More amazingly long-lasting batteries! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Lancs Lad · 8th Mar 2019, 12:47 pm

These GP batteries are the original ones that were included in the box with my new Kenwood hi-fi, when I bought it in 2003.

This remote is used many times every day. And it spent eight freezing cold winters in our static caravan, before I brought the hi-fi home and put it in my kitchen, where it stands, this very moment, delivering Radio 4 to me!

How these batteries keep going, I cannot fathom!

Anyone else got such long-lived batteries?

paulsherwin · 8th Mar 2019, 12:54 pm

I've found that factory supplied remote control batteries do last very well, despite usually being an obscure brand of zinc carbons. I don't think I've ever had any leak, unlike their replacements.

Paul_RK · 8th Mar 2019, 1:07 pm

I bought one of the first Bose Wave radios offered in the UK, I think that would have been in the autumn of 1994. Was ready to return it if not favourably impressed, but it won me over sufficiently to stay, and the remote control has been in more or less daily use ever since: its original CR2025 finally needed replacement last summer. It could be said to have outlasted the radio's capacitors, the set takes half an hour or more now to recover from any prolonged power outage and I expect a fleet of them are ready to be changed.

Paul

GMB · 8th Mar 2019, 1:55 pm

I am not surprised. I expect they supplied the very best and most long lasting batteries available to avoid warranty returns.

The other classic example is (maybe was?) bulbs for cars, which were way better than you could buy as replacement parts.

19Seventy7 · 8th Mar 2019, 4:10 pm

Hi,

I'm not sure if this counts, but I have a very long lived battery pack in my 3-in-1 portable TV from the late 70s. My guess is the battery pack is from the late 70s - 80s, too.

It still works, but it's not often used.

John10b · 8th Mar 2019, 4:12 pm

We also just changed the battery in our remote control, as used with the Bose Wave Radio, we bought it about 25 years ago.
Cheers
John

Lancs Lad · 8th Mar 2019, 6:34 pm

That's nice - 19Seventy7.

It's really good to see proper Ever Ready batteries still in use.

There's another thread on here about Ever Ready batteries, but I think it has become all about Eveready batteries, which are totally different!

Pfraser · 8th Mar 2019, 7:03 pm

As a budding electronics genius

, I had a 2-transistor radio kit from Tandy. A green Tandy Enercell PP3 powered it for years; in fact I think I lost interest in the radio before the battery lost its charge. It didn't leak, either.

A much better battery than those red offerings which were given away to customers proffering a Tandy diary once a month!

19Seventy7 · 8th Mar 2019, 7:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancs Lad

That's nice - 19Seventy7.

It's really good to see proper Ever Ready batteries still in use.

There's another thread on here about Ever Ready batteries, but I think it has become all about Eveready batteries, which are totally different!

I was surprised to see it in the battery compartment, and even more surprised when it worked! Without it, the set is quite a bit lighter, too!

I’ll have to go look on that thread and have a read

Thanks

trsomian · 8th Mar 2019, 9:04 pm

I have a Sharp calculator, with, I believe, the original 2 Sharp AA cells in it. I acquired it second hand in 1986 after its original owner died. He was a colleague in my office, and since I was still using a slide rule at times it was unanimously decided I should get the deceased person's calculator; his widow didn't want anything from his desk.

duncanlowe · 10th Mar 2019, 5:13 pm

My wife has a sharp from around the same date. And also still on its originals. Will see if I can dig it out and take a photo.

8th Mar 2019, 12:47 pm	#1
Lancs Lad Heptode Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 729	More amazingly long-lasting batteries! These GP batteries are the original ones that were included in the box with my new Kenwood hi-fi, when I bought it in 2003. This remote is used many times every day. And it spent eight freezing cold winters in our static caravan, before I brought the hi-fi home and put it in my kitchen, where it stands, this very moment, delivering Radio 4 to me! How these batteries keep going, I cannot fathom! Anyone else got such long-lived batteries? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Best Regards, Peter.

8th Mar 2019, 12:54 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,936	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! I've found that factory supplied remote control batteries do last very well, despite usually being an obscure brand of zinc carbons. I don't think I've ever had any leak, unlike their replacements.

8th Mar 2019, 1:07 pm	#3
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,255	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! I bought one of the first Bose Wave radios offered in the UK, I think that would have been in the autumn of 1994. Was ready to return it if not favourably impressed, but it won me over sufficiently to stay, and the remote control has been in more or less daily use ever since: its original CR2025 finally needed replacement last summer. It could be said to have outlasted the radio's capacitors, the set takes half an hour or more now to recover from any prolonged power outage and I expect a fleet of them are ready to be changed. Paul

8th Mar 2019, 1:55 pm	#4
GMB Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: near Reading (and sometimes Torquay) Posts: 3,094	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! I am not surprised. I expect they supplied the very best and most long lasting batteries available to avoid warranty returns. The other classic example is (maybe was?) bulbs for cars, which were way better than you could buy as replacement parts.

8th Mar 2019, 4:10 pm	#5
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! Hi, I'm not sure if this counts, but I have a very long lived battery pack in my 3-in-1 portable TV from the late 70s. My guess is the battery pack is from the late 70s - 80s, too. It still works, but it's not often used. Attached Thumbnails

8th Mar 2019, 4:12 pm	#6
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,883	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! We also just changed the battery in our remote control, as used with the Bose Wave Radio, we bought it about 25 years ago. Cheers John

8th Mar 2019, 6:34 pm	#7
Lancs Lad Heptode Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 729	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! That's nice - 19Seventy7. It's really good to see proper Ever Ready batteries still in use. There's another thread on here about Ever Ready batteries, but I think it has become all about Eveready batteries, which are totally different! __________________ Best Regards, Peter.

8th Mar 2019, 7:03 pm	#8
Pfraser Pentode Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Devon, UK. Posts: 152	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! As a budding electronics genius , I had a 2-transistor radio kit from Tandy. A green Tandy Enercell PP3 powered it for years; in fact I think I lost interest in the radio before the battery lost its charge. It didn't leak, either. A much better battery than those red offerings which were given away to customers proffering a Tandy diary once a month!

8th Mar 2019, 9:04 pm	#10
trsomian Hexode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Box End, Beds. UK. Posts: 271	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! I have a Sharp calculator, with, I believe, the original 2 Sharp AA cells in it. I acquired it second hand in 1986 after its original owner died. He was a colleague in my office, and since I was still using a slide rule at times it was unanimously decided I should get the deceased person's calculator; his widow didn't want anything from his desk.

10th Mar 2019, 5:13 pm	#11
duncanlowe Nonode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK. Posts: 2,532	Re: More amazingly long-lasting batteries! My wife has a sharp from around the same date. And also still on its originals. Will see if I can dig it out and take a photo.