I am just wondering how often do you guys (girls too 
) change the battery in your electro-acoustic guitars? My original battery is now installed non-stop for almost 2 years, and still running great. But I don’t want it to leak, corode or do any damage… should I replace it just to be sure? (I only use it every few days for few seconds because of the build in tuner)
Also - are there any batteries types or brands that are just better or more reliable?
Wow, that’s a long time Bostjan 
… it also depends on how long you play of course… the battery (Panasonic) on my Acoustasonic was empty after 6 weeks, with approximately 3 hours per day… now I haven’t played in a long long time (that will change 
)…so it’s a wild guess and can could easily be off by 2 weeks
I then switched to rechargeable 9 volt blocks and they last shorter, 4 weeks or so…
Still…Batteries “connected” for 2 years in a row, I will check occasionally … that is only based on what I see with other devices that you look at after 1, 2 or 10 years 
Greetings…
Like you the batteries are the same ones I put on when I got the guitar just over two years ago. However I only use the tuner option very occasionally and when I know I am going to be plugged in and it really matters I test them I also carry a spare set in my gig bag.
I suppose it begs the question, when the guitar is just on stand and not being played is the guitar taking any power from the batteries, don’t know the answer to that but I am sure somebody will.
Michael
I don’t even put batteries in mine unless I am going to use it that’s how offen I use my tuner.
The most common solution is to turn on the power when you plug the guitar cable into the socket. Disconnecting the cable from the guitar completely disconnects the battery.
3 Likes
Information from our government environmental service…
Most batteries rarely or never leak. If it does happen, they start to leak when left unused in an appliance for too long. When batteries are in a device, the two different types of metal (one type with a positive charge and another type with a negative charge) remain connected. If the device is not consuming power, the conductive substance between the metals (the electrolyte) may begin to leak. Then white crystals or a liquid substance appear on the outside of the battery.
So if you use it every few days short you should be safe …
Greetings
2 Likes
Well, how much does a battery cost? After two years I’d certainly be changing it rather than chance a leak that will damage the electrics.
Hi Gordon,
It is not necessary to buy new ones, if used regularly, age does not matter… they are just like people 
Greetings
How does that happen? When a battery does not use electricity for too long, or is left empty in a device for too long, a gas is created in the battery. If the pressure of the gas becomes too high, the protective layer of the battery breaks (a conscious choice by the manufacturer to avoid explosion inside the battery). This way the electrolyte can escape and you will have a leaking battery.
If you do not use a toy or device for a while, it is best to remove the batteries and store them in a separate place.
2 Likes
Ok Rogier. A very scientific explanation but my point still stands. A new battery costs £2 or euros. Can’t believe we’re discussing £2 or the chance that it might leak and damage the guitar. 
1 Like
Well uhh…a quality battery at an average store is much more expensive here … if you start playing guitar early in life and you will find that a year is enough for a battery instead of 2 it quickly costs 30 x 5.95 euros (currently the price so inflation not incl) and we are not talking about the environmental aspects that today’s youth have to deal with … I could go on and on, but yes …for that small amount of money and the option you also have to buy rechargeable ones (like I have) it is actually way too much trouble to do discuss indeed 
…
I wonder how much energy this thinking and search has cost me now ??? I have to eat and drink and all that cost energie probably more than a battery 
…and I can’t use cheap electricity from out of my wall to stay alive(fortunately not yet 
)…the energy from the computer is also a thing and…etc etc 
I believe It’s time for bed here because I’m starting to type more nonsense than usual 
Good night
I’ll let the missus know.
Cheers,
Keith
5 Likes
@roger_holland
9V batteries are often convenient, but your guitar seems to draw pretty much current 
There are solutions with Li-Ion batteries and a small USB cable to recharge which have more capacity and are more convenient to charge, but when I just took a look at Amazon, there was someone reporting his flat could have burned down if he hadn’t been near when the battery was about to start burning! So probably a bad charging cicuit used?
But if there’s a type with a correctly working charging circuit - or you combine a separately bought circuit and 2s battery on your own, this could be less of a problem than those 9V blocks.
I use those tiny batteries on a few devices, eg. on small remote controlled cars with my son.
I just mention that because you seem to know a bit about electronics…
I definitely don’t want that you’d burn your house down!
2 Likes
Thanks for the warning Dominique @domi7 but I have/had absolutely no idea about how and what, and found this on a government/environmental site (apparently in Belgium and a holland site)… I now use Li-ion rechargeable with the correct cable, but I have only used this once charged (I have 4) and I read that a battery takes some getting used to in the beginning)… with that first battery in the guitar it came from the factory/store and I played every day for a long time and amplified (so not only for tuner) …
Ps: Keith @Majik all this talking about a battery yesterday made me finally remember that my battery was still in the guitar that had not been used for a long time …
I’ve broken quite a few devices this way so now more than enough bout this and go play …but first …find those old remotes things and chargers, toys and guitars and take out the batteries 
My last purchased pedal had a battery in it from the factory (which is connected to an adapter), I only found that out after almost a year… but it is used every day 
Greetings
Wow I guest this is quite interesting topic 
I am changing the batteries today…
I thank you all for the information provided. It was useful. And fun 
@Bostjan Yes, huge topic.
Unfortunately on some products some manufacturers don’t take the time to offer a really good solution.
There are also litium batteries - not rechargeable - out there, quite expensive, but they’re like guaranteed to last a long time. We have them in our smoke detectors in the flat and they are guaranteed to stay 10 years with the same batteries.
So I guess they’re not prone to lose liquid or gas in usual conditions.
And they have a few times the energy of alkaline batteries stored inside.
Those from the well known manufacturers cost around 10-12 Euros here.
3 Likes