Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: sssikuk on December 14, 2011, 02:09:54 AM

Title: CA Ugly battery
Post by: sssikuk on December 14, 2011, 02:09:54 AM
How long does a battery last in a CA Ugly?
Just a standard alkaline battery.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: ilduclo on December 14, 2011, 10:51:18 AM
most of the bat boxes depend on the draw. I get 6 months on a 9v using dpa 4061's. It's important to unplug the mics from your BB when not in use, as they draw power whether recording or not.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: cybergaloot on December 14, 2011, 10:58:36 AM
Batteries are cheap, why take a chance? You can get rechargeable 9v batteries if you want to be eco-friendly.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: sssikuk on December 14, 2011, 11:47:37 AM
Thanks

I've replaced them after each show which I knew was overkill.

Maybe every 3 to 4 hours I'll replace them now.

Thanks
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: Gutbucket on December 14, 2011, 12:24:49 PM
Ugly Preamp or Ugly Battery Box? Two different animals.  The battery box will run much, much longer than the preamp will, since there is no amplification circuit being powered. 

With the Ugly Preamps, I recharge the 9.6V NiMH batts I use in them before each show.  For a festival I could probably go all day, but since there is no low battery indicator on the preamp I change the battery half-way through the day just to be safe.  If you want to measure the battery with a voltmeter to check, make sure to do so while it is powering the preamp (or batterybox) under load.  Don't take the battery out to measure it because you will get a false reading.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: cybergaloot on December 14, 2011, 12:38:17 PM
I don't know if this helps but Chris Church once said the battery in his CA-9000 preamp would last about 20 hours of use. I'd suspect the CA-UGLY would get something in that ballpark as well but I personally would change it more often.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: sssikuk on December 15, 2011, 02:15:21 AM
Ugly Preamp or Ugly Battery Box? Two different animals.  The battery box will run much, much longer than the preamp will, since there is no amplification circuit being powered. 



Ugly Preamp is the one.

Thanks for your replies.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: Church-Audio on December 15, 2011, 08:20:16 AM
How long does a battery last in a CA Ugly?
Just a standard alkaline battery.

I always recommend rechargeable MAHA 9.6 volt batteries now. They can be recharged before each show so you are 100% sure you are going to be ok. The chargers are not cheap but the batteries will run you about $9 or so. About twice the price of a Duracell here in Canada.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: daspyknows on February 15, 2012, 04:58:47 PM
How long does a battery last in a CA Ugly?
Just a standard alkaline battery.

I always recommend rechargeable MAHA 9.6 volt batteries now. They can be recharged before each show so you are 100% sure you are going to be ok. The chargers are not cheap but the batteries will run you about $9 or so. About twice the price of a Duracell here in Canada.

Chris, How long will Duracells last.  I get them at $1.15 each when buying lots of 100.  I go through alot of them using my NBox so buying in bulk makes sense
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: Gutbucket on February 15, 2012, 05:36:16 PM
I always recommend rechargeable MAHA 9.6 volt batteries now.

And I'd further suggest Maha's newer low-self-dischage version which is branded 'Imedion' and has a black case. They hold their full charge much longer between charging and use and between uses, and in that way behave more like an alkaline cell.  The newer non low-self-discharge 'Powerex' branded ones with a white case with the same 9.6(nominal) voltage are slightly higher in total capacity but but loose charge far faster.

If the slight capacity difference concerns you, consider that the mAh rating of the new 'Imedion' version is identical to the older 'Powerex' version so if the older white ones did the job, the new black 'Imedion' will too while avoiding self-discharge headaches and probably lasting longer before ultimately going down hill and needing replacement.
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: Church-Audio on February 16, 2012, 08:37:59 AM
Battery box 200 hours
Ugly preamp 35 hours.
9100 35 hours
9000 45 hours
9200 40 hours
Title: Re: CA Ugly battery
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 16, 2012, 09:28:31 PM
Battery box 200 hours
Ugly preamp 35 hours.
9100 35 hours
9000 45 hours
9200 40 hours

Damn, thats allsum man!