I am restoring a Howard radio model 368 and the schematic shows a 1 volt bias cell in the grid circuit of the 6F5 tube. Has anyone had any experience or recommendations replacing this cell? I believe that the Howard model 318 radio has the same cell. Also, can anyone recommend where I can get a new dial? Thanks for your help.

I have used those small batteries availble from Harware stores as a replacement, but be sure it will physically fit.

:I am restoring a Howard radio model 368 and the schematic shows a 1 volt bias cell in the grid circuit of the 6F5 tube. Has anyone had any experience or recommendations replacing this cell? I believe that the Howard model 318 radio has the same cell. Also, can anyone recommend where I can get a new dial? Thanks for your help.
:

See http://www.philcorepairbench.com/biascell.htm

I've seen a few radios where the cell is missing, and a grid leak resistor of a few megohms was substituted.
Worked, so I left it alone.

:I am restoring a Howard radio model 368 and the schematic shows a 1 volt bias cell in the grid circuit of the 6F5 tube. Has anyone had any experience or recommendations replacing this cell? I believe that the Howard model 318 radio has the same cell. Also, can anyone recommend where I can get a new dial? Thanks for your help.
:

:See http://www.philcorepairbench.com/biascell.htm
:
:I've seen a few radios where the cell is missing, and a grid leak resistor of a few megohms was substituted.
:Worked, so I left it alone.
:
::I am restoring a Howard radio model 368 and the schematic shows a 1 volt bias cell in the grid circuit of the 6F5 tube. Has anyone had any experience or recommendations replacing this cell? I believe that the Howard model 318 radio has the same cell. Also, can anyone recommend where I can get a new dial? Thanks for your help.
::
:

You need a battery with a very long shelf life (since no current is drawn). For "C" batteries, I once had a source for 1.5-V lithium AA cells with pigtails - but I can't seem to find it. You could use an AA or AAA 1.5-V lithium with a battery holder. Should last a few decades (or until the holder connections corrode).

You might try soldering pigtails to lithium or even alkaline batteries.

I read somewhere that you can bring those old cells back to life by drilling a tiny pin hole in it and putting a drop of water in it to rejuvenate. I tried it and it seemed to work fine... however it also worked without the cells but with just a jumper across it.
So who knows?

I've noticed the same thing: a jumpered bias cell seems to work fine.

Here is the information about those bias cells. Have had good luck doing this.

http://www.philcorepairbench.com/biascell.htm

:Here is the information about those bias cells. Have had good luck doing this.
:
:http://www.philcorepairbench.com/biascell.htm
:

"You might try soldering pigtails to lithium or even alkaline batteries."
: