Just picked this one up from a collector restorer in Canberra and I must say I'm pretty stoked with it. Can any of you tell me what the DC voltages for it is as I don't believe radiomuseum. They say 130 volts for the high tension.

It would more likely be 135 volts, using two 67.5 volt B batteries or three 45 volt B batteries. 130 doesn't divide by 1.5 volts evenly.

The A battery would have been a 2 volt wet cell.

Ok so where would I be able purchase a battery eliminator for this . Any ideas guys.

There's not too many around commercially any more. I built my own.
There is a chap who advertises in Radio Waves, I contacted him and never heard back.


Nice radio, I have one myself.

Check this thread

https://vintage-radio.com.au/default.asp?f=2&th=534#4949

All is explained in there.

Find out the model of that radio to make sure its not a 90V one!

Good reference chart is http://hrsa.asn.au/hrsa-files/radio-models.pdf

Sparks may fly!

Dan

Brad is correct. The HT is 135 volts. The A (valve filament) battery supply is 2 volts

This model MK is from 1946 and the same chassis is used in the console model MN.

Astor MK and MN Circuit Diagram

Hey Monochrome Thanks for the Circuit Diagram its much appreciated.

Guys I have found a gentleman in the UK that will make a 135 Volt -2 Volt battery eliminator for me and he is going to get back to me about the price. I will pass the info on as soon as I have it .What I found most interesting this afternoon is that you can get 45 volt batteries and 67.5 volt batteries from Amazon . Made in the US but they are smaller in physical size than the radio batteries but not too small . I wonder if they would be ok.

Now for the warnings:

Hopefully it is regulated as our mains voltage tends to be higher than theirs?

Due to the way some Utility power is wired here, NEITHER negative or positive, should touch any form of ground /earth. If it requires an earth for the benefit of reception and the primary of the aerial coil is grounded to chassis, then it should be via a 0.01 "X" type mains approved capacitor.

Howard Sheeran has this cap in his PSU & I put them in mine. Failure to comply may see the regulator go out of control. I do resort, at times to making my own.

Modern batteries have a higher power to weight ratio than the old carbon zinc ones. The voltage is what is most important, there should be data on the battery, to give an idea on its life. But they may not be cheap. The old Nr 6 telephone battery is still being made. But with modern contents it should have more life.

Marc

Carl,

You can make your own B batteries using 9 volt, type 216s. Just divide the high tension voltage by nine to work out how many you will need. It is safe to be a few volts under but don't go over or distortion and possible component failure will come about.