Is this static crackling from batteries?

D

dolphinstreet

Member
I use a Sennheiser EW100 G2 and I use rechargeable batteries in transmitter and receiver. I've recently heard rechargeable is not recommended. Do you think it sounds like noise might be from the batteries?

https://app.box.com/shared/static/d3htcofmh95lfgj8cvohej1y9nv414sd.mp3

Now and then, I get a few seconds of loud, static, crackling noise. It happens randomly. 2 years ago, it happened more frequently, then it kind of stopped. The last few months, it's come back again, but it's random and not very often.

I don't think it's the mic or the cable. The issue has not come from moving/turning or straining the cable. I've perfectly still when this has occurred.

Let me know if you have any ideas. I'm guessing it's the batteries or some bad solder joint somewhere. I'll stop using rechargeable batteries from now on.
 
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It sounds more like a loose connection on the mic cable or locking plug.

Rechargeables can give problems as they generally only give 1.2 volts but theatre users on another forum have reported that they have used the Eneloop 1900mAh NiMH with great success over the christmas panto season.
 
We use Eneloop rechargeables at my church with our G2s (three body backs and a handheld) and they work fine. We only run them about two hours at a time, but no problems on that front.

However, that's a familiar crackle. And I think Gary's right; it's a cable or connector issue. Try wiggling the lav (gently) at the lav head. Then again near the connector. Now try wiggling the connector.

And most important: try removing the connector, and check to see of the socket on the transmitter seems loose; if it is, then tighten it. Then gently but firmly reattach and screw down the plug. After a bunch of years, that plug/socket connection gets less solid.

So if re-tightening (and checking tightness before each use) doesn't do it, then open up the connector plug and consider trimming a couple inches off the cable and resoldering the cable to the connector (along with perhaps a touch of heat-shrink tubing). Or maybe even get a new connector (about US$10)... OR open up the G2 and check the connector socket: Like maybe slightly bend in the retainer spring so it more solidly holds the plug. --Maybe consider cleaning the plug & socket with Deoxit, Stabilant 22, or denatured alcohol-- Eyeballs, wiggling, and ears will guide you here.

If you think the socket needs replacing, you could send it back to Sennheiser or take it to a good repair/cable person with experience soldering tiny components. But both of those approaches are probably not worth the cost. If the cable's messed up near the lav head, you'll probably be best served by just buying another lav mic.

Or so it seems to me.
 
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Sounds like a mic connection issue to me as well. Batteries, rechargeable or not, do not exhibit that particular behavior.
Otherwise I've never had any issues w/ rechargeable batteries in any or the G series systems, except that the battery meters cant be relied on, but one can expect at least 10 hours of operation from a fully charged 2500mAh set. Rechargeables do require extra organization skills though.
 
There is no problem using rechargeables in G series microphones, we use nothing but in our mics. Imedion by Powerex, they are a low self discharge Nimh battery, been using them for years in everything except devices that need a 9 volt. And we get more than 10 hours of use per set in our G3 beltpacks. For IFB we need 9 volts and those are now being powered by Lithium rechargeables by EBL. They are a little lower capacity than standard alkaline batteries, but still enough that we get full days out of a charge, and they are CHEAP!

One of our instructors also works with a local theater company, he uses the same batteries in his mics. The theater mics they use throw away batteries, fresh set for each show and buy big packs of somewhat cheap brands. Kind of wasteful, but that's the way they want to run things.
 
Alright, I found that the connector on the transmitter wasn't quite tight. Wiggling it produced that nasty scratching noise, but after tightening it, it's all good! Thanks for the suggestions!
 
We even get this on our high end sennheiser 2000, and digital 6000 + 9000 radio mics. It is always worth checking the connector on the transmitter too as the circular locking nut can come loose.

The crackling is usually caused by the plug in power being intermittent via the earth locking ring so always a good practice to check that it is tight before using any mic.
 
I invested heavily in Maha Imedion AA low self discharge NiMh batteries a few years ago, intending to use them for my wireless mics and Sound Devices mixers (442 and 302). Twice (but, fortunately, only twice), an apparently fully charged battery has failed in one of my Sennheiser wireless transmitters after 30 to 45 minutes of use, requiring a retake and delay in shooting. I still use them for non-critical applications, but when doing live event coverage that may last a few hours, or any situation where a delay would be embarrassing or intolerable, I'm using single-use lithium AA's now (Energizer L91 or equivalent). Those can pretty much run my audio stuff all day, and I either throw them out at the end of the shoot or take them home to use in a battery powered clock, my wireless mouse, or something else entirely unimportant. No glitches yet using the lithiums, which are expensive, but very long lasting and reliable. They also have an incredibly long shelf life (20 years!), which makes it practical to buy in bulk and not have to worry if they sit around in my run bag for a while before being used.

- Greg
 
Problem tends to be with rechargeables is that when they go they go totally without any notice or indication.

In broadcast we tend not to use them for transmitters as it is just not worth the risk although the new digital sennheiser 6000 and 9000 radio mics we just got have lithium rechargeables but they also give a direct in time readout of how much is remaining on the battery. They also cost around $150 each so a huge investment for us but we also have AA holders as back-up.

We do use them for IEM receivers though and have had no problems on our news and sports news set-ups.
 
I use NiMh a lot for FX recording but not for production. An issue is that they recharge fine for X number of times and then they die. You will have gotten a normal use and the next time you get a few minutes and the low battery indicator is on. Some of the smart chargers pick up on this sometimes so you can toss them ahead of time but the uncertainty is a killer. Now for FX it's not a big deal usually, I can pause and swap out batteries. In my experience it's not a gradual lack of storage like you saw with NiCad but a rather sudden change from hours to minutes. And it's not predictable. Of the 16 I originally started with about 1/2 failed after a couple of years. But then I couldn't "trust" any of them so replaced all of them.

Probably if you date them and then cycle them out every X months you could get better dependability, and run diagnostics on them periodically.
 
I'm still a dry battery user because while I've accepted rechargeable are now a viable alternative, it needs a rigid charging regime which I cannot guarantee. Popping a battery out of a packet means it will work, picking up the rechargeable from the pile labelled 'charged' - might work.
 
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