Which rechargeable batteries for the Korg MR-1000?

[darkwater]

Do any users have batteries that they have good experience with? Just got this machine and wanna go out in the field. Hate wasting these regular batteries...

[studio1117]

Actually I went to the Dreaded radio shack and bought a couple of 4 battery setups with the charges for like 25-30 bucks. They seem to be working fine.

[springer]

After much investigation years ago I decided to go with Powerex from Maha.
MAHA / POWEREX MH-C204W 1-Hour Worldwide Travel Conditioning Charger

Been using them for years (dedicated to my audio recorders) without one hiccup. I make sure I drain them completely with cassette units before recharging.. nothing like motors to really run down the cell to zero.
I tested the MR1000 with them when I first got it and after 3 hours it was still going strong.
Good luck.

[Shadow_7]

I've been using NiMH 2300mAh radio shack specials. They charge in 2 hours. And last about 2 and half hours with phantom power on using two Avenson STO-2's at 24 bit / 96kHz. I stress tested them on the 2nd charge and got 2 hours and 43 minutes of recorded content before it shut itself down. It was able to be turned on again and record a couple more minutes without a 2nd charge. But I'd gotten the information I was after and put them on the charger.

I wonder what the Tamiya batteries would do for this unit. They seem to offer some extra life for the Fostex. Although on my budget I'll probably just get a 2nd set of radio shack batteries. The rechargeables get super hot when you charge them, so you've got to let them cool before you can use them again.

I don't know if it's the batteries, but I get some electronic interference when I use the NiMH batteries and bring the unit in close proximity to the coil of XLR cable. And if I record out my back door and I bring the mics in close proximity to the electric box / meter I get that same static sound. Strongest on the top side of the meters glass bowl. And still noticeable at a distance if the mics are above eye level(meter level). I haven't verified yet, but I don't think I get this noise when not using battery power. The noise isn't super loud, but it is noticeable in the headphones when monitoring. And can be fairly prominant if you normalize the crickets to audible levels. i.e. It gets recorded, but it's more noticeable in the headphones while monitoring than the recording.

[darkwater]

Thanks, guys. I went for a Maha/Powerex charger and batt combo.

The problem with noise that you mention could be a phantom power issue, I guess. I haven't noticed it myself. But, I will test it with an NT4 using a battery for the phantom and see if I get it. Not sure I'll get it with with the Korg supplying the phantom, but I'll try it both ways. If you have a mic that uses a battery of it's own, you might try that, too. Also, please try the same test with the AC adaptor and see if you have the issue.

[RickZ]

After trying all kinds of AA rechargeables, and having a few too many near misses in live recording situations, I decided to put my old ECO-Charge EC-90 12V batteries to work. I charged one overnight, and the 4 green LED indicators were all lit. I checked the voltage with my meter, and read 12.5V. Started the recorder with MKH8040 pair attached, phantom on, and worked on editing a recent concert. Periodically I checked the voltage, and status LED's.

Hrs: Volts: LED's Lit:
0___12.5____4
1___12.2____3
2___12.0____3
3___11.9____2
4___11.8____2
5___11.6____2

The recorder was still running fine.

These SLA's are rated at 12V, 7.2 Ah/20HR, per label.

Thought I'd pass this on FWIW.

Rgds,
Rick Z

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by springer

I make sure I drain them completely with cassette units before recharging.. nothing like motors to really run down the cell to zero.

NiMH AA's should never be discharged to 0 volts. They should be discharged to 0.85 to 0.9 volts under an accurately configurable and appropriate load. (After discharge, when the load is removed, it is normal for the batteries to read 1.1 or even 1.2v, but the batteries are fully discharged.) You will find the batteries have very different discharge characteristics from 1 v or so depending on load. (BTW, voltage will often rise when the discharge begins at about 0.95 to 1 v.)

You are really aging the batteries by discharging to 0v, and if you leave them at 0 volts for a period of time the polarity will reverse and/or they won't hold a charge, or their capacity will be significantly reduced.

[tsvisser]

I use the Delkin 2300mAh batteries exclusively and am happy with them.