 18-hours on the charger before the green LED finally went off, indicating they were charged. But these batteries have been in use since the late 1990s... they have given a remarkable length of service but I think they're done. The MICRONTA BATTERY TESTER meter shows the battery voltage just barely in the GOOD range, and the guess is that they no longer hold sufficient current capacity to operate the recorder. Industry research into battery improvements have continued over the past decade and the time has come to see what's available in up-to-date rechargeable battery technology. The exploration begins here Wikipedia ReChargeable Batteries
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Post by Admin on Jan 4, 2017 2:11:46 GMT
Depending on the tester, a battery can show good voltage if not loaded.
I've had enough batteries show good only to die shortly after being in service.
At the shop we found that Ni-Cads could be rejuvenated by pulsing reverse current briefly and then recharging. Seems that Ni-Cads develop threads internally will gradually discharge the battery as it sets. Fully charged out of the charger only to go dead in a day or so setting on the shelf. Pulsing reverse current apparently burns out the threads which are bleeding the battery.
I have no scientific proof, only practical experience.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 4:01:00 GMT
Double Checking the Details
Once I read Admin's secret sauce formula for reverse-pulsing batteries back to life I thought I'd try it. After all, these batteries are certifiably spent, but then I looked more closely.
Admin says he does this with Ni-Cads (NiCd) which are nickel cadmium batteries.
Mine are Ni-MH nickel metal hydride, so reverse-pulsing might cause the room to explode.
Be mistake free. Join the ALPB.
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Post by End80 on Jan 4, 2017 8:33:10 GMT
Always intended to get one of those Zoom H4, hear they are excellent units. Maybe next summer I actually will.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 11:52:38 GMT
Recommended for All Stations
End80 shared: "Always intended to get one of those Zoom H4, hear they are excellent units. Maybe next summer I actually will."
The Zoom H4 has proven itself to be an amazing device, like having an Ampex tape recorder plus small studio in one slightly-larger than pocket sized package.
To go with it I recommend the Astatic 930VP Pressure Zone (PZM) Microphone (or 2 for stereo) with its adjustable patterns: omni, cardiod, super-cardiod abd figure 8.
The Astatic 930VP requires 48V Phantom Power and the Zoom H4 provides both 24V and 48V Phantom Power!
You will be glad you did.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 15:58:28 GMT
Digging Into Ni-MH Battery Technology
The Zoom H4 Specifications say only this about battery power: 2X IE6 (AA) Batteries.
The Zoom also includes a 300 mA Wall Wart Supply.
My now old Ni-MH rechargeable batteries no longer able to keep the Zoom turned on are:
- 4X Radio Shack 23-525 1.2V 1500 mAh and 2X Energizer NH-15-AA 1.2V 2100 mAh.
Two of my old Ni-MH rechargeables that still keep the Zoom turned on are:
- 2X Duracell Accu HR6 1.2V 2050 mAh.
Looking around the web it appears the highest mAh ratings available are about 2500 mAh.
The mAh (milliAmp hours) is an indication of how much power can be delivered in a given time period. This is how I interpret it, if you can correct me please do so and I will be better informed:
Assuming the Zoom draws 300 mA to run therefore 2500 mAh divided by 300 mA = 8.3333333 hours of run time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 23:26:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 4:14:43 GMT
Home School College Rechargeable Battery Course
I'm busy watching YouTube Videos on batteries and chargers. I'm not taking phone calls.
Wow, it's a fascinating subject. This could be a night of binge viewing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 15:22:40 GMT
Deep Battery University
With outdoor temperature 9-degrees this will be my second or third day watching YouTube Videos about battery chargers and batteries and I really love this subject.
Some very informative and well presented videos have been done, but I will give two criticisms... one positive and one negative:
As a positive criticism I truly find it entertaining when several of these guys start their cameras and then explain that they are just opening the package and are totally unfamiliar with the battery charger they will be talking about. That's the way to do a good video!
On the negative side, why oh why do so many YouTube video hosts NOT use an up close voice microphone so they could be heard clearly and professionally? It's a very simple thing to do, but no... lots of them use the on-board camera mic and it's terribly difficult to understand their mumbling with so much room resonance.
I don't have time for being here, got to get back to watching.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 18:25:40 GMT
Up For Air
An entire morning spent viewing Smart Charger Reviews on YouTube for AA batteries.
Now I'm gaining some idea of the better "Smart" chargers but am circling back to keep better notes on the shortcomings reported by the reviewers.
One guy said he blew-out his charger by plugging it in while batteries were installed. He says that it should only be powered on with no batteries attached. That's exactly the opposite of the way my "dumb" charger has worked for the past 10-years... batteries are installed first, then the unit is plugged in to the A.C.
Another unit has a U.S. adapter that plugs to a European style A.C. plug, which makes an elongated dangly mass that tends to droop when plugged into a wall socket.
Two units compared back-to-back showed that one of them over-charged batteries while the other one under-charged them.
I'm beginning to back off from enthusiasm.
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Post by thelegacy on Jan 7, 2017 1:13:12 GMT
I've always questioned these "Smart adapters" and "Smart chargers" I'll explain my experience with a "Smart Adapter"
My HP 15 Laptop came with what they call a "Smart Adapter" and I find this to be sort of a pain. I run my Laptop 24/7 on my station and the computer does not seem to overheat but sometimes randomly with switch to battery when the unit is still plugged in and other times it does this on an almost scheduled basis usually once every 12/24 hrs.
I've had other laptops in the past that I could run 24/7 without an issue like when I had my Toshiba. I had it for over two yrs before it went dark and the batteries never overcharged nor seemed to lose their life. The hard drive on the computer failed before the batteries failed.
I called Aarons about this and they said it was normal on the HP's and many newer laptops are starting to do the same thing. Maybe because of some batteries that got too hot and exploded. Somehow the "Smart Adapter" is supposed to avoid this incident.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 17:28:15 GMT
Beware the "Smart" Label
Troy is right about that... just because devices are labeled "smart" doesn't guarantee that they'll do the smartest possible thing.
For example, according to experience shared by YouTube reviewers, some of the "smart" chargers have been found to under-charge or over-charge batteries, which is the very problem they are supposed to solve.
New versions of chargers arrive on the market, and one naturally hopes that previous bugs are fixed, but soon even newer versions will appear, so it's uncertain how we can be "smart" buyers.
Anyway, I've narrowed the focus and made a decision about which smart charger I'll be choosing for KDX, with a review of our own scheduled to be posted here after we've tried it out.
My next questions are about the AA Ni-MH batteries themselves... which ones are consistently "best" in terms of performance and price? Probably another moving target, like selecting fresh beer.
Also wondering about 9-Volt re-chargeable batteries... haven't seen anything about smart chargers for them, but I'll take a deeper look.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 0:00:42 GMT
Recover a Dead Rechargeable BatteryIn my travels into YouTube battery videos I've seen many fascinating accomplishments by the videographers who tell their battery stories. Earlier in this thread MRAM 1500 shared his technique for re-claiming Ni-Cad AA's, and in this next video the fellow shows a way to get a Ni-MH AA working again. Bu the way, if a Ni-MH battery drops below .9 Volts it will not recharge. The video shows how to get around that situation. BRINGING Ni-MH AA Battery Back To Life
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 2:02:23 GMT
Another Ni-MH Battery TrickHere is another secret way to restore a AA rechargeable that has dropped below it's functional voltage. This approach is similar to but not exactly the same as the one in the last post. Tong That Dead Battery
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 20:47:52 GMT
In the Re-Charge Business
Today KDX Worldround Radio took delivery of a new Opus BT-C3100 V2.2 Intelligent Battery Charger for AA and AAA batteries.
At the same time we stocked up on a goodly batch of new pre-charged batteries so that our immediate needs can be met without hesitation.
Lesson One in trying the new device is to put several of our oldest re-chargeables through a DISCHARGE/REFRESH process which takes the batteries down to .9V and then re-charges them to the very top in repeating cycles until the batteries are restored to their most optimum condition.
The batteries undergoing this test are Radio Shack Ni-MH 1500 mAh which had lost the ability to keep our Zoom Digital Audio Recorder turned on following the most recent re-charge with the old NON-smart charger. The batteries got the Zoom to boot, shut-down and re-boot, continuously.
This process may take days, but we've got the time and it will certainly be an improvement in our battery management department.
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