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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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7th Aug 2020, 11:43 am | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 826
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Attache radio
Hello,
Just a quick question. I've just restored a Pye valve battery portable and wondering what battery would be best for the 1.5V LT, C or D type or does it really not matter. Thanks John |
7th Aug 2020, 11:46 am | #2 |
Moderator
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Re: Attache radio
I quite often use a pair of C cells (in parallel) as they are more easily obtained at a good price and they easily fit inside an old battery casing.
The capacity of a pair of modern C cells is likely to be much higher than the original battery. It really depends on how long your going to be running it for and convenience (availability) Cheers Mike T
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Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk Last edited by Cobaltblue; 7th Aug 2020 at 11:48 am. Reason: clarification |
7th Aug 2020, 11:52 am | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 826
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Re: Attache radio
Hi Mike, I'd not thought of doing that sounds like a good idea.
I don't expect it will get a lot of use but with spending more time at home and some decent weather it would be nice to have something to use out side, I have been using a couple of mains/battery portables I have on mains but not ideal so thought I'd do a proper battery portable. John Last edited by stitch1; 7th Aug 2020 at 11:54 am. Reason: Spelling! |
7th Aug 2020, 1:30 pm | #4 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 97
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Re: Attache radio
Hello,
I generally use a pair of C-cells in parallel too. A 3 volt (double) C- cell holder can be rewired for parallel and will fit inside an AD35 LT battery carton. Two single battery holders will bolt back to back and will fit inside a B141 combined HT/LT battery carton and still leave room to daisy chain 9 off PP3 (with an additional one floating if desired) for the HT. If I'm rebuilding larger batteries such as the combined B103, B136 or AD3, I generally use multiple D-cells to give a long life. There is no need to have to solder batteries for LT. Probably a bit over the top, but as new alkaline cells often produce nearly 1.6 volts initially even on load, I wire a 1.2 ohm resistor in to the LT battery to be kinder to the valves. |
7th Aug 2020, 2:40 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,646
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Re: Attache radio
If you've got about 500mA running through the filaments (rough conservative estimate I haven't actually checked the valve lineup), wouldn't the batteries last only about 8 hours though?
G |
7th Aug 2020, 4:40 pm | #6 | |
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Re: Attache radio
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I am of course assuming its one of the normal 4 Valve Attache case radios of which the most common seems to be the P114BQ (judging by the number of them I have lurking around) I don't think John (Stitch1) has ever stated the model number Cheers Mike T
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7th Aug 2020, 5:17 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
Quick back of envelope calculation:
2 type c batteries = 16000mAh (alkaline) of which probably around 7000mAh will be usable in real terms before voltage drops significantly At 250mA that's good for 28hrs of play time. Not bad I suppose, better if he has the model consuming 125mA, assuming he's not planning to use it every day. Gabe |
7th Aug 2020, 6:30 pm | #8 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
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7th Aug 2020, 8:25 pm | #9 | |||||
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 826
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Re: Attache radio
Sorry I had to go back to work. Thanks for the interesting replies ...
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Think I messed up the multi quoting! Thanks again for the replies. When it’s back together I’ll measure the current consumption. John |
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8th Aug 2020, 4:43 am | #10 |
Tetrode
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 69
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Re: Attache radio
It may be worth remembering that if you use rechargeable lithium cells that they only produce 1.2v; an area where some frequency changers start to get a bit tempremental
Regards |
8th Aug 2020, 9:18 am | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
Rechargeable lithium cells are more like 4V. Nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride are around 1.2V, lead acid around 2V.
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8th Aug 2020, 10:18 am | #12 |
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Re: Attache radio
It is actually much cheaper to power the filaments from a couple of AA alkalines, simply because these can be bought at low prices in places like Poundland and Primark. Whether this is practical depends on the usage pattern of the set, and whether the owner is prepared to change batteries quite frequently.
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8th Aug 2020, 11:07 am | #13 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
So there's no real technical reason why one would be better than another but Herald raises a good point about re-chargeables.
And if there is no technical preference between AA, C or D 'the owner' will be using whatever I have to hand, just happens I have some C types and no use for them so I'll use those up first. It’s still on the "bench" but working well now so hopefully get it cleaned and up re-assembled today. John |
8th Aug 2020, 1:04 pm | #14 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
Perhaps its the shops round here but I find it hard to buy C type cells in recent times, loads to purchase online though of course.
Steve. |
8th Aug 2020, 6:58 pm | #15 | |
Tetrode
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
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Shows the peils of posting in the wee small hours Regards |
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8th Aug 2020, 6:58 pm | #16 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
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Re: Attache radio
All done, temporary battery arrangement, working really well. Looking forward to taking it out for a picnic this week.
John Last edited by stitch1; 8th Aug 2020 at 7:05 pm. |
8th Aug 2020, 6:59 pm | #17 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Attache radio
Quote:
An extension of the basic idea could be to use something like an eight AA cell holder, rewired for parallel operation if frequent battery replacement is annoying. With about 2000mAH each (for 1.5V to 1.2V operational life) you'll be back up to the lifetime of a couple of Cs or a D.
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8th Aug 2020, 7:09 pm | #18 |
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Re: Attache radio
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8th Aug 2020, 7:17 pm | #19 |
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Re: Attache radio
That will do admirably for a picnic, it is fun using such radios as intended. People complain about the lack of MW/LW stations today, in the 50's we only had the home and light maybe the third programme as well. Now we have quite a few, as well as Radio 4 LW I quite like my local "Asian" stations, always upbeat with interesting music.
One valve radio, one picnic, one(!) bottle of wine, what's not to like? |
8th Aug 2020, 7:27 pm | #20 | ||
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Durham, County Durham, UK.
Posts: 826
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Re: Attache radio
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John |
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