[Otter]

I hate to bug you all with my simple question, but it has me baffled and I have nowhere else to turn. I own a pair of Recoton W500 headphones (stop laughing!) and recently replaced the battery (simple, right?)

Since then, I've run across a constant problem - after only a few seconds of being on, the music dissolves into static. The power light remains strongly on (it should, for a twelve buck battery) but the signal light simply goes out.

My limited troubleshooting has eliminated any problem with the broadcasting unit, because after a few minutes off, turning the headphones back on allows for a few more seconds of crystal-clear music. I've also eliminated any interference; I've turned off absolutely every piece of electronic equipment in the room and held the headphones inches from the base unit and it STILL happens.

What did I do??? How did I mess this thing up? If you have an idea, could you e-mail it to me in addition to posting it? Just in case I don't find this board again (which I'm sure you'd all appreciate!). Thanks SO much, everyone, for any help you can provide.

Otter
otter7917@hotmail.com

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Did you switch from an alkaline battery to a rechargeable?

Are you sure that the new battery is fully charged??

Can you switch out the new battery with another one and eliminate the battery as the problem?

I ask these as it sounds like your problem is battery related since you get crystal clear music that fades out. Sounds like a battery problem. Hope this helps.

 

[Otter]

Well, the new battery is the exact same as the old - both rechargeable. And I made sure to let the new one charge sufficiently - almost 24 hours. The reason I don't suspect the battery is because the power light is strongly on, and will stay strongly on even after the signal fades. Maybe that doesn't mean what I thought it did?

Otter

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Hos is the base unit powered?? Battery or AC??

 

[Otter]

The base unit is powered by an AC adapter. The headphones are powered by a rechargeable battery - and not AA's or something either. It's a battery that cost me $12, and you have to unscrew one earpiece to install it. The headphone battery recharges by a short cable that stretches from the base to the headphones. A tiny LED on the back of the base lights up when the headphones are charging.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Next questions:

When did you buy this setup?
Did you buy the batteries, both that is, at te same time as this initial purchase?
Where did you buy the headphones?
Are they under warranty??
Can you take them back to where you bought them to have a looksey??

I still think that the new battery is bad. It may be able to output some voltage, but may lack the current drive to keep everything on for more than a few seconds.

 

[Otter]

Let's see~

1) I bought this mess about 4 years ago... and I think they were old THEN

2) The first battery came with the unit. The new battery I bought the other day at a specialty store.

3) eBay

4) Warranty? HA!

5) Uh-Uh

Thanks for all your help! They didn't give me the old battery back, so it'd be tough for me to check out, but I'll try.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Next questions (since I have no clue yet

)

1. How sure are you that the new battery is identical to your old one?? Voltage, capacity, constant current draw abilities or whatever??

2. Why did you replace the old battery?? Bad, wanted to, etc.

3. Did the unit work just beforethe battery change, or had it sat for a while unused??

4. Any ideas yourself yet??

Hope this is helping some to you, but I'm trying to figure all this out in my head, so your input is helpful.

 

[Otter]

Ok, lessee...

1) I was 100% sure until you just asked. Now I'm second-guessing myself.

2) Didn't last very long anymore

3) It worked great before I changed the battery... and I'm starting to see a pattern here...

4) Before I waste any more of our time... I guess I'll check the battery thing!

Thanks!

In Him,
Ted

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Hmmmmmmm, it may be that my first hunch was correct in that the battery was teh problem. Hopefully I'm correct and all it takes is the correct installation of another battery.

It sounds like the battery works for powering up the unit internally for the led, but not to power the receiving circuits.