What are people using to get the 90v needed for a 3 dial 5 tube radio? Know that people haved used 10 9v batteries. But, would that work for the larger radios that use 201-A? Would the drain be too fast?

:What are people using to get the 90v needed for a 3 dial 5 tube radio? Know that people haved used 10 9v batteries. But, would that work for the larger radios that use 201-A? Would the drain be too fast?
:
Hi Jack,
Most fans use a battery eliminator. There are devices that take the 110Volt AC house current, and
break it down to the battery voltages needed in DC

::What are people using to get the 90v needed for a 3 dial 5 tube radio? Know that people haved used 10 9v batteries. But, would that work for the larger radios that use 201-A? Would the drain be too fast?
::
:Hi Jack,
: Most fans use a battery eliminator. There are devices that take the 110Volt AC house current, and
:break it down to the battery voltages needed in DC
:
Jack,

Google ARBE III, it is what i use on battery operated radios.

Mitch

:::What are people using to get the 90v needed for a 3 dial 5 tube radio? Know that people haved used 10 9v batteries. But, would that work for the larger radios that use 201-A? Would the drain be too fast?
:::
::Hi Jack,
:: Most fans use a battery eliminator. There are devices that take the 110Volt AC house current, and
::break it down to the battery voltages needed in DC
::
:Jack,
:
:Google ARBE III, it is what i use on battery operated radios.
:
:Mitch
:
thanks

There are several solutions:

1) You can make a battery pack of 10 9V or 60 AA batteries for the B+ supply. Use "D" Batteries for the filment supply. If it needs 2V, you might run NiMH batteries that supply 2.4V with a dropping diode in series.

You can even buy such a pack here: http://www.batpack.com that supplies 9V and 90V here (the common voltage of Transoceanic radios).

2) There are some inverter circuits that will turn a few batteries into high voltage (67.5V or 90V), such as these:

http://www.zenithtrans-oceanic.portabletubes.co.uk/hans.htm

http://www.portabletubes.co.uk/sitefiles/ausbatt.htm

http://schematicreference.blogspot.com/2010/10/high-voltage-converter-90v-from-15v.html

3)

You can build a power supply, such as this kit that will supply the voltages needed for running portable tube battery radios off of AC mains:

http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/K-101A

:What are people using to get the 90v needed for a 3 dial 5 tube radio? Know that people haved used 10 9v batteries. But, would that work for the larger radios that use 201-A? Would the drain be too fast?
:

Suggest using a power supply. You can use batteries but these radios draw fairly high current. 01A tubes require 5 volts @ .25 amps each so a radio needs 1.25 amps. A 1920's radio won't operate on D cells or at least not long.

Power supplies are fairly easy to build. High voltage doesn't require regulation and filament can be regulated by a LM317 or larger IC. Only 3 pins to wire on this device.

Norm

:What are people using to get the 90v needed for a 3 dial 5 tube radio? Know that people haved used 10 9v batteries. But, would that work for the larger radios that use 201-A? Would the drain be too fast?
:

I suspect that a 10-stack of 9V batteries would not last long in a multi-tube set; although this depends on the output stage more than anything, since it is very current-hungry if driving a loudspeaker. If you are just operating high-impedance headphones, such a battery pack might have a reasonable life (scores of operating hours). But even so, it would be uneconomical to use primary cells at close to $45 for each set. Might be acceptable for "demonstration purposes" however- certainly these old sets tend to not be used as "daily drivers" or shop radios.

I've built battery packs out of 9V batteries and, if alkaline batteries are used, they seems to have a very long shelf life (at least five years, and still counting).

Exact voltage regulation of the B+ supply isn't really necessary so you could use a very simple circuit consisting of a diode bridge, dropping resistor, and an electrolytic filter cap or two to generate 90V directly from AC house current. Parts might set you back $20 all told, including a plastic cabinet.

The real current hogs in any tube radio are the heaters. The older tubes especially were low-voltage and high current. There are specialty houses that sell 2V lead-acid rechargeable batteries that have adequate amperage ratings to power a tube radio heater set, but they are expensive, require a charger, and are unpleasant to have sitting around in a home environment since they liberate combustible gases when charging.

I've used 027-gauge AC-output model train transformers (Lionel or Marx) to power 6V tube-radio heaters, but I don't think that this approach would be practical for the lower-volt (2V) sets.

One more option would be to find an original Battery Eliminator to use with your set. Majestic, Philco, Wards, and Sears sold millions of these things well into the 1930s and they turn up regularly on eBay and other sale sites.

The rectifier may need to be updated with modern technology but one of these would be a good period accessory for someone owning 1920s battery sets.

:One more option would be to find an original Battery Eliminator to use with your set. Majestic, Philco, Wards, and Sears sold millions of these things well into the 1930s and they turn up regularly on eBay and other sale sites.
:
:The rectifier may need to be updated with modern technology but one of these would be a good period accessory for someone owning 1920s battery sets.
:
Once again, thanks to everyone who responded.

Battery eliminator kit: http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/K-101A

Fancier battery eliminator: http://www.arbeiii.com/

:Battery eliminator kit: http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/K-101A
:
:Fancier battery eliminator: http://www.arbeiii.com/
:
Thanks.

The radios I have are a 1925 Standardyne, a 1925 Miraco Ultra 5 with 301-a tubes and a 1947 Transoceanic.

The Transoceanic would be able to run on either AC or batteries. There used to be a source on the web in which somebody offered a home-fashioned battery for Transoceanics. If I were you, I'd just run it off 120-V a.c. There wouldn't be any reason to try to run it off a separate battery eliminator - the set has a "battery eliminator" built in.