The earliest versions of FiberFlies use AAA batteries. We have phased those out and now use Li-ion 18650 batteries for our PixelWhips from 2016-present.
If you still have an older PixelWhip that uses AAA batteries, 1.5V alkalines should run at full brightness for about 4-6 hours, after which they are still pretty well lit, just not as vibrant. Typically you would need to replace the batteries every two nights of active usage. With extended use, you might need to change batteries every night. The white mode uses the most power; all other modes draw a bit less.
If your PixelWhip uses the 18650 li-on battery, the battery life ranges between 4-7 hours, depending on the color mode on which the whip is operating. When the battery is low, PixelWhip will flash red 3 times, then power off, indicating it is time to recharge the battery.
If you own one of the few PixelWhip REV1 units we sold, you’ll know when the batteries get low because the REV1 will start blinking and mutating the standard color modes in a mesmerizing fashion. This is a good indication for when it’s time to charge the battery.
In addition to having the battery that is included with the PixelWhip, you can also use any protected circuit li-on rechargeable 18650 battery. You can find them on Amazon.com.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: The protection circuit prevents the battery from being over-discharged, or overcharged. Both cases would make the battery permanently unstable and could lead to overheating, fire, and possibly battery explosion. This means in the rare case of a short circuit, the protection would cut off the battery before it discharged so much that it could catch fire.
**Please avoid cheaper unprotected batteries as they don’t protect the customer from the above stated dangers.**
See our full online PW4 user guide.