Battery questions

[dorian-blue]

Newbie that is not sure which forum this question should have been posted in, so I'll start here:

I'm Johnny-come-lately to this Rock Band phenomenon and hope to reap the benefit of those that have been all over it for a while. I have the PS3 version. How long should I expect the batteries to last in the guitar before I replace them? Do they get swapped out frequent enough that I should consider rechargeables?

Also, I noticed that the guitar powers off (the PS light goes out) after the guitar has been idle for a few minutes. I'm not sure of the time span, but I know that the amount of time it takes for me to create a new rocker is long enough for my wife's guitar to go into power off. Likewise for mine when she is creating a rcoker. So, is this truly a power off mode that is saving the battery (in case I forget to turn off the switch on the back of the guitar) or is this simply a standby mode?

Thanks in advance for any insights. Now if I can just learn to aim better on the drums so I don't destroy the rims, I'll be set!

[Apples]

If you play regularly and for significant lengths of time, I would recommend rechargable batteries.

[jrinck]

The batteries in my guitar can last for one to two months, and that's with very regular play. Whoever did the power management with these guitars did a very good job.

And if you aren't going to use the guitar for a few minutes or more, turn it off. It's the best way to save the battery, and it's much easier to resync than if you let it go into its own power-save mode.

[dorian-blue]

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll remember to shut it off, and I'll get some rechargeables today.

[kiggidykev]

If you get a four-pack, feel free to send me the extra one.

[spidoman]

Also be careful what kind of rechargeable batteries you get, the rechargeables I had didn't work, which was insanely lame. Has something to do with the fact that most rechargeables have a lower voltage I guess?

[jrinck]

Also be careful what kind of rechargeable batteries you get, the rechargeables I had didn't work, which was insanely lame. Has something to do with the fact that most rechargeables have a lower voltage I guess?

Or perhaps they can't respond quick enough to varying levels of current demand?

I'm an EE, but don't know a heck of a lot about battery design.

[spidoman]

yeah, not sure what the problem is exactly, just know that all of my rechargeables refused to work, regular ones worked fine.

[jrinck]

yeah, not sure what the problem is exactly, just know that all of my rechargeables refused to work, regular ones worked fine.

Putting my nerd cap on...

Maybe the rechargable batteries can't supply the required current spikes the guitars require (or are just slow in delivering it), and that can act to collapse the battery voltage, leading to all sorts of problems.

That's all a battery is--it's a device that outputs current at a specified voltage (in other words: power). If you ask for more power than can be delivered, all bets are off.

[Onslaught_fei]

Opening song on the Master of Puppets album.

[spidoman]

The weird thing is I've heard other people say their rechargeables work fine. Maybe different guitar models?

[jrinck]

The weird thing is I've heard other people say their rechargeables work fine. Maybe different guitar models?

Could be. Hardware designers can use a chip called a "regulator" to help keep the power consistent, but it all comes back to the source. A poor performing battery is a difficult thing to overcome.

This is why you'll notice that the guitar acts funny just before the battery goes out for good. The battery loses its ability to supply the required power, and the guitar electronics go all sorts of haywire until they just stop responding at all.

[PaperMario21]

lol, I was thinking while entering the topic that you had mettalica's battery on mind :D

[MacMog]

Maybe the rechargable batteries can't supply the required current spikes the guitars require (or are just slow in delivering it), and that can act to collapse the battery voltage, leading to all sorts of problems.

These controllers shouldn't require significant current spikes. They just capture button presses and send wireless signals, they don't crank an engine.

Different types of batteries have different energy storage characteristics. IIRC, NiCad and NiMH at full charge show slightly less voltage than a fresh alkaline, hold the voltage closer to constant as they discharge, then drop off steeply as they run out of usable energy. The initial voltage may not cut it for certain devices. Rechargeable batteries also age. After many charge cycles, they won't necessarily reach the same high voltage. The charger makes a significant difference too. The cheap chargers that you get with a pack of batteries or can find separately in most stores usually charges the batteries way too fast and does a bad job of recognizing when to stop charging them. You can get better quality chargers which do cost $50 or more, but they will keep your batteries useful longer and can even recondition batteries that cheap chargers have worn out.

For reference, when I first bought my NiMH AAs, they worked great in my WaveBirds. After a couple years of use (and charging with a cheap charger) they no longer provide enough voltage to power on the WaveBird at full charge. My AAAs used to last me a couple weeks to a month in my Visor (PDA), but now one set will last at best a week and the other just a day or two. Even so, I definitely came out ahead.

So in short, I'd expect a new set of rechargeables to work, but older ones may not.

[Axe Man]

Also be careful what kind of rechargeable batteries you get, the rechargeables I had didn't work, which was insanely lame. Has something to do with the fact that most rechargeables have a lower voltage I guess?

I will have to say I DO NOT recommend rechargeable batteries. Just as spidoman has alluded to alkaline batteries are 1.5 volts and rechargeable are 1.2. Yes it will power it but longevity can be iffy. If you feel you MUST get rechargeable make sure they are lithium ion and not NiCad’s and charge every 1 to 2 days. Over night while you aren't awake and using the guitar. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a song and having the guitar fail especially during score duel. Alkaline will give you warning signs as in missed notes ect, but rechargeable just give out usually with no notice. Wow my 15 years a Radio Shack have paid off....LOL:D