Even though it’s now a Panasonic subsidiary, Sanyo lives on as its own brand. And one of the major reasons Panasonic bought the company is its “green” image, mainly achieved through selling products under the “eneloop” sub-brand. The latest of these products, the so-called eneloop music booster, was announced today. It’s a rechargeable DC 9V battery unit specifically designed for music devices.
Sanyo is marketing the product as a long-lasting 9V power source for effects units, amps, graphic equalizers, and multi-track recorders. These devices are usually powered by an AC adapter or a 9V dry-cell battery, both of which might not be available or run out at, say, a concert. Sanyo claims their lithium-ion eneloop battery (3.7 V, 7.35 Ah) can be used in locations without electricity to power those devices for hours. The maximum output is 2,000mA.
The standard usage times depend on what device is being used with the eneloop booster. They can be as high as 50 hours for analog effects units or as low as for electronic drums. But in any case, the booster can save musicians in “emergency” situations in which AC adapters won’t work or if there aren’t enough 9V dry batteries around. It takes 3.5 hours to fully charge the Sanyo battery.
The eneloop music booster will go on sale (in Japan first) on March 4, 2010. It will cost $110.