Battery Life On MD Players

timboy · 24-09-2003, 13:52

Do the manufacturs pluck a figure out of the air or what?

I had a Sony MZ-R700 and use the rechargeable battery that came with it. According to the instructions the battery life is 'up to 48 hours'.

My battery lasts a maximum of 10 hours!

Any idea how I can extend the life of the battery without having to recharge every night? I use it for maybe 2-3 hours a day and if I stay with friends overnight etc then I will not have the chance to recharge the battery.

comicsansserif · 24-09-2003, 15:39

I got my MD a few years ago now but it does last about twice as long as the stated time. Can't remember the model number of the player but the battery is a Lip8 and lasts me about 14 hours as opposed to the 7 in the literature.

Battery life does seem to vary according to use. recording drains it faster than playing for instance and volume level also affects it. Seems the battery lasts longer if it is not continually used but instead used for an hour or so at a time.

Remember new rechargeable batteries can take a few charge discharge cycles to reach their full capacity.

wicket · 25-09-2003, 10:54

I just use a normal battery with my Sony mini disc, I use it 5 times a week for about 40 minutes a go and it lasts for ages.

magic · 25-09-2003, 13:23

I use the sony MZ-R35 and the rechargable battery lasts (as stated) about 8 hrs playback. Normal batteries are shorter depending on the type while a combination of both lasts about 15 hrs I think. Recording does drain it faster, quite a lot faster and volume level makes a big difference too. It can also depend on the disc, if the music is scattered around, the MO laser head thing moves more, using more power. It uses a lithium ion battery.

DEmmerson · 25-09-2003, 13:54

I've got a Sony MZ-R900 (I think) and I think the battery life quoted of 72+ hours applies only when you use the add-on pack with a new AA battery in it (screws on to the bottom). Then the player has 2 power sources.

On its own 'stick' battery I think it's only about 20 hours.

(Sorry about 'I think' 4 times!)

timboy · 25-09-2003, 16:33

This might sound extremely silly but might the reduced battery life be caused by using the rechargeable AA battery?

Would a standard AA battery give me a longer battery life?

Orbitalzone · 25-09-2003, 19:11

Most NiCad rechargeable batteries last much less than say an alkaline battery (like Duracell)

You could probably get 3 to 4 times more life with a duracell or other quality alkaline battery.

Also consider getting the newer 'NiMh' type rechargeable batteries which last at least twice as long as normal 'older' NiCad' rechargable batteries...
You do need a special charger for the newer NiMh batteries though!

timboy · 25-09-2003, 19:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Orbitalzone
Most NiCad rechargeable batteries last much less than say an alkaline battery (like Duracell)

You could probably get 3 to 4 times more life with a duracell or other quality alkaline battery.

Also consider getting the newer 'NiMh' type rechargeable batteries which last at least twice as long as normal 'older' NiCad' rechargable batteries...
You do need a special charger for the newer NiMh batteries though!

It is actually a NiCad battery it was supplied with, I try an ordinary one and see what difference it makes.

So basically it may play for 'up to 48 hours' but not with the battery they supplied with the player!!! lol lol.

comicsansserif · 26-09-2003, 10:03

Is it really a NiCad battery? Have they stopped doing the lithium ion ones which are by far better?

magic · 26-09-2003, 12:50

Lithium Ion batteries are far better than ni-cad, they're also a lot more expensive costing over £100. Personally I don't like ni-cad batteries because they don't last long and unless you discharge them COMPLETELY, the life of them shortens. Most equipment like MD players/recorders can't deplete them fully. Li-ION batteries it doesn't matter how they're charged. I have little experience on NiMH ones though, but I think they're somewhere in between performance of NiCd and Li-ION batteries.

comicsansserif · 26-09-2003, 13:04

Quote:

Lithium Ion batteries are far better than ni-cad, they're also a lot more expensive costing over £100.

It must be a darn big battery for £100. I bought a spare Lip8 for my Sony (and from Sony themselves) for £25.

Lithium ion cells don't suffer from memory effects like NiCads do but they don't work well at cold temperatures. They also prefer not to be totally discharged before recharging them.

NiMH usually have a higher capacity than NiCads and don't suffer as badly from memory effects as NiCad, but they do suffer badly from self drainage. They self discharge themselves fairly quickly when not used and so it's best to charge them just before you want to use them.

NiCads are cheap by comparison but suffer from memory effects where over time the battery will not drain past it's previous drainage point. Therefore it is best to totally discharge them occassionally before recharging to keep them at maximum performance for as long as possible. This should always be done by discharging each cell seperatly and not together in series. In series one of the cells will aways run down first and then the others which are not fully discharged will reverse charge it. This does them a lot of damage. I use a small torch bulb to discharge mine individually. Rarely is a battery fully dischargable in a piece of equipment like a MD player, they will still leave some charge in the cells.

24-09-2003, 13:52	#1
timboy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 26,386	Battery Life On MD Players Do the manufacturs pluck a figure out of the air or what? I had a Sony MZ-R700 and use the rechargeable battery that came with it. According to the instructions the battery life is 'up to 48 hours'. My battery lasts a maximum of 10 hours! Any idea how I can extend the life of the battery without having to recharge every night? I use it for maybe 2-3 hours a day and if I stay with friends overnight etc then I will not have the chance to recharge the battery.

24-09-2003, 15:39	#2
comicsansserif Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In front of my computer! Posts: 2,865	I got my MD a few years ago now but it does last about twice as long as the stated time. Can't remember the model number of the player but the battery is a Lip8 and lasts me about 14 hours as opposed to the 7 in the literature. Battery life does seem to vary according to use. recording drains it faster than playing for instance and volume level also affects it. Seems the battery lasts longer if it is not continually used but instead used for an hour or so at a time. Remember new rechargeable batteries can take a few charge discharge cycles to reach their full capacity.

25-09-2003, 10:54	#3
wicket Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NE England Posts: 3,096	I just use a normal battery with my Sony mini disc, I use it 5 times a week for about 40 minutes a go and it lasts for ages.

25-09-2003, 13:23	#4
magic Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wrexham, using The Wrekin transmitter for FreeView Posts: 585	I use the sony MZ-R35 and the rechargable battery lasts (as stated) about 8 hrs playback. Normal batteries are shorter depending on the type while a combination of both lasts about 15 hrs I think. Recording does drain it faster, quite a lot faster and volume level makes a big difference too. It can also depend on the disc, if the music is scattered around, the MO laser head thing moves more, using more power. It uses a lithium ion battery.

25-09-2003, 13:54	#5
DEmmerson Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Home Counties Posts: 1,475	I've got a Sony MZ-R900 (I think) and I think the battery life quoted of 72+ hours applies only when you use the add-on pack with a new AA battery in it (screws on to the bottom). Then the player has 2 power sources. On its own 'stick' battery I think it's only about 20 hours. (Sorry about 'I think' 4 times!)

25-09-2003, 16:33	#6
timboy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 26,386	This might sound extremely silly but might the reduced battery life be caused by using the rechargeable AA battery? Would a standard AA battery give me a longer battery life?

25-09-2003, 19:11	#7
Orbitalzone Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sussex Posts: 12,173	Most NiCad rechargeable batteries last much less than say an alkaline battery (like Duracell) You could probably get 3 to 4 times more life with a duracell or other quality alkaline battery. Also consider getting the newer 'NiMh' type rechargeable batteries which last at least twice as long as normal 'older' NiCad' rechargable batteries... You do need a special charger for the newer NiMh batteries though!

25-09-2003, 19:20	#8
timboy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 26,386	Quote: Originally posted by Orbitalzone Most NiCad rechargeable batteries last much less than say an alkaline battery (like Duracell) You could probably get 3 to 4 times more life with a duracell or other quality alkaline battery. Also consider getting the newer 'NiMh' type rechargeable batteries which last at least twice as long as normal 'older' NiCad' rechargable batteries... You do need a special charger for the newer NiMh batteries though! It is actually a NiCad battery it was supplied with, I try an ordinary one and see what difference it makes. So basically it may play for 'up to 48 hours' but not with the battery they supplied with the player!!! lol lol.

26-09-2003, 10:03	#9
comicsansserif Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In front of my computer! Posts: 2,865	Is it really a NiCad battery? Have they stopped doing the lithium ion ones which are by far better?

26-09-2003, 12:50	#10
magic Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wrexham, using The Wrekin transmitter for FreeView Posts: 585	Lithium Ion batteries are far better than ni-cad, they're also a lot more expensive costing over £100. Personally I don't like ni-cad batteries because they don't last long and unless you discharge them COMPLETELY, the life of them shortens. Most equipment like MD players/recorders can't deplete them fully. Li-ION batteries it doesn't matter how they're charged. I have little experience on NiMH ones though, but I think they're somewhere in between performance of NiCd and Li-ION batteries.

26-09-2003, 13:04	#11
comicsansserif Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In front of my computer! Posts: 2,865	Quote: Lithium Ion batteries are far better than ni-cad, they're also a lot more expensive costing over £100. It must be a darn big battery for £100. I bought a spare Lip8 for my Sony (and from Sony themselves) for £25. Lithium ion cells don't suffer from memory effects like NiCads do but they don't work well at cold temperatures. They also prefer not to be totally discharged before recharging them. NiMH usually have a higher capacity than NiCads and don't suffer as badly from memory effects as NiCad, but they do suffer badly from self drainage. They self discharge themselves fairly quickly when not used and so it's best to charge them just before you want to use them. NiCads are cheap by comparison but suffer from memory effects where over time the battery will not drain past it's previous drainage point. Therefore it is best to totally discharge them occassionally before recharging to keep them at maximum performance for as long as possible. This should always be done by discharging each cell seperatly and not together in series. In series one of the cells will aways run down first and then the others which are not fully discharged will reverse charge it. This does them a lot of damage. I use a small torch bulb to discharge mine individually. Rarely is a battery fully dischargable in a piece of equipment like a MD player, they will still leave some charge in the cells.

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Battery Life On MD Players