ZOOM H4N: Battery life when using phantom power?
- Thread starter Pharao
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photonashville
Well-known member
Expect 1 hour.
photonashville
Well-known member
While I still use my Zoom, I bought an Edirol R-44 for this very reason, longer battery life for phantom use and also to have real level pots to adjust as needed during recording. The digital levels on the Zoom is tough for some real world recording/adjusting on the fly. Edirol is much cleaner sound. But a Zoom can do the job just fine. Best to know the weaknesses and work around them. Use the AC power if and when possible and one less issue there.
Sam Mallery
Well-known member
The rechargeable batteries will probably die a lot faster than the regular Duracells. I recommend buying some Lithium AA batteries. Yes, they're more expensive than regular AA batteries, but they last eight times longer. You don't want your recorder constantly dying when you're shooting.
I imagine a lot of people buy rechargeable batteries and a big plastic charger, and then end up not using them that much. If you buy Lithiums and dispose of them properly, it's sometimes the greener way to go.
Thanks a lot Sam! I think I'll go with that option for my 2 week film shoot. Based on photonashville's information (1 hour for 'regular' batteries), a pair of Lithiums should last for about 8 hours in theory. Even if it's 6 or 7 hours, it will be more than enough juice for a whole shooting day. That's quite amazing!
photonashville
Well-known member
Sorry, but I call total B.S. that the Lithium AA's will give 6-8 hours of use. I will wager that those batts will last 2 hours max on phantom. If you need more power buy a Tekkeon (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=618847&is=REG) battery or some other larger rechargeable with adjustable DC voltage to power the Zoom. What you spend in throw away Lithiums will quickly buy you a larger rechargeable source or better yet buy you a slightly higher end recorder like a Marantz 661. But even then AA's just won't give you a day's worth of juice.
I bought 40+ Eneloop AA batteries. They work extremely well, but more importantly, once charged, will hold that charge "on the shelf" for better part of a year. They pay for themselves in very short time. Have a handful of those and change out as needed.
There are also specialized phantom powered units like this that will run for almost a standard production day: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=577469&is=REG
I bought 40+ Eneloop AA batteries. They work extremely well, but more importantly, once charged, will hold that charge "on the shelf" for better part of a year. They pay for themselves in very short time. Have a handful of those and change out as needed.
There are also specialized phantom powered units like this that will run for almost a standard production day: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=WishList.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=577469&is=REG
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photonashville
Well-known member
I certainly say make a go with the Lithium AA's. I just loathe throw away batteries now. Billions go to trash. Something on the order of many olympic size swimming pools of battery acid in landfills annually (sorry my enviro rant is over). That's where my intent comes from. If they last longer than std AA's then great. But a sack full of good rechargeables are worth it.
A buddy uses those exact Lithiums for his Nikon speedlights and swears by then, great for travel being so light, but the 8x lasting longer is total nonsense. Where they are marketing that kind of talk is mainly for small point and shoot cameras where regular AA's decline slightly more linear in nature whereas the lithium AA's go and go but then just stop dead, more straight line then a cliff. But 8x power is a tough sell. If that were the case, electric cars would be amazing. Batteries haven't come that far along yet.
If you are interested in the Eneloops, this website is where I buy, good merchant: http://www.batteriesinaflash.com/re...lk-pre-charged-rechargeable-batteries-2000mah
4 Lithium AA's $7-10
4 Eneloop AA's $11, rechargeable for 1000 cycles, and these last better per charge than any other AA I have used (excluding the Lithiums which I have not used)
Good luck.
A buddy uses those exact Lithiums for his Nikon speedlights and swears by then, great for travel being so light, but the 8x lasting longer is total nonsense. Where they are marketing that kind of talk is mainly for small point and shoot cameras where regular AA's decline slightly more linear in nature whereas the lithium AA's go and go but then just stop dead, more straight line then a cliff. But 8x power is a tough sell. If that were the case, electric cars would be amazing. Batteries haven't come that far along yet.
If you are interested in the Eneloops, this website is where I buy, good merchant: http://www.batteriesinaflash.com/re...lk-pre-charged-rechargeable-batteries-2000mah
4 Lithium AA's $7-10
4 Eneloop AA's $11, rechargeable for 1000 cycles, and these last better per charge than any other AA I have used (excluding the Lithiums which I have not used)
Good luck.
:laugh:
Sam Mallery
Well-known member
Some people use rechargeable batteries and have a decent experience with it. I know some location audio pros use eneloops, but they're more often used in devices that are less battery consumptive (like timecode lockit boxes). Getting eneloops is probably going to work out, you'll just need to be watching the recorder more, because it will die faster than it would with lithiums.
I use lithiums in my wireless transmitters and in my portable recorders when I work on video and film shoots. They've been good to me, so I haven't sought out a rechargeable option. I do own iPower rechargeable batteries for my equipment that requires 9volt batteries, but so far I've had the best experience with lithiums for my power hungry AA gear.
@Sam: So, your claim is really based on personal experience. In other words, you stand by what you said. I take your word for it. The sole thing that interests me is if Lithiums really last 8x longer. Heck, I'd be happy if they last 5x longer...
@photonashville: I'll take a look at the website you mentioned, but I'm afraid that it will cost too much after shipping to Europe + taxes etc. If I go the rechargeable route we have good deals on Ebay.
@photonashville: I'll take a look at the website you mentioned, but I'm afraid that it will cost too much after shipping to Europe + taxes etc. If I go the rechargeable route we have good deals on Ebay.
kgimedia
Well-known member
I own a H4n and my experience with phantom power and Ni-MH batteries is I get about 20 minutes. Maybe 10 more with regular Alkaline. If the battery dies before you hit stop, you will lose your recording. I was using a single PZM. I guess it needs lots of power. I love my H4n, but if I use phantom I plugin AC. The only other options are DC-to-AC backups or inline 48V Phantom modules. Also if the mic has a battery option use it instead.
Jason Adams
Section Moderator
There have been a few of us that are hearing signal anomalies on battery powered phantom when the battery gets bellow 50% I always try to AC when I do phantom power. Or worst case switch batts at 50%.