UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here)

Notices

Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE!

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 9th Jul 2014, 2:14 pm   #1
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,786
Default DIY AA -> C adapters

It's often desirable to use AA cells in equipment designed for C cells for a range of reasons. The length of the cells is the same but the AAs are obviously much thinner. Adapters are available from eBay sellers but are surprisingly expensive, especially if you need a lot.

You can make reasonably good adapters from an old length of washing machine hose. Just cut the hose into suitable lengths with a Stanley knife and then cut it lengthways. The batteries slide in easily enough and are held firmly.

The resultant 'battery' isn't quite as thick as a genuine C cell but is near enough to stay in place and work effectively.

Ordinary plastic garden hose can be used as well, but this is generally thinner.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCI0001.JPG
Views:	371
Size:	57.9 KB
ID:	94952  
paulsherwin is online now  
Old 9th Jul 2014, 9:31 pm   #2
robjkmannering
Retired Dormant Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 717
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

That's a handy tip Paul, I happen to have a spare hose as the supplied one metre length is often too short.
Thanks,
Rob
robjkmannering is offline  
Old 10th Jul 2014, 7:55 am   #3
Nymrod121
Nonode
 
Nymrod121's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 2,039
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

Nice one, Paul In the past, I've winced at the cost of replacing all eight C cells (4 per unit) in my Aiwa portable active loudspeakers ... now I can use rechargeable AA's.
__________________
"What a depressingly stupid machine." [Marvin: HHGTTG]
Nymrod121 is offline  
Old 10th Jul 2014, 8:29 am   #4
Kala_12
Hexode
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, UK.
Posts: 268
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

Why not use rechargeable C cells?
Stuart.
__________________
Half my stuff is junk - luckily, my wife doesn't know which half!
Kala_12 is offline  
Old 10th Jul 2014, 8:58 am   #5
Nicklyons2
Octode
 
Nicklyons2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,517
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

Possibly because they are less readily available and almost always more expensive. In the best versions they (C) are higher capacity but this may not be necessarily so with AAs now available at over 2Ah.

Another point is that some C cells, particularly those of lower capacity are made with smaller cells moulded into C size plastic jackets; as I found out when I found some which had met a nasty end.
Nicklyons2 is offline  
Old 11th Jul 2014, 8:27 am   #6
Nymrod121
Nonode
 
Nymrod121's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 2,039
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

That was pretty much my thinking on it, Nick.

The Aiwa units are fairly frugal on quiescent consumption and go into very low-power standby if no audio is detected after about a minute. Problem is that I keep forgetting to operate the slide switch at the back of each unit which isolates the batteries as well as setting them into 'conventional extension loudspeaker' mode.

What prompted my response on this thread was my recent acquisition of a lovely little Hitachi FM/AM tuner which didn't have enough 'line level' output to drive the Aiwas - so I fitted 2 x Maplin 1 watt IC amplifiers inside the tuner chassis, along with an independent power supply. I now have plenty of gain adjustment in hand - albeit internally preset - to either drive the Aiwas in 'active' mode (which supports operation of the three tone controls) or 'conventional' mode as described above.

I also have a much-loved 'Prestel' MC16 field strength meter which has a C-cell pack enclosure - here again, I'll be adopting Paul's suggestion in due course
__________________
"What a depressingly stupid machine." [Marvin: HHGTTG]

Last edited by Nymrod121; 11th Jul 2014 at 8:31 am. Reason: paragraph layout altered to improve readability
Nymrod121 is offline  
Old 12th Jul 2014, 4:03 pm   #7
threeseven
Octode
 
threeseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 1,880
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

For an off the shelf alternative I have a couple of sets of these in use and they have been no problem :-

aa to c cell adaptor

There are even cheaper suppliers of similar items but supplying from China, I preferred a UK supplier.
__________________
BVWS member
threeseven is offline  
Old 12th Jul 2014, 8:06 pm   #8
paulsherwin
Moderator
 
paulsherwin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,786
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

As I said in #1, there are plenty of these available from eBay sellers, but they aren't cheap given that they're just a bit of plastic. It's the sort of thing I'd expect Poundland to sell, but I've never noticed any there.

Can anybody suggest other tube-like items which can be used in this way?
paulsherwin is online now  
Old 12th Jul 2014, 8:32 pm   #9
Cobaltblue
Moderator
 
Cobaltblue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK.
Posts: 6,823
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

You got me thinking Paul I wonder if I have any suitable size plastic Copex kicking around.

We use miles of the stuff and the bits I would need would be offcuts

Have a look on Monday

Cheers

Mike T
__________________
Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to
Mike T BVWS member.
www.cossor.co.uk
Cobaltblue is online now  
Old 12th Jul 2014, 8:50 pm   #10
threeseven
Octode
 
threeseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 1,880
Default Re: DIY AA -> C adapters

Some washers to the correct id and od, cut from thick rubber sheet, or even the denser type polystyrene, possibly even thick corrugated cardboard. One each end would do nicely.
__________________
BVWS member
threeseven is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 6:13 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.