Comments on: Radio Equipment for Autos Brings Broadcast Programs to Motorists http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/02/radio-equipment-for-autos-brings-broadcast-programs-to-motorists/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:55:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jayessell http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/02/radio-equipment-for-autos-brings-broadcast-programs-to-motorists/comment-page-1/#comment-1063228 jayessell Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:44:14 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6244#comment-1063228 nlpnt.... The latter. Even home receivers needed multiple batteries at one time. nlpnt….
The latter.
Even home receivers needed multiple
batteries at one time.

]]> By: nlpnt http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/02/radio-equipment-for-autos-brings-broadcast-programs-to-motorists/comment-page-1/#comment-1063218 nlpnt Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:56:28 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6244#comment-1063218 Were all the batteries charged off the car generator or did you have to take out and recharge/replace the "B" "C" and "D" batteries every so often? Were all the batteries charged off the car generator or did you have to take out and recharge/replace the “B” “C” and “D” batteries every so often?

]]> By: Don http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/02/radio-equipment-for-autos-brings-broadcast-programs-to-motorists/comment-page-1/#comment-1063169 Don Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:19:04 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6244#comment-1063169 What we commonly refer to as batteries are often actually cells. For example, a C-battery is really a C-cell. A battery is a group of cells; connected in series for higher voltage, or connected in parallel for higher amperage. So a 12-volt car battery is a group of 2-volt cells in series and a 9-volt smoke detector battery is a group of 1.5-volt cells in series. But if you go to a store and ask for a C-cell, you'll probably get a blank look, so you're better off calling it a battery . . . even though the terminology is wrong . . . . What we commonly refer to as batteries are often actually cells. For example, a C-battery is really a C-cell. A battery is a group of cells; connected in series for higher voltage, or connected in parallel for higher amperage. So a 12-volt car battery is a group of 2-volt cells in series and a 9-volt smoke detector battery is a group of 1.5-volt cells in series. But if you go to a store and ask for a C-cell, you’ll probably get a blank look, so you’re better off calling it a battery . . . even though the terminology is wrong . . . .

]]> By: Don http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/02/radio-equipment-for-autos-brings-broadcast-programs-to-motorists/comment-page-1/#comment-1063168 Don Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:14:06 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6244#comment-1063168 What we commonly refer to now as batteries are usually cells. For example, an A-battery is really an A-cell. A battery is a group of cells; connected in series for higher voltage, or connected in parallel for higher amperage. So a 12-volt car battery is a group of 2-volt cells in series. But if you go to a store and ask for an A-cell, you'll probably get a blank look, so you're better off calling it a battery . . . even though the terminology is wrong . . . . What we commonly refer to now as batteries are usually cells. For example, an A-battery is really an A-cell. A battery is a group of cells; connected in series for higher voltage, or connected in parallel for higher amperage. So a 12-volt car battery is a group of 2-volt cells in series. But if you go to a store and ask for an A-cell, you’ll probably get a blank look, so you’re better off calling it a battery . . . even though the terminology is wrong . . . .

]]> By: Marshall http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/12/02/radio-equipment-for-autos-brings-broadcast-programs-to-motorists/comment-page-1/#comment-1063159 Marshall Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:23:29 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=6244#comment-1063159 Yep three batteries. Tube radios need at least 2 different power supplies to work. The A battery is the low voltage battery, 6 volts in this case, that is needed to heat the tubes for them to work. The B battery is the high voltage, most likely 90 volts, this is what the tubes use directly. The C battery is 4.5 volts that the radio uses to vary the current in the tubes to amplify signals, later radios used more complex circuits to eliminate the need for a separate battery. I have never seen reference to a D radio battery, but it has nothing to do with what we think of as modern "D" batteries. All of these where later eliminated with transformers in home radios and special circuits in car radios that used only the 6 volts from the battery (this is before cars became standardized at 12 volts). Yep three batteries.

Tube radios need at least 2 different power supplies to work. The A battery is the low voltage battery, 6 volts in this case, that is needed to heat the tubes for them to work. The B battery is the high voltage, most likely 90 volts, this is what the tubes use directly. The C battery is 4.5 volts that the radio uses to vary the current in the tubes to amplify signals, later radios used more complex circuits to eliminate the need for a separate battery.

I have never seen reference to a D radio battery, but it has nothing to do with what we think of as modern “D” batteries. All of these where later eliminated with transformers in home radios and special circuits in car radios that used only the 6 volts from the battery (this is before cars became standardized at 12 volts).

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