Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: strugglinauthor on February 03, 2017, 04:07:08 PM
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In an ideal world I would use rechargeable batteries for my two Taylors, but in the absence of a specific recommendation I was looking for an alternative to the standard Duracell. I came across Duracell Industrial, which apparently used to be called Duracell Procell. These are considerably cheaper than the shop bought ones and so I've been trying to find out if they are identical and so safe to use in the Taylors. I can't find anything concrete on the Net, but lots of comments saying they're fine and the same as the Duracell Plus.
Does anyone out there use them?
Thanks.
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i was looking on the interwebs & can't seem to find the duracell industrial -
i haven't used the pro cell, but found a little bit of info about them
http://www.medicbatteries.com/duracell-procell-battery-duracell-procell-batteries
supposedly the procell is 'charged higher', but the discharge
rate seems to be the same as the copper top duracell
the eveready industrial 9v seems to have a longer discharge rate
http://www.powerstream.com/9V-Alkaline-tests.htm (http://www.powerstream.com/9V-Alkaline-tests.htm)
the dimensions for the eveready industrial
http://data.energizer.com/pdfs/en22.pdf (http://data.energizer.com/pdfs/en22.pdf)
i was not able to find the nuon alkaline 9V for sale,
which supposedly has the longest discharge rate -
i believe the procell should last as long as the
copper top & if they're cheaper, that's a bonus
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i've used them, they just hold a longer charge (to my understanding)
i never leave batteries in the guitar unless i'm actively using the pickup. don't want them to corrode or leak
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... i never leave batteries in the guitar unless i'm actively using the pickup. don't want them to corrode or leak
This is my practice as well; in my experience, old (aged) Duracell batteries tend to develop leaks, even if they hadn't been depleted.
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... i never leave batteries in the guitar unless i'm actively using the pickup. don't want them to corrode or leak
This is my practice as well; in my experience, old (aged) Duracell batteries tend to develop leaks, even if they hadn't been depleted.
This is the same camp that I subscribe to. I took out all batteries from my e models long ago. I have seen the result of batteries leaking in other components and the damage it leaves. The only battery I have in a guitar is there because of TaylorSense requires it and the TaylorSense monitors the battery life as well, so I am not concerned about that one.
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I've used both the Duracell and the Energizer Industrials, both with no issue whatsoever with fit or usage.
BTW, I seriously doubt that the "Industrial" batteries bear any usable difference from the consumer-end batts. The rep I talked to (who sells them) said they are simply packaged thus for bulk sale for use in industry (say film, music, field instrumentation, whatever), and knows of no functional difference. Whatever, they work :)
Edward
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Thanks for all the replies. I take the point about leaking batteries, but fortunately I change them so regularly that the risks are low. I'm convinced now that the batteries are fine so I'll order a batch.
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A word of caution. Don't fit Industrials if they are too tight and have to be forced into the compartment. I can't use them in any of my Taylors. I'm in the UK and buy USA-made Duracells from the States for $1.25 each, plus postage. USA-made batteries appear to be smaller than those made in the Far East.
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A word of caution. Don't fit Industrials if they are too tight and have to be forced into the compartment. I can't use them in any of my Taylors. I'm in the UK and buy USA-made Duracells from the States for $1.25 each, plus postage. USA-made batteries appear to be smaller than those made in the Far East.
Thanks for the warning; this issue of non-standard sizing on PP3s is a bit of a pain. I'm in the UK too and that price, assuming the postage isn't crazy, sounds good. If you don't mind could you PM me with where you buy them from?
Thanks.
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I don't plug in my guitar, but has anyone tried out the AmazonBasics 9 Volt Everyday Alkaline Batteries? I use their AA and AAA batteries without any problems so far.
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The issue here (if one can call it an "issue") with Taylor's ES is their battery compartment is sized for Duracell and Energizer sized batts. Perhaps when engineering the ES Taylor figured on the most likely used battery brand and built their 9v holder accordingly. I never knew 9v varied in size ...until I got a rayovac nearly stuck in there...argh! Thankfully not all the way so was able to yank it out. So really, every battery out there is suspect until someone actually fits one in ...simply a matter of size, where this minor variance either doesn't matter with a larger battery box in whatever device, but clearly Taylor's is made to fit "just so."
So my long answer to you, Cindy, is I haven't a clue :). But given the ease in which to buy (at least here in the states) Duracell /energizers, singly or even in bulk at Costco, just makes me abandon all other options since it is just easy ...and I like that easy button when I can find one :)
Edward
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Just to illustrate how nuts this all is, I've just bought a Duracell PP3 from a major supermarket to replace the exhausted one in my T5z. It's a snug fit, but it's fine. Then I thought, "I wonder if it will fit into my recently acquired 214ce..." And guess what? It wouldn't fit into the battery cage even if I'd forced it, which I didn't by the way. Placing them side by side there's a marked difference in size even though they are both Duracell Durablock.
I did track down a Youtube video that another user of this site had posted some time ago:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZXcdNRw1a8
In the video Taylor acknowledges the issue and their last resort option, as you'll see, is to modify the battery case with some sharp pliers. I can't help wondering why they don't make the cage a couple of mm larger.
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Hi. This battery issue is a major concern for non-USA Taylor owners (particularly those in the UK), so how about starting a concerted effort to get something done about it (I am emboldened now I know I'm not alone in this!)
Apart from the obvious answer of redesigning the battery holder (which would at least help future purchasers) surely Taylor could make it a condition in their dealership terms that dealers always stock the right batteries at a fair price - which Taylor should be prepared to subsidise, if necessary.
Any support for this (come on, you US owners - spread the love!)
(I'm presuming someone from Taylor keeps an eye on this site!!!!)
Paul Wood
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I never found an over the counter battery that fit here in the UK so I bought a few four packs from Walmart when I visited the US last year. Maybe you have a friend over there that could send you some?
Craig
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A word of caution. Don't fit Industrials if they are too tight and have to be forced into the compartment. I can't use them in any of my Taylors. I'm in the UK and buy USA-made Duracells from the States for $1.25 each, plus postage. USA-made batteries appear to be smaller than those made in the Far East.
Is that one US dollar, 25 cents or 1.25 pounds? Much cheaper than standard Walmart pricing here, either way!
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They were a dollar 25 each, this time last year. Postage to an address in Florida was just over 10 dollars, so that impacted the price of the dozen I ordered! Hope that helps. Paul
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Nailed it.
I didn't fancy canabalising the battery holder that came with my 214, but I could see from Taylor's video that cutting the top away was the only practical solution. I didn't realise, but genuine replacement holders are available for the price of a beer (I can't mention money on the forum for some reason but you get the idea - they're not expensive!). Then I carefully cut the end away with a Stanley knife and hey presto, my Duracell Industrial fits like a dream. Now I have two holders: an intact one for the times when I have a diminutive 9v battery or should I want to sell it and an altered one for day to day use. As I can buy five Duracell Industrials for less than two 'Taylor size' 9v batteries the new holder should pay for itself in no time.
(http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q776/strugglinauthor/Taylor%20Battery%20Holder_zpsptw8pwso.jpg)