PP3 Batteries - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

mikelect · 6th Nov 2005, 2:26 pm

These look just the job for making 90volt batteries at a good price as well
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PP3-9-Volt-Zin...QQcmdZViewItem

Mike

Darren-UK · 6th Nov 2005, 2:39 pm

Some of his other items seem a reasonable buy too, although these PP3s seem too cheap to me ....... 'new and unused' they may be, but I wonder how near the end of their shelf life they are ?

dave_n_t · 6th Nov 2005, 2:56 pm

Quote:

but I wonder how near the end of their shelf life they are ?

Well, it's not clear from the advert. But the prices are very similar to the exact same items from CPC, and the postage + VAT overhead is less.
I guess if he'd bought them in bulk there'd still be a margin for him.

I've used these (but from CPC

) to make HT packs, and they work very well.

GJR 11L · 6th Nov 2005, 6:12 pm

I just bought a box of these and will report back once I have my batteries and have checked the expiry date.

Bob_Moss · 6th Nov 2005, 8:48 pm

7dayshop do a bulk pack of 10 Energiser titanium alkaline PP3s for £4.99 + postage.

I've got some for general use, they have a very long shelf life. Look at 7dayshop for their NiMh rechargeables and chargers too!

stevekendal · 6th Nov 2005, 8:55 pm

GP batteries should be ok, 20 heading my way now!

mickjjo · 6th Nov 2005, 9:02 pm

Link to 7dayshop batteries:-

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=99153

Looks like a good deal.

.

Regards, Mick.

mikelect · 7th Nov 2005, 9:57 pm

I e-Mailed the guy selling the GP PP3's to enquire about the use by date

and he replied that they are current stock bought in May this year

so that should give you about 4 to 5 years shelf life

Mike

mikelect · 7th Nov 2005, 10:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickjjo

Link to 7dayshop batteries:-

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=99153

Looks like a good deal.

.

Regards, Mick.

If you look on the 7dayshop site you will find they were listed sept 2004

and there is feedback from one buyer dated 6-11-05 that states the batteries use by date is 2006

not such a good deal after all

Mike

stevekendal · 8th Nov 2005, 11:09 pm

Mine just arrived. Dated 10-05, but they check ok at 9.93v and I dont intend to keep them before I use them. Can try all my portable valvies now

Steve.

Paul Stenning · 8th Nov 2005, 11:17 pm

I would reject them as they are out of date - unless they were sold as out of date at a suitably reduced price. The off-load voltage may be fine but once you load them with 10-20mA the voltage may well drop or they may not last that long.

GJR 11L · 10th Nov 2005, 1:02 pm

Mine arrived earlier this morning and are (just) within date (11/05). I have tried them with a Roberts R66 and the Sky Prince and tested them with the meter (average 9.89Volts each) too, no problems. I guess I'm lucky in this case, perhaps the other box was sent in error & should have been caught prior to despatch?

I suppose I could put one in a '60s shirt pocket set and see how long it plays before the battery dies, but they were bought specifically to enable me to use some of the battery valve sets more frequently and as such are fine.

Heatercathodeshort · 10th Nov 2005, 8:21 pm

Hello,
Out of date batteries are not a problem if they have been stored in a cool dry atmosphere. When I closed my shop in 2000 I had a complete rack of unsold batteries. I gave a some away but kept all the PP3's and AA cells.
The expiry dates are around 2003 and they are still well on top. I made up a 90volt pack a few weeks back and it seems to be working fine and holding its own. Its all down to storage but if kept in hot moist conditions will fail as Paul suggests after a limited use. Regards. JOHN.

stevekendal · 15th Nov 2005, 1:30 am

One Sky Queen working fine on these out-of-date batteries and so I just ordered some more. Cheap as chips

Steve.

Nickthedentist · 15th Nov 2005, 8:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort

Hello,
Out of date batteries are not a problem if they have been stored in a cool dry atmosphere.

The pair of Ever Ready HP2s in my doorbell were in-place when the house was bought 12 years ago, and have a use-by date of 1990 stamped into their bases, yet they still work and haven't leaked (much!)

Similarly, I found a cassette recorder at my grandmother's house last week which still had its original AA Duracells in place, which must date from about 1984-5. And that still worked too.

Nick.

paulsherwin · 15th Nov 2005, 11:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

The pair of Ever Ready HP2s in my doorbell were in-place when the house was bought 12 years ago, and have a use-by date of 1990 stamped into their bases, yet they still work and haven't leaked (much!)

Similarly, I found a cassette recorder at my grandmother's house last week which still had its original AA Duracells in place, which must date from about 1984-5. And that still worked too.

It varies a lot with the manufacturer. I bought some Samsung zinc-carbons a few years ago which died about a week after the use by date. OTOH a pair of no-brand AAs in a 99p torch worked well until nearly 10 years past the date. It's all a bit of a lottery - you can't rely on well known brands being the best. All alkalines seem to survive for many years after the use by date.

If you ever come across military surplus alkalines being sold off they're an excellent buy. They're made by Duracell and will have been stored well. They're sold off as they approach the use by date so will be good for many years.

Best regards, Paul

6th Nov 2005, 2:26 pm	#1
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	PP3 Batteries These look just the job for making 90volt batteries at a good price as well http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PP3-9-Volt-Zin...QQcmdZViewItem Mike

6th Nov 2005, 2:39 pm	#2
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: PP3 Batteries Some of his other items seem a reasonable buy too, although these PP3s seem too cheap to me ....... 'new and unused' they may be, but I wonder how near the end of their shelf life they are ?

6th Nov 2005, 6:12 pm	#4
GJR 11L Heptode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ellington, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 815	Re: PP3 Batteries I just bought a box of these and will report back once I have my batteries and have checked the expiry date. __________________ John.

6th Nov 2005, 8:48 pm	#5
Bob_Moss Pentode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 216	Re: PP3 Batteries 7dayshop do a bulk pack of 10 Energiser titanium alkaline PP3s for £4.99 + postage. I've got some for general use, they have a very long shelf life. Look at 7dayshop for their NiMh rechargeables and chargers too! __________________ I was so upset that I cried all the way to the chip shop.

6th Nov 2005, 8:55 pm	#6
stevekendal Heptode Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 625	Re: PP3 Batteries GP batteries should be ok, 20 heading my way now!

6th Nov 2005, 9:02 pm	#7
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: PP3 Batteries Link to 7dayshop batteries:- http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=99153 Looks like a good deal. . Regards, Mick.

7th Nov 2005, 9:57 pm	#8
mikelect Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK. Posts: 799	Re: PP3 Batteries I e-Mailed the guy selling the GP PP3's to enquire about the use by date and he replied that they are current stock bought in May this year so that should give you about 4 to 5 years shelf life Mike

8th Nov 2005, 11:09 pm	#10
stevekendal Heptode Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 625	Re: PP3 Batteries Mine just arrived. Dated 10-05, but they check ok at 9.93v and I dont intend to keep them before I use them. Can try all my portable valvies now Steve.

8th Nov 2005, 11:17 pm	#11
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,071	Re: PP3 Batteries I would reject them as they are out of date - unless they were sold as out of date at a suitably reduced price. The off-load voltage may be fine but once you load them with 10-20mA the voltage may well drop or they may not last that long. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

10th Nov 2005, 1:02 pm	#12
GJR 11L Heptode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ellington, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 815	Re: PP3 Batteries Mine arrived earlier this morning and are (just) within date (11/05). I have tried them with a Roberts R66 and the Sky Prince and tested them with the meter (average 9.89Volts each) too, no problems. I guess I'm lucky in this case, perhaps the other box was sent in error & should have been caught prior to despatch? I suppose I could put one in a '60s shirt pocket set and see how long it plays before the battery dies, but they were bought specifically to enable me to use some of the battery valve sets more frequently and as such are fine. __________________ John. Last edited by GJR 11L; 10th Nov 2005 at 1:09 pm. Reason: clarification as usual!

10th Nov 2005, 8:21 pm	#13
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: PP3 Batteries Hello, Out of date batteries are not a problem if they have been stored in a cool dry atmosphere. When I closed my shop in 2000 I had a complete rack of unsold batteries. I gave a some away but kept all the PP3's and AA cells. The expiry dates are around 2003 and they are still well on top. I made up a 90volt pack a few weeks back and it seems to be working fine and holding its own. Its all down to storage but if kept in hot moist conditions will fail as Paul suggests after a limited use. Regards. JOHN.

15th Nov 2005, 1:30 am	#14
stevekendal Heptode Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 625	Re: PP3 Batteries One Sky Queen working fine on these out-of-date batteries and so I just ordered some more. Cheap as chips Steve.