replacing batteries in lav mics?

[mark-mvs]

Hey often do you like to change the batteries in your lav mics? I use a wired lav mic for the ceremony (on the officient) but because I'm a bit phobic about it dying during the ceremony, I put in a fresh one before each ceremony. Is this over kill? Also I leave my battery in the lav mic when not in use, does this drain the battery faster than just taking it out after each use?

Thanks guys and have a great weekend,
Mark

ps. shot a wedding in Claremont, CA yesterday and folks got crazy.... 8 police officers were there by the end of the evening!

[DavidPartington]

I user Energizer Rechargeable 2500mha AA batteries in all my wireless mics (Sennheiser G2) and charge all batteries the night before any ceremony.   

[HankCastello]

Several wireless manufacturers advise against rechargeables.  I use Duracells and put in brand new batteries the night before a ceremony.  I save the used batteries for business shoots.

Also, I wait until twenty minutes before the ceremony to turn on the sets.  And if the officiant hasn't arrived by that time, I wait even longer.  I've had ceremonies that didn't start until an hour after the scheduled time.

I used to plug into house circuits for wired devices, like digital recorders, until one wedding when the lighting guy did something that turned my circuit off.  After that, everything was batteries only for ceremonies.  I still used plug-ins for wired devices at the reception, but I make sure to be on the same circuit with the DJ.

[DavidPartington]

Like Hank, I plug in to the sound systems where ever possible - but wireless mics have saved the day so many times that to me they are indispensable.

I talked to Sennheiser tech support before I used rechargeable batteries and they told me that they were no problem at all (assuming I used ones with enough mh in the them).   I can honestly say I've have no problems either. I have several packs of rechargeables with me and tend to replace the batteries if they have been run for more than an hour or so, e.g. one set for the church and another set for the speeches.   However, I've had one set run for several hours without a problem once when I was out of more batteries.

[Superfly]

NiMh batteries have an outrageous dip in power one day out of the charger, (33%?), it's high, then like 20% a day each day following.

In professional environments (large theater productions, TV)  they use fresh Duracells, then throw them away after each show.

If you want to use NiMh you have to get a charger large enough to leave them in until the day you use them.

Best,

Todd