Prevent Damage to Your Recorders from Improper Battery Use

This Technical Support Bulletin applies to AA models, only.

Incorrect battery use can damage any battery-powered device, but it is particularly important to be mindful when using eight AA batteries in a Song Meter Mini 2 AA or Song Meter Mini Bat 2 AA. 

If some batteries in a set of eight are installed incorrectly, the recorder may initially power on, but the batteries may heat up and later leak corrosive chemicals that can damage the recorder. It may not be immediately obvious that something is wrong, which is why it is especially important to take care when installing batteries.

Examples of incorrect battery use include:

• Installing batteries backwards, with the positive and negative ends reversed
• Combining brand-new or freshly charged batteries with batteries that have already been used
• Combining batteries of different types or brands

Battery best practices

When it comes time to start a new deployment or replace batteries in the field, a few simple checks will help prevent any possible issues.

1. Check that all your batteries are identical before installing them. All batteries should be the same type and brand. Single-use batteries should all be brand-new, and rechargeable batteries should all be freshly charged.
2. Turn off the Song Meter.
3. Install each battery with its flat, negative end against the battery tray spring, as pictured here:

4. Check that the batteries alternate in direction.

Correct orientation:

Incorrect orientation:

5. Turn on the Song Meter and feel for any heat radiating from the batteries for 5-10 seconds. Heat indicates mismatched, incorrectly installed, or faulty batteries.
   
6. If any batteries feel hot, turn off the Song Meter, then remove all batteries quickly and carefully.
   
7. Leave the Song Meter on for up to one minute. This is a good opportunity to check the recorder’s status in the Song Meter Configurator mobile app.
   
8. Check the batteries for radiant heat once more.
9. If any batteries feel hot, turn off the Song Meter, then remove all batteries quickly and carefully.
   

What to do if a battery leaks

If your Song Meter Mini 2 AA or Song Meter Mini Bat 2 AA recorder has been damaged by leaking batteries, here’s what you should do:

1. Take a photo of the open Song Meter with the batteries in place, if possible.

2. Contact Wildlife Acoustics Support and provide the following info:
   - Recorder serial number
   - Photo of the open Song Meter
   - Shipping address and phone number

Free battery tray labels

Wildlife Acoustics can send you adhesive labels to install inside your Song Meter Mini 2 AA or Mini Bat 2 AA recorders, free of charge. These labels provide an extra reminder of the correct battery orientation and can be particularly helpful if you have a team deploying the recorders. 

If you purchased your recorders directly from Wildlife Acoustics, contact Wildlife Acoustics Support and provide the following information:

• The number of Song Meter Mini (Bat) 2 AA recorders you have that need labels
• Your shipping address and phone number

If you purchased from an Authorized Wildlife Acoustics Reseller, please contact that reseller directly to request these labels. 

Questions? We’re here to help.

Please feel free to reach out to our support team should you have any questions. We can be reached by calling +1 (888) 733-0200 or submitting this contact form. 

–Wildlife Acoustics Support