Batteries styck at 49%

[KasperL]

I'm charging my sp404sx with rechargable batteries and they seem to be stuck on 3 banks and the display says 49h without gaining any charge. Is there something that I'm missing when it comes to charging the batteries? does the unit have to be on or off?

[Sharris]

I use rechargeable batteries, but never heard of charging batteries while their still inside the machine?!?!?! When the batteries die I put them in a battery charger. Once charged I put them back inside the sp404sx.

How are you charging batteries while they're still inside the sp404sx?????

[KasperL]

I just plug the cord into the machine and let them recharge, but seems like I'm having troubles

[Crane]

the display says 49h

I assume that you have a 32gb card in there?

I know on the sx you can change the setting to specify that you are using rechargeable or Alkaline, but I don't believe it recharges them while in the unit. Maybe it does if it is set to rechargeable. I'm going to test this out tonight.

[Sharris]

Plugging the sp404sx into a power outlet just powers the sp404sx.
You do this INSTEAD of using batteries.
It has nothing to do with the batteries.

If you have rechargeable batteries you need to charge them with a battery charger.

I thought you had a special device that allowed you to charge the batteries while still inside a machine.

If you are just plugging the sp404sx into a wall & expecting it to charge the batteries this will not work.

[Sharris]

the display says 49h

I assume that you have a 32gb card in there?
I know on the sx you can change the setting to specify that you are using rechargeable or Alkaline, but I don't believe it recharges them while in the unit. Maybe it does if it is set to rechargeable. I'm going to test this out tonight.

I THINK these settings allow the batteries to last longer, I can't remember the specifics, but I THINK rechargeable batteries don't last as long as alkaline or something. I swear it explains it in the manual.......

But yeah, plugging the 404sx in won't charge batteries. That would be cool, but it would have to have a built in battery like the MPC Live or Op-1.

[Crane]

Sharris - I completely agree with you. I don't believe the 404sx will charge the batteries but for the the sake of science I want to see if Kasper is correct.

The manual states the rechargeables lasting for around 5 hours and the alkaline batteries for about 4 hours. I would assume the the setting of Ni-Mh or Alkaline is so that the unit knows that your running off of 1.2v batteries as opposed to 1.5v.

I had it set on Alkaline (setting) originally while using rechargeable batteries and once the batteries got low the machine just froze. On the correct setting it blinks the "Lo".

While typing this, my initial thought was that if Kasper is right, in Ni-MH mode the unit would know the batteries are rechargeable and try to charge them. That being said. If some one left it in "Ni-MH" mode while using normal batteries the unit would try and charge them once plugged in and they would blow up. The liability on Roland would be to great to be relying on pot heads to switch back and forth between battery modes before plugging it back in.

Conclusion: I'm withdrawing my aforementioned statement above of testing Kaspers theory for the sake of science.
1. If they did charge, it would be mentioned in the manual, and;
2. The liability on Roland should Alkalines blow up from the 404sx trying to charge them, and;
3. I don't feel like waiting for my rechargeables to get to "Lo" again as I completely forgot about this from earlier and plugged them in when I got home.

4. Nevermind, I'm at "Lo", experiment on muthafuckas.

Edit:

I let that shit sit for 3 hours, unplugged the powercord, hit play on a pattern and got "Lo" in about 3 minutes. Sorry KasperL but your myth on charging the batteries in the unit has been busted. Case Closed.

[KasperL]

Wierd, I really thought they recharged because I went from lo to 3 bars when checking the battery remain.

[Crane]

Probably because the machine was turned off and when turned back on the unit took a few minutes to drain them down again. It would of been pretty sweet if it did charge them.

[Sharris]

Don't blame you for tryin Crane, I love experimenting & trouble shooting (seems like you do too). Even if I THINK it won't work or someone else says it won't, you learn a lot when tryin it out yourself.

KasperL battery chargers are pretty cheap, you can get them at grocery stores, target, walmart, probably even gas stations.

No joke, I have 75 rechargeable batteries! I hated when my batteries would die & I would have to take batteries out of something else. I was switchin batteries daily, so I decided to get rechargeable batteries for all my portable gear, plus a spare set.