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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment.

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Old 16th Mar 2007, 8:10 pm   #1
batterymaker1
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Default British Military Radio Battery info Wanted.

Hopefully, I've plunked this request into the right section, so here goes:

Friend of mine says I ought to look into making repro military batteries for sets like the Wireless Sets No 18 and 38.

I've found tons of American Military Battery data, but I haven't a clue where to start with the British ones.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? If I can find measurements, socket data and voltages, I'm all set.

Bill
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Old 17th Mar 2007, 3:30 pm   #2
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Specs for UK military batteries are in Defence Standard 61-3, much of which has been cancelled.

Try the links on this page:-

http://www.royalsignals.org.uk/links.htm#battery
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Old 17th Mar 2007, 3:50 pm   #3
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

I've just consulted the bible. ie:- Wireless For The Warrior Volume 2.

When used as a manpack the WS 18 uses:-

Battery Dry HT/LT 150/3 volts No.3.

or

Battery Dry HT/LT 162/3 volts No.1.


When used as a static station:-

Batteries Dry HT 60 volts No.1 (2 needed)

Battery Dry Refill 8 cells No.1 Mk 1 (3 needed)

Cells Dry 0 MK 2 (2 needed)


Wireless Set No 38 uses:-

Battery Dry HT/LT 150/3volts No.1 or No. 3
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Old 17th Mar 2007, 4:58 pm   #4
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Interestingly Batteries Dry 67.5 V, No.1. Are still available here as a built to order item under the guise of Eveready 467:-

http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk

I need four of these for a MK 128 radio, but at *£32.50 each I shalln't be in a hurry to buy any.

*Price correct at time of post.
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Last edited by Darren-UK; 30th Oct 2007 at 1:41 am. Reason: Price note added.
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Old 17th Mar 2007, 5:45 pm   #5
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Uk Defence Standards are here:-

http://www.dstan.mod.uk/

However I think they only have current standards. MOD Specs for many of the batteries used in vintage military equipment are linked to from the site I mentioned in post 2. This includes Battery Dry 67.5 volt No.1 aka Eveready 467. Full case drawing are given for this and several other bateries.
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Old 17th Mar 2007, 6:15 pm   #6
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

This pic gives an idea of the battery colours:-

http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/~robinson/...ion/WB2733.jpg
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 12:07 am   #7
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

I have a couple of old (and flat)67.5 volt batteries, one in "plain wrapper" and a blue "Crompton", complete with GPO item codes.(Dry cell something or other) I haven't seen many higher voltage than that.
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 12:15 am   #8
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

The primary cells I remember from my time at the GPO were the enormous cylindrical cells about 6 to 8 inches high used in banks of three for local battery systems.

I can't think what the 67.5V batteries were used for.

I think the descriptions used were cells dry, batteries dry and cells secondary.

Occasionally in the mid sixties we would recover old open top leclance cells from customer's houses.
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 12:24 pm   #9
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Given that this forum is primarily concerned with the restoration of domestic radios you're probably asking the question in the wrong place.

It might be better to try on newsgroups relating to Military Gear. For example VMARS:-

http://www.vmars.org.uk/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vmars/
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 5:16 pm   #10
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Oops, one more question--some of the batteries I've seen are more of a mustard tan color, the others are the standard olive green.

Are there variances on each battery?
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 9:17 pm   #11
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

The only colour I've seen in the flesh is the brown shown in this post:-

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=12909

Much of the brown colour comes from the wax which the batteries are dipped in.

I can't say I've ever seen olive green batteries, but that's not to say they don't exist.
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 9:34 pm   #12
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Station X View Post
I can't say I've ever seen olive green batteries, but that's not to say they don't exist.
Here's one (though I'm not sure how visible the colour is - my scanner has rather washed it out). Mind you, I'm not sure why the MOD needs its own version of a D cell
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 9:43 pm   #13
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

I once had a wonderful old battery, almost certainly military. About 4" diameter and 4" high, grey plastic case. I think there were 2 independent 1.5V cells brought out to 4 screw terminals. Alas thrown away many years ago when it finally ran down.
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 9:51 pm   #14
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

Quote:
Mind you, I'm not sure why the MOD needs its own version of a D cell
Presumably to stop people nicking them.

Also they have to pass discharge tests, shelf life tests etc and I doubt some of the cheap offerings would be up to spec.
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Old 18th Mar 2007, 9:51 pm   #15
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

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Originally Posted by Dave Moll View Post
Mind you, I'm not sure why the MOD needs its own version of a D cell
They have (or at least had) their own alkaline C and D cells, clearly made by Duracell (it says as much on the casing). These are olive green too. A local surplus dealer used to stock them, having been declared surplus after approaching their (very conservative) use by dates. They were fine and lasted for years. Unfortunately I don't have any now.

Why they don't buy off the shelf Duracells with a suitable spec is anybody's guess

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Old 18th Mar 2007, 10:02 pm   #16
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Default Re: British Military Radio Battery Data Wanted

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Originally Posted by paulsherwin View Post
They have (or at least had) their own alkaline C and D cells, clearly made by Duracell (it says as much on the casing).
I notice mine says "E.R." - Ever Ready perchance?
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