Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

Jeff Stevens

Freshman
Jan 16, 2011
23
0
0
SF Bay Area, California
I am using 10 Shure UHF-R systems with UR1 transmitters (standard size, not the micro version) in a show set to open on Friday. Since our battery costs would have become prohibitively expensive, we are trying to use Powerex 2700mAh NiMH AA rechargeable batteries. We found that they are a very tight squeeze into the Shure transmitters, so much so that the battery compartment door does not close all the way and can be easily pulled open. Further, they are a little too long, which makes removing them almost impossible short of a flat blade screwdriver. Has anybody else encountered this problem? I am not sure which is the problem: the battery or the transmitter. The Powerex batteries fit just fine in our Sennheiser units, but Duracells fit even better in both.

~Jeff
 
Re: Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

We have a bunch of the Powerex AAs that we use for wireless keyboards and mice and I have seen many touring shows come through using them without issue, but they always use Sennheiser belt packs. Have you actually measure them compared to a standard alkaline AA battery?
 
Re: Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

i've got the same issue. using sanyo 2700's IIRC...

it's worse in the handhelds as they slide in and then get stuck and they're a beast to get out. we went through and removed the plastic covering and glue from ours and that made them work in the handhelds [took off just enough of the bulk], but had an unforeseen complication with the UR1 when the now bare metal casing of the battery shorted out on the battery box mount in the transmitter. transmitter got real hot, but fortunately i figured out the problem before it destroyed itself...

we're muddling through with ours, but i'd love to find a NiMH battery that would actually fit correctly in these transmitters. anyone?
 
Re: Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

We have a bunch of the Powerex AAs that we use for wireless keyboards and mice and I have seen many touring shows come through using them without issue, but they always use Sennheiser belt packs. Have you actually measure them compared to a standard alkaline AA battery?

I did not have any calipers handy, so my "measurements" were visual comparisons. The Powerex was a little larger in both diameter and length than the Duracells, but only a very small amount. According to their spec sheets, the Powerex are within the IEC standard, although they are on the large side (the maximum diameter is 14.5mm and the Powerex are supposedly 14.4mm). The Duracell spec sheets don't list their actual size, but just the standard.

~Jeff
 
Re: Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

I did not have any calipers handy, so my "measurements" were visual comparisons. The Powerex was a little larger in both diameter and length than the Duracells, but only a very small amount. According to their spec sheets, the Powerex are within the IEC standard, although they are on the large side (the maximum diameter is 14.5mm and the Powerex are supposedly 14.4mm). The Duracell spec sheets don't list their actual size, but just the standard.

~Jeff
yeah, the differences are slight, but the UHF-R battery compartments are VERY tight. i use these same batteries in my older Shure UHF stuff and they're still a little tight, but they work just fine. the R series is just a smidge tighter. but it's just enough to be a royal PITA...
 
Re: Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

I cannot speak for the UR-1 transmitters, but I have been using Eneloops in UR-2 Transmitters for 2 years now (not the same batteries) with no (terrible) problems.

Kevin H.
 
Re: Shure UHF-R and Rechargeable Batteries

This is what we are using in our Senn's.

http://www.horizonbattery.com/ansmann-pro-16-kit.html

I haven't tried them with our UHF-R's, so I guess I have a project for this week.

Our primary units are Sennheiser, and I've seen that kit, which is very slick looking, but the price made me cringe a little. I'd be very curious to find out how they work with the UHF-R's since I think Shure made them a little smaller than they should have.