UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Alkaline Dry Cells Outer Tube Is Positive

Dave Moll · 14th Jun 2019, 3:59 pm

I checked this to be so with a Duracell I had handy, but is this true of all alkaline cells?

Most of the cells I have to hand are cheap zinc/carbon cells where this doesn't seem to be the case. One I tested (Kodak) had a case electrically continuous with the negative end, and another (Wilko) was insulated from both terminals.

Because one has to breach the paint or whatever to make electrical contact with the metal case, the non-isolation of the case isn't something I had noticed before.

14th Jun 2019, 3:59 pm	#5
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,130	Re: Alkaline Dry Cells Outer Tube Is Positive I checked this to be so with a Duracell I had handy, but is this true of all alkaline cells? Most of the cells I have to hand are cheap zinc/carbon cells where this doesn't seem to be the case. One I tested (Kodak) had a case electrically continuous with the negative end, and another (Wilko) was insulated from both terminals. Because one has to breach the paint or whatever to make electrical contact with the metal case, the non-isolation of the case isn't something I had noticed before. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)