Phase Essential battery: how to power and charge

Phase Essential Remotes run on a built-in Li-ion battery. This guide covers how to power the Receiver, how charging works, and how to get the most out of your battery.

Powering the Receiver

The Receiver turns on and off by plugging and unplugging the USB cable. 

You can power it from a free USB port on your computer, a powered USB hub, or a wall charger delivering 5V. The Receiver works in all three cases.

Important: never use a charger that exceeds 5V. Overvoltage can permanently damage the Receiver.

If you power the Receiver from your mixer's USB hub, it may not deliver enough power to charge the Remotes. You'll know this is happening if the Remote LEDs flash red. In that case, connect the Receiver directly to your computer or to a powered USB hub.

Charging the Remotes

Place the Remotes in the Receiver docks. Charging starts automatically as long as the Receiver is powered. 

The LED on each Remote shows an upward filling animation while charging, and turns solid when the battery is full. 

A full charge takes about 2 hours. It is safe to leave the Remotes docked when fully charged.

Battery specs and care

• Li-ion battery, up to 10 hours of use per charge
• Full charge in 2 hours
• Do not use a fast charger — it can permanently damage the battery
• If you are not using Phase for an extended period, charge the Remotes at least every 6 months to keep the batteries healthy
• Avoid fully discharging the Remotes before storing them

What affects battery life

Battery drain is mostly driven by radio signal strength. In environments with heavy wireless interference, the Remotes need to transmit more strongly, which uses more power. 

Enabling Radio Boost in Phase Manager also increases consumption noticeably. 

Running an outdated firmware can also affect battery life: always keep your unit updated.

Common Issues

Remote LED blinks red or the Remote does not charge
The Receiver is likely not getting enough power. Connect it directly to a wall outlet using a standard 5V charger and leave the Remote to charge for 2 full hours. If the issue persists, open Phase Manager, go to the Update Center, right-click the affected Remote and select "Update Remote", then charge it again for 2 hours.

Remote turns off as soon as it leaves the dock
The battery may no longer hold a charge. Charge the Remote for 2 consecutive hours, then test again. If it still turns off immediately on removal, contact the Phase team.

Battery drains faster than expected
Check that Radio Boost is off in Phase Manager (Settings > Advanced Settings). Make sure your firmware is up to date. If you feel the battery no longer holds a charge long enough for your sessions, contact the Phase team.

Swollen battery

In rare cases, the Li-ion battery inside a Remote can expand over time. This shows up as a visible bulge under the LED strip area of the Remote. You may also notice charging issues or the Remote turning off immediately when taken out of the dock.

If you spot a bulge on your Remote : stop using it immediately and get in touch with the team using the button below and include a clear photo showing the bulge.

Something's wrong?
The Phase team is here.