Factors Affecting Battery Life

Battery life estimations are based on measurements taken with typical SD cards at room temperature. These estimations should be treated as very broad, as many factors can significantly affect power consumption.

Battery Quality

For a single type of battery, different brands and models can vary in their performance.

For AA batteries, the Song Meter Configurator app assumes you are using Energizer, alkaline batteries when it estimates battery percentage and run time. Different brands of AA batteries may not last as long as the app's estimations, even in ideal conditions. Rechargeable NiMH batteries will die significantly more quickly than the app's estimations.

For 18650 lithium-ion batteries, the Song Meter Configurator app assumes you are using Wildlife Acoustics branded batteries we sell in the United States. These batteries have a manufacturer-stated capacity of 3500 mAh per battery. Batteries with the same stated capacity from a reputable manufacturer should perform similarly to Wildlife Acoustics branded batteries.

SD Card Power Consumption

SD cards vary significantly in how much power they require. Even SD cards of the same model and size from the same manufacturer can exhibit this variation. The power consumption of an SD card can have a noticeable affect on the power consumption of the Song Meter Mini 2 overall.

Ambient Temperature

Most types of batteries experience diminished performance in cold weather compared to room temperature. The magnitude of this effect is different for various battery chemistries. For example, alkaline AA batteries can have their performance reduced by 50% or more in freezing temperatures.