Heavy Metal(s) Recharge

[FrankenTex]

Hello, All,

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANOUNCEMENT

I have been touting and doting upon my KORG/ToneWorks Pandora PX4 and other personal studio products of late and I just wanted to inform you all that I made the decision to invest in a Radio Shack(TM) compact recharger and 4xAAA NiMh (Nickle Metal Hydride) batteries. $20 for a compact charger which collapses to the size of a bar of soap and fits in my gig bag. It "does" AAs and AAAs. NiMh batteries are better (in every way) to the other rechargable choice NiCads (Nickle Cadmium). The NiMh Batts have no "memory barrier", last longer, and are (a bit) less noxious than NiCads . . . they also cost about twice as much ($20/4pak).

This will reduce my personal waste (pile) of noxious (heavy) metals which end up at our local landfill. Let's face it, most of us do not dispose of our Alkaline Batts in the approved fashion (as special, hazardous waste) and even the approved method is not much better.

The best news is that the $44 (totl) I spent will pay for it's self in about 22 weeks! And I will have put 84 fewer noxious batteries in the landfil over half a year. I will also save more than $40 in the 1st six months!

I wanted two sets of Batts (to rotate) but couldn't afford 'em. I got just one set of NiMh rather than two sets of NiCads and they charge as I sleep. I feel really good about that.

I also drive a Honda Insight (since spring of 2001) which is one of those "roachy" looking hybrids.

[Ben Harmless]

Kudos to you for keeping the planet safe for another few years, so a whole new generation can face cleaning it up.

I'm half serious about something there, but I don't know which part.

I'm wondering if there isn't a similar way I could go with 9V batteries. I got a great deal on a whole truckload from Wallgreens.com, but the idea of a rechargable alternative is intreguing.

[FrankenTex]

They have all sorts of choices and 9Volters are there!
... You will save money and, after 6 months, the charger AND the batts will be paid for ... it's all gravy after that (as in "FREE") ... A battery should last about a year ... maybe more. But you will only be buying batteries on the second round ... your second batt will pay for its'self in 12 weeks. then you will get 40 weeks for free. My calculations are based on those really cheap bulk packs of red-label Alkalines like I used to get from BestBuy and Computer City (or was it Comp USA?)
=f=

[Ben Harmless]

I did the research, and honestly, I don't think it would really pan out for me. I don't use many pedals, just a Blues Driver and a MXR Smart Gate for the crazy thrash/punk stuff. As home, they're plugged in, and I don't use 'em on stage often or long enough to really drain the batteries. I've had the same cheap Walgreens 9vs in 'em for more than a month now.

I'll probably just remember to dispose of the batteries correctly, and try to do my bit for the planet elsewhere.

[Michael R]

I bought some at BJ's, though I don't remember the price, so far they seem better than the regular nicads. Though I don't really use many pedals, and when I do they are plugged in, I bought them for digital cameras and other toys that suck up batteries... not enviromental benifits, but it's cool to hear there are some, also I never gave any thought about throwing away regular batteries either, and I have a whole drawer of nicads... now after your post I'll probally feel bad for about a sec when the time comes to toss em 8)

[shuggie1]

hey why dont ya try out the power supply.....
it's only 12.95 in the ams catolog

[FrankenTex]

Hey, All,

(1) Well, at least it is good to know where to get cheap batteries. I 'spect, if I ever start actually gigging, I will carry some alkaline backups.

(2) Yep, zZounds did not have the "wall wart" power supply in stock when I ordered my Pandora PX4.

(3) I would like fewer cords, not more. I wish ALL my stuff worked on a (packetized digital) Wifi standard. Sort of like a wireless MIDI setup but with full, analog bandwidth, with 44KHz sampling. Dream on. My Pandora PX4 is a walkman like effects studio that attaches to my guitar strap. Portability is what makes it SO darned cool. The reason I don't hang it on my belt is that I usually practice nekkid as I pace about my 7th floor condo. Sometimes I like to play at a park or the lake or, even as I walk along the street to take a video back to Vulcan Vintage Video Vault (I have found it is best to wear clothing in public).

(4) My Pandora PX4 drains my 4xAAA NiMh cells in about 4 hours. My fingers are usually ragged before that happens.

(5) My PX4 has duel, infrared transmitters built in. I doubt that will work for me because I pace, a bit, and turn my back too often.

I will order the "wall wart", just to have a surefire backup. I will probably get another set or hydride cells too.