Hogeschool Utrecht, with its extensive media program and intensive use of battery-powered equipment, was looking for an efficient and sustainable way to improve energy management. The goal: a solution that is reliable and user-friendly for students and staf, with minimal environmental impact.
Challenge
With approximately 200 audio recorders and 1,000 batteries, 800 of which are often simultaneously in use by students creating audio recordings for their assignments, good battery management is essential. Previously, the university used other batteries, but these drained quickly or no longer charged optimally over time.
Ronald Broekhuizen of HU University of Applied Sciences:
"We noticed that the batteries were draining faster and charging less effectively. This led us to provide increasing numbers of spare batteries just in case. We wanted a solution that would last longer, save costs, and contribute to more sustainable education."
Battery System Integration
To address this, Hogeschool Utrecht opted for rechargeable batteries and a charging system from Klvr. Within the Media Technology Environment, Triple Audio integrated the battery management and charging system, allowing employees to easily manage the 1,000 supplied AA batteries. The system provides clear insight into the charging process and is well-suited to the dynamic educational environment.
Technical Specifications of the Batteries
The Klvr batteries are rechargeable 1.5V Li-ion batteries and are a sustainable alternative to the traditional alkaline batteries. Thanks to the stable discharge curve, the voltage remains constant, which is important for professional AV equipment such as audio recorders and wireless microphones. The AA batteries have a capacity of approximately 4150 mAh and can be recharged up to 1200 times without noticeable capacity loss. A built-in chip ensures that the batteries behave like standard alkaline batteries, allowing them to work seamlessly in existing equipment.
"After six hours of intensive use, a student returned completely surprised to find that the batteries were still fully charged." - Ronald Broekhuizen
This demonstrates that students can work longer without interruption, while the school saves costs and can offer more sustainable education.
Professional Charging and Smart Management
A professional central charging system is used for charging an managing the batteries, allowing large numbers of batteries to be charged simultaneously. REal-time insight into charge status and usage provides overview and control, ensuring efficient battery management and guaranteeing that students always have reliable, fully charged batteries.
The software that is included further optimizes battery management. Ronald Broekhuizen explains:
"In the future, we hope to be able balance battery usage. This prevents one battery from being charged 50 times and another only three."
Conclusion
By integrating this battery charger within the Media Technology Environment, HU University of Applied Sciences combines efficient energy management with sustainable education. The collaboration with Triple Audio demonstrates how technology and sustainability reinforce each other.
Discover more
Curious how Triple Audio can help your organization with sustainable and efficient audiovisual solutions? Contact us for personalized advice or a demonstration of our systems.