I have an old farm Zenith Tombstone radio which works
off a 6 volt battery. I know I could go out and spend
50 bucks for a motorcycle battery and another 50 bucks
for a 6 volt charger. Is there a more cost effective
way to run this radio? From what I understand, the radio needs about 4 amps at 6 volts to run properly.
I was wondering if there are lower cost batteries and
rechargers which could do the job?

Thanks, Randall

: I have an old farm Zenith Tombstone radio which works
: off a 6 volt battery. I know I could go out and spend
: 50 bucks for a motorcycle battery and another 50 bucks
: for a 6 volt charger. Is there a more cost effective
: way to run this radio? From what I understand, the radio needs about 4 amps at 6 volts to run properly.
: I was wondering if there are lower cost batteries and
: rechargers which could do the job?

: Thanks, Randall

: I have an old farm Zenith Tombstone radio which works
: off a 6 volt battery. I know I could go out and spend
: 50 bucks for a motorcycle battery and another 50 bucks
: for a 6 volt charger. Is there a more cost effective
: way to run this radio? From what I understand, the radio needs about 4 amps at 6 volts to run properly.
: I was wondering if there are lower cost batteries and
: rechargers which could do the job?
I used to run old 6 volt car radios off of 120 vac by removing the vibrator and grounding one of the leads and then hooking up a large 6 volt transformer off of a old tv set, it would run the radio off of 6 volts ac, thats all the vibrator does is convert the dc to ac so the transformer in the radio can step it up.
: Thanks, Randall

Hi Ralph and Randall, You may be able to use that trick, it can work well with a car radio provided its transformer can handle the mains frequency OK (the vibrators often worked at 100 to 150 Hz. and the transformers were smaller for the higher freqencies). Also the car radios usually has AC type tubes, such as used in mains sets. The farm radio may use filament type battery tubes to keep the current drain low. They won't operate satisfactorilly off AC. In that case the current drain will only be about 1 Amp and a 6 volt DC supply can be easilly made using a transformer, filter capacitor and 3 lead regulator IC, either LM317 or 7806. Check the tube types and that should tell you which way to proceed. If you're not sure, list the model and tube types and I can suggest a solution.
Don Black.

: : I have an old farm Zenith Tombstone radio which works
: : off a 6 volt battery. I know I could go out and spend
: : 50 bucks for a motorcycle battery and another 50 bucks
: : for a 6 volt charger. Is there a more cost effective
: : way to run this radio? From what I understand, the radio needs about 4 amps at 6 volts to run properly.
: : I was wondering if there are lower cost batteries and
: : rechargers which could do the job?
: I used to run old 6 volt car radios off of 120 vac by removing the vibrator and grounding one of the leads and then hooking up a large 6 volt transformer off of a old tv set, it would run the radio off of 6 volts ac, thats all the vibrator does is convert the dc to ac so the transformer in the radio can step it up.
: : Thanks, Randall

: Hi Ralph and Randall, You may be able to use that trick, it can work well with a car radio provided its transformer can handle the mains frequency OK (the vibrators often worked at 100 to 150 Hz. and the transformers were smaller for the higher freqencies). Also the car radios usually has AC type tubes, such as used in mains sets. The farm radio may use filament type battery tubes to keep the current drain low. They won't operate satisfactorilly off AC. In that case the current drain will only be about 1 Amp and a 6 volt DC supply can be easilly made using a transformer, filter capacitor and 3 lead regulator IC, either LM317 or 7806. Check the tube types and that should tell you which way to proceed. If you're not sure, list the model and tube types and I can suggest a solution.
: Don Black.

: : : I have an old farm Zenith Tombstone radio which works
: : : off a 6 volt battery. I know I could go out and spend
: : : 50 bucks for a motorcycle battery and another 50 bucks
: : : for a 6 volt charger. Is there a more cost effective
: : : way to run this radio? From what I understand, the radio needs about 4 amps at 6 volts to run properly.
: : : I was wondering if there are lower cost batteries and
: : : rechargers which could do the job?
: : I used to run old 6 volt car radios off of 120 vac by removing the vibrator and grounding one of the leads and then hooking up a large 6 volt transformer off of a old tv set, it would run the radio off of 6 volts ac, thats all the vibrator does is convert the dc to ac so the transformer in the radio can step it up.
: : : Thanks, Randall
Thanks for all your input. The radio in question is a
Zenith 4B131 with 2 type 15 tubes, 1 75 and 1 38 type.
The radio sinks a lot of current - about 4 amps - and
I don't think an IC regulator could handle it. Although, the idea of a 6 volt supply would work better than trying to work the radio off a AC transformer. Keep you ideas coming.

Hi Randall

I have a Zenith 6V27 6 volt radio that I use a battery from an old powerwheels car.

Just a thought.
Tom Guest