[net.audio] WM-D6 owners

herbie@watdcsu.UUCP (Herb Chong [DCS]) (04/30/85)

do you use NiCd's with your WM-D6 or D6C?  i have a D6C and have just
begun using NiCd batteries in mine even though there is nothing that
says you can.  they seem to work fine except that you only get about
ten seconds notice before the batteries fail.  on my WM-4, there was
increased noise for about two minutes before the whole works stopped.
on the D6C, there is a sudden increase in distortion for about ten
seconds and then the tape stops because of lack of power.  with
carbon-zinc cells, the tape slows noticeably for a minute or two before
everything stops.  has anyone else noticed this?  do the WM-DD and
WM-DC2 do this?

Herb Chong...

I'm user-friendly -- I don't byte, I nybble....

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rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (05/01/85)

[]
Herb,
I have a WM-D6 and use alkaline batteries. I am going to England this
summer and am thinking of converting to rechargeable. Can you give me
your experience with the nicads? How long do they work vs alkalines?
How long to recharge?  What kind do you use? what kind of charger?
Thanks!

-- 

"It's the thought, if any, that counts!"  Dick Grantges  hound!rfg

bhs@siemens.UUCP (05/06/85)

Herb:

A possible reason for your observation could be that there are differences
in the power curves over time of the different technologies. 
The traditional carbon zinc cells have an output voltage which gradually
decreases with time (useage), while the NiCads have a curve, which after an 
initial drop levels off to almost a perfect flat, and then suddenly
plummets after the power reserves are used up. Thus, the warning light
will come on if the cells are actually already empty and the voltage is
dropping fast, whereas in the carbon zinc cells, the cells will still have 
power left in them, albeit at lower voltage.


Bernard H. Schwab
Siemens RTL, Princeton, NJ