Tapped HT Battery.

[Station X]

My Beethoven model 64 which is shown in this thread:-

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=23095

requires a 120V HT battery with a tap at 96V for the output valve's screen grid. Does anyone know of an HT battery which had a tap at 96V? The radio was made in about 1935.

[Robert Darwent]

Hi Graham

There were several 120V HT batteries that had a tap at 96V, two that come to mind made by Ever Ready were the 'Portable 33 and 34'.

They were similar in size and appearance to the 'Portable 61' shown below, but obviously with a variety of HT taps and several Grid Bias taps down one side.

I've no idea which battery was actually specified for the Beethoven 64 though. Equivalent types made by Marconiphone and GEC were also available.

Regards

[mickjjo]

Hi Graham, I have a big old Lissen 120 volt HT battery type "LN 539" with a dozen different tappings, this was common practice in the early 30s.

Regards, Mick.

[Robert Darwent]

Just found this photograph of the Marconiphone B600 battery. Its was a 120V HT multi-tapped type. Apologies for the poor quality of the image, but you can just make out that the tap on the bottom edge second from the right is at 96V.

Regards

[Station X]

Hi Graham, I have a big old Lissen 120 volt HT battery type "LN 539" with a dozen different tappings, this was common practice in the early 30s.

Judging by the position and voltages of the taps that battery must have 20 rows of 6 cells. How big is it?

[Station X]

Just found this photograph of the Marconiphone B600 battery

That looks like Marconiphone's version of this one:-

http://www.vintage-technology.info/p.../oldhambat.htm

[mickjjo]

Originally Posted by Station X

How big is it?

It is 300 mm long x 135 mm wide x 80 mm high or 11 3/4" x 5 1/4" x 3 1/4" in old money, so quite big!

Regards, Mick.

[Station X]

I like the look of it and the set has room for it, but there'll be no room for the GB and LT batteries.

[Radio_Dave]

Would 8 1/4" x 6 1/2" x 2 3/4" fit?

I've got graphics to make an Ever Ready Winner. It doesn't have a 96V tap, but if your not worried about authenticity, it could be easily changed .

The Vidor equivalent to the Winner did have extra taps, including 96V, but I haven't got around to making that yet.

David

[Steve_Bell]

Here is the battery used in my Pye Q. It has loads of taps and Grid Bias.
This is actually a replica box containing a mains power supply of my own design.

[Robert Darwent]

That's super Steve!

Can I ask how you've tapped off the various voltages, with a chain of resistors or zeners or some other method? Any chance of a schematic showing us exactly what you've done?

Regards

[Steve_Bell]

I created an HT supply of 126v using zener regulation (7 x 18v in series) and used a chain of 3v zeners and resistor to provide the 3v taps. The PSU also contains a regulated 2v LT supply, to replace the accumulator, and a regulated GB supply. I will post a circuit diagram when I find it!

Steve.

[Steve_Bell]

Details of my battery power supply have been posted here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...354#post204354

Steve.

[Station X]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Bill The Battery Maker is going to make me an HT battery based on the Winner 120. That should fit along with a Winner 9 GB battery and a Cyclon LT battery.