Rechargeable Battery cost comparison?

79 views
Skip to first unread message

Jim vanBergen

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 3:17:35 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
Hi folks...

Has anyone on Broadway or a B'way tour done a spreadsheet that demonstrates a cost comparison between alkaline and rechargeable batteries? 

Would you mind sharing some data with me, as I need to put one together post-haste for my GM, and was hoping to do it over this weekend, instead of irritating my shop salespeople with it on Monday? 

Thanks in advance, and apologies if I'm being a PITA. 

--
Jim van Bergen
917-826-1626
vanber...@gmail.com

Andy Leviss

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 7:23:35 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 3:17 PM, Jim vanBergen <vanber...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi folks...
>
> Has anyone on Broadway or a B'way tour done a spreadsheet that demonstrates
> a cost comparison between alkaline and rechargeable batteries?

I don't think he's on the list, but try touching base with Phil Lojo,
I know he's been putting/trying to put them on a few shows recently.
Also, Shannon does post here, and he's been doing all his tour designs
on rechargeables for a few years now, so he might have some data.

--A

Sean Leistico

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 7:37:55 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
I'd be interested in that kind of info, too, come to think of it.  I do sound at a junior college plus at a community theatre that does 5 or 6 musicals (around 80 rehearsals and performances) a year, using between 12 and 18 channels of wireless (AA and 9v).  I save show batteries from one show to be the rehearsal batteries for the next, but I'd love a more cost-effective alternative.  Thanks.

sean


--A

--
To create a new topic, send a message directly to theatre-sound-list at googlegroups dot com -- please do NOT reply to an older message and change the subject line!

Take a minute to edit unnecessary text out of your reply. Non-theatre-sound topics should be via private email. To unsubscribe or set your delivery options, see the web page: http://groups.google.com/group/theatre-sound-list

Dave Stevens

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 7:53:24 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
When we switched four years ago or so the first year cost savings was
into five figures a year but we were using around 100 9 volts a night.
I can't give specifics but our savings are substantial. I suppose it
all depends on how many and how often you use them. We just switched
the last of the RF stuff to rechargeable when we installed PSM 1000s as
the new ear rigs. Awesome piece of gear, btw.

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [theatre-sound-list] Rechargeable Battery cost comparison?
> From: Jim vanBergen <vanber...@gmail.com>
> Date: Sat, February 11, 2012 12:17 pm
> To: theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
>
>
> Hi folks...
>
> Has anyone on Broadway or a B'way tour done a spreadsheet that demonstrates
> a cost comparison between alkaline and rechargeable batteries?
>

> Would you mind sharing some data with me, as I need to put one together
> post-haste for my GM, and was hoping to do it over this weekend, instead of
> irritating my shop salespeople with it on Monday?
>
> Thanks in advance, and apologies if I'm being a PITA.
>
> --
> Jim van Bergen
> 917-826-1626
> vanber...@gmail.com
>

Shannon Slaton

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 9:21:34 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
Here’s my breakdown that I show the decision makers.  I hope it helps.
 
Prices from Amazon     Shipping and taxes not included
This is a cost estimate based on batteries for 4 wireless packs and a charging station.  This includes two sets of batteries so that one set is always charging and a charging station. 
Packs using 1 AA        
1 - 1  Hour Charger $64.75   Procell AA Sleeve (24 Count) $10.89
8 Powerex AA $25.95      
Total Cost $90.70   Number of show until break even 50
Packs using 2 AA        
1 - 1  Hour Charger $64.75   Procell AA Sleeve (24 Count) $10.89
16 Powerex AA $51.90      
Total Cost $116.65   Number of show until break even 33
Packs using 1 AAA        
1 - 1  Hour Charger $64.75   Procell AAA Sleeve (24 Count) $10.00
8 Powerex AAA $31.16      
Total Cost $95.91   Number of show until break even 58
For 4 Packs For 8 Packs For 12 Packs For 16 Packs For 20 Packs For 24 Packs For 28 packs For 32 Packs
Savings per show after the break even point for:                
Packs using 1 AA? $1.82 $3.63 $5.45 $7.26 $9.08 $10.89 $12.71 $14.52
Packs using 2 AA? $3.63 $7.26 $10.89 $14.52 $18.15 $21.78 $25.41 $29.04
Packs using 1 AAA? $1.67 $3.33 $5.00 $6.67 $8.33 $10.00 $11.67 $13.33
Savings per 8 show week after the break even point for:                
Packs using 1 AA? $14.52 $29.04 $43.56 $58.08 $72.60 $87.12 $101.64 $116.16
Packs using 2 AA? $29.04 $58.08 $87.12 $116.16 $145.20 $174.24 $203.28 $232.32
Packs using 1 AAA? $13.33 $26.67 $40.00 $53.33 $66.67 $80.00 $93.33 $106.67
Savings in 100 shows after the break even point for:                
Packs using 1 AA? $181.50 $363.00 $544.50 $726.00 $907.50 $1,089.00 $1,270.50 $1,452.00
Packs using 2 AA? $363.00 $726.00 $1,089.00 $1,452.00 $1,815.00 $2,178.00 $2,541.00 $2,904.00
Packs using 1 AAA? $166.67 $333.33 $500.00 $666.67 $833.33 $1,000.00 $1,166.67 $1,333.33
 
Thank you,
Shannon Slaton

Kevin McCoy

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 9:27:16 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
I threw together this spreadsheet using numbers from Masque:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9046615/batteries.xls

---
Kevin McCoy
http://www.kevin-mccoy.com
ke...@kevin-mccoy.com
+1 (612) 284-1913

Shannon Slaton

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 9:43:53 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
Here’s what I show the decision makers.  I hope it helps.
 
 
Shannon Slaton

Shannon Slaton

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 9:57:57 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
Sorry for the double post.  It’s a two show day. 
 
Shannon
 

 

Jim vanBergen

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 10:14:05 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
YOU GUYS ROCK!!

Thank you very very much! 


JvB

On Sat, Feb 11, 2012 at 9:57 PM, Shannon Slaton <sha...@slatoninc.com> wrote:
Sorry for the double post.  It’s a two show day. 
 
Shannon
 

 

--
To create a new topic, send a message directly to theatre-sound-list at googlegroups dot com -- please do NOT reply to an older message and change the subject line!
 
Take a minute to edit unnecessary text out of your reply. Non-theatre-sound topics should be via private email. To unsubscribe or set your delivery options, see the web page: http://groups.google.com/group/theatre-sound-list

Charles Coes

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 10:44:28 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
This is awesome -  To help the case: the savings is actually greater if you include the cost of properly disposing of the batteries in the equation.  $63 bucks for 43 lbs worth of batteries.

Dave

unread,
Feb 11, 2012, 11:26:43 PM2/11/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
So lets say I am doing a total of 8 shows a year each show is run 4
nights and there are 4 tech nights when mics are also used. Each mic
uses 2 AA batteries and there are 7 mics. How much savings would that
be? The chart someone sent is not clear to me?


On 2/11/2012 9:44 PM, Charles Coes wrote:
> This is awesome - To help the case: the savings is actually greater
> if you include the cost of properly disposing of the batteries in the
> equation. $63 bucks for 43 lbs worth of batteries.
> On Feb 11, 2012, at 9:57 PM, Shannon Slaton wrote:
>

>> Sorry for the double post. It�s a two show day.
>> Shannon
>

Gerry Gironda

unread,
Feb 12, 2012, 12:09:48 AM2/12/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com

In nj alkalines are no longer recycled . On the other hand nimh & lithyion are still considered toxic & should be recycled.

Gerry G.

Dave Stevens

unread,
Feb 12, 2012, 3:05:40 AM2/12/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [theatre-sound-list] Rechargeable Battery cost comparison?

> From: Gerry Gironda <jazzka...@gmail.com>
> Date: Sat, February 11, 2012 9:09 pm
> To: theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
>
>
> In nj alkalines are no longer recycled . On the other hand nimh & lithyion
> are still considered toxic & should be recycled.

Same here. We have to pay someone to take them and they just dispose of
them like we would in the trash. We do recycle the Motorola batteries
but rebuild the BTR batteries. He may even put the old cores into the
recycle pack. I'm not sure who the company is but we pay them to send
us a box, we fill it and return it and another box shows up. And they
won't take alkalines either and I've been told we can't give them away
due to some liability issue. The primary consumer of alkalines on our
show now are flashlights. Nearly 150 run crew and the production
provides AAA, AA, C and D cells and 123s for the lights. We're looking
into rechargeable for those too but some of the apps don't lend
themselves too well to the form factor of some of these lights.


Richard B. Ingraham

unread,
Feb 12, 2012, 7:38:15 AM2/12/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: theatre-s...@googlegroups.com [mailto:theatre-sound-
> li...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Dave
> Sent: February 11, 2012 11:27 PM
> To: theatre-s...@googlegroups.com

> Subject: Re: [theatre-sound-list] Rechargeable Battery cost comparison?
>
> So lets say I am doing a total of 8 shows a year each show is run 4 nights
and
> there are 4 tech nights when mics are also used. Each mic uses 2 AA
batteries
> and there are 7 mics. How much savings would that be? The chart someone
> sent is not clear to me?


Ummm... well you'll have to do a little math for yourself. :-)

If you look at the two excellent documents that have been sent out, you'll
see that it takes over 5 weeks for NiMH to become a cheaper option on a per
show basis. That's 5 weeks of 8 shows per week.

So the short answer is that it will take you some time to break even when
you only go through 8 sets of batteries for each show. You will need to
break down the cost of alkalines to a per show basis vs. the cost of the
NiMH, plus an appropriate number of chargers down to a per show basis.
Keeping in mind that most will want two sets of NiMH batteries for each
wireless in a show.

Once you break it down to a per show basis, you can then add up how many
shows will pass using Alkalines before the NiMH plus the chargers pay for
themselves.

Having said that, for most small companies, I find it's not worth using the
rechargeable. They simply don't have enough performances per year to pay
off the entry cost in a short enough time period. Plus do not forget to put
thought into the time it takes to maintain those batteries, make sure they
get charged. Make sure then don't drain out fully and sit on a shelf dead
between productions. Someone has to make sure that gets done. And in many
small organizations there is either very little staff to do that, if any at
all. There is a big difference between an organization that does 3 or 4
shows a week for maybe a month (or even shorter runs) and those that run 8
shows a week and have an unlimited run possibly. This is why I push
colleges not to bother with rechargables, unless a wireless rental house is
going to rent them to you, because it makes no sense for a school that maybe
does one or two productions that need wireless per school year and have less
than 10 performances plus a tech.


Richard B. Ingraham
RBI Computers and Audio
www.rbicompaudio.20m.com

Florian Staab

unread,
Feb 14, 2012, 2:59:39 PM2/14/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
I've had good experience sending my dead batteries to Battery Solutions. http://www.batteryrecycling.com/

When I've called local places about battery recycling, they tell me to chuck the alkalines in the trash, which seems kind of irresponsible to me…

Cheers,
-Staab

Dave Stevens

unread,
Feb 14, 2012, 3:06:14 PM2/14/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
We use a similar contractor for the non alklines. IIRC it's a bout 25
bucks a box or so. There is nothing in a standard alkaline that can be
recycled to be cost effective. All your "recycler" of the alkalines is
going to do is throw them out but charge you for it.

TheChri...@aol.com

unread,
Feb 14, 2012, 3:33:16 PM2/14/12
to theatre-s...@googlegroups.com
 
I've used these on most of my recent tours.
 
Chris
 
Chris Walters
Theatrical Sound Engineer
TheChri...@aol.com
772-559-9392
 
In a message dated 2/14/2012 1:58:57 P.M. Central Standard Time, mfs...@gmail.com writes:
I've had good experience sending my dead batteries to Battery Solutions. http://www.batteryrecycling.com/

When I've called local places about battery recycling, they tell me to chuck the alkalines in the trash, which seems kind of irresponsible to me…

Cheers,
-Staab


On Feb 12, 2012, at 03:05 , Dave Stevens wrote:

>
>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: [theatre-sound-list] Rechargeable Battery cost comparison?
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages