tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post4613683916285826779..comments2024-03-26T20:17:30.126-07:00Comments on Every Blade of Grass: Running a Tube-Type Radio on "Car Batteries" - PART 1-drjimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-79262907540623290852016-02-06T20:56:45.009-08:002016-02-06T20:56:45.009-08:00It was an interesting "thought experiment&quo...It was an interesting "thought experiment".<br /><br />No alarm bells went off when I read the same books you did, so something inside of me must have said "yeah, you just need enough DC voltage to supply what the radio needs", and I let it go at that.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-55260919508471600992016-02-06T01:47:52.650-08:002016-02-06T01:47:52.650-08:00I read this four times now, and I am "getting...I read this four times now, and I am "getting it" more each time. I know this took a lot of work to do, and I appreciate it. I have a "restricted access" blog that only I can get into, and I keep articles like this for a rainy day, through links. I think a heck of a lot of people do this. <br /><br />It's great that you're willing to go to the time and trouble to share your expertise.Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-42651735570801912352016-02-05T11:03:11.073-08:002016-02-05T11:03:11.073-08:00I agree 100%, and in the post I mention buying a s...I agree 100%, and in the post I mention buying a some inexpensive inverters, and keeping them in an ammo can/EMP box along with your little solid-state general coverage receiver..<br /><br />Plus, you'd only need to lug ONE battery up the hill, and not 16!<br /><br />BUT...the subject was brought up that in all the apocalyptic novels we've read, somebody (usually the old "Ham on the hill with big antennas") is always running an old tube-type radio on "car batteries".<br /><br />I've read it in at least three different books by different authors, so I wanted to actually spend a little time seeing if it's feasible.<br /><br />MY subject radio is my SB-310, which is almost identical to an SB-300/301, but with different heterodyne crystals in it to cover the shortwave bands.<br /><br />Heath did the same thing with the solid-state replacement for the 300/301. The SB-303 was ham band only, and the SB-313 had different crystals to cover the shortwave bands. I've got a "like new" SB-303 here that needs some work, but haven't gotten one of those circular "tuit" things for it yet.<br /><br />As a "present" for sticking it out and studying hard enough to get my General in early 1965, my Mom and Dad bought me a SB-301/401 combo. I took most of my chore/odd job/Christmas/Birthday money and fleshed it out a bit with a 400 Hz CW filter for the 301, a crystal pack for the 401 so I could run it independently of the receiver, the SB-630 station console (phone patch, VSWR bridge, clock, and 10 minute ID timer) and the matching speaker for the 301.<br /><br />I'd build another Boat Anchor station with those items, but my wife would get pretty pissed off over "more radios".drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-54778647936387065372016-02-05T10:42:32.906-08:002016-02-05T10:42:32.906-08:00Just out of curiosity; why not use the batteries t...Just out of curiosity; why not use the batteries to run an inverter and then just plug the radio into the inverter? <br /><br />I know they're not as efficient as batteries, but they're around 80% efficient. And it's way less work. <br /><br />Maybe I'm lazy. I also don't want to booger up my KWM2. ;-)<br /><br />(And when I was a kid, an SB401/301 station was my dream. Before I got my ticket!) <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-23850349138894821062016-02-04T19:24:52.808-08:002016-02-04T19:24:52.808-08:00N/P!
I doubt this'll get much exposure, but i...N/P!<br /><br />I doubt this'll get much exposure, but it's something I thought the readers I have might find interesting.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-7491761509286337522016-02-04T18:48:05.733-08:002016-02-04T18:48:05.733-08:00Bookmarking this, thanks!Bookmarking this, thanks!Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4901205574058136834.post-255493467058837752016-02-03T13:58:11.912-08:002016-02-03T13:58:11.912-08:00Spark. The answer is spark. And homemade batteries...Spark. The answer is spark. And homemade batteries. <br />And I remember radios with all those different batteries. <br />Terry<br />Fla. <br />:)<br />PS. A moment of silence for The Day the Music Died. Terryhttp://jterryt.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com