1 1/2 volt batteries

[Sonny Williams]

Anyone know of a source for 1 1/2 volt dry cell batteries like the ones we used to hook in series for 3 volts to start ignition engines. A more common use more recently was for grandfather clocks and some alarm systems. The ones I am referring to were about 6" high and 2" round or some were shorter and square.

[Larry Renger]

The smaller, square ones are sold by Hobby People.  However, you would be better off by soldering 4 good alkaline "D" cells in parallel.  I used to use that system for engine starting, and it would last more than a year of regular flying.

[Sonny Williams]

Thanks Larry,  I'll go that route.

[Garf]

In the early days, I used to buy the cheapest D cells I could find ($.10), and solder 6 of them in parallel. It made a hot battery that lasted an entire season. Now I use NiCads from hand held battery operated drills.

[Wayne Collier]

I also buy cheap "D" cell batteries and solder them together in parallel.  The way I do it results in one and one-half volts.  The one I'm using currently is just over a year old and still working. I got the batteries in a pack of four for one dollar.  I use about five feet of number eighteen lamp cord for leads.  Leads this length have prooven helpful too me.

[Dwayne]

I've been using D and C cell packs for years I don't even solder them just tape em up ang off I go. works just fine.

[George]

Anyone know of a source for 1 1/2 volt dry cell batteries like the ones we used to hook in series for 3 volts to start ignition engines. A more common use more recently was for grandfather clocks and some alarm systems. The ones I am referring to were about 6" high and 2" round or some were shorter and square.

Sonny,

Those old zinc/carbon batteries were called "door bell" batteries. Some folks actually had door bell buzzers that used them.

I never heard of that trick to use two in series to start a sparker (I started with glow, mid 50's).

For our purposes, we used to hook two in parallel for glow engines. When they would get very weak, we would switch them to series to get a few more starts. I used alligator clips at first. Used to have one lead (lamp cord) longer than the other so the clips would not touch when the batteries were picked up. Kwik-Klips were a great improvement. 

The "hobby" batteries were much handier. I think I rewired one lantern (6V) battery when I couldn't find a hobby battery. BTW, someone recently posted that some modern lantern batteries ar made of 32 AA batteries. Someone replied who couldn't figure out that it used four sets of eight AA's. I have no idea what brand has this.

OK, how many of us old guys used the "door bell" batteries when we started...and how many of you young'ns are saying whazzat?   


George

[bill marvel]

OK, how many of us old guys used the "door bell" batteries when we started...and how many of you young'ns are saying whazzat?   


George

My dad worked on the railroad.  We had an endless supply of 6 v. lantern batteries that had run down too far to use on the train.  The square batteries were simply 4 1-1/2 v's wired in a series.  We learned to strip the top off and clip into a single battery.  One or two ceels were always plenty strong to start an engine.  I wasn't a very good flyer.  But, I was popular because I always had batteries.

regards,
bill marvel

[RC Storick]

  One or two ceels were always plenty strong to start an engine.  I wasn't a very good flyer.  But, I was popular because I always had batteries.
regards,
bill marvel

Not much has changed Bill 

[Robert McHam]

You guys asking about the really tall, round battery with the brass terminals on top?
If ya are, I know where...

Robert

[Alan Hayes]

I know for sure that the older round battery you speak of was an Eveready #6. Today what you find is a square "hobby battery".  Eveready made a replacement of the #6 for the older electronics.......alarms etc....same size case....but half the battery.

Alan

[Robert McHam]

A number 6 eh?

They only come in black now. Not the usual red we used to see...
Robert

[Alan Hayes]

Robert.........is that Energizer a solid heavy battery like the old, or is it on the light side?

You got me!   

Alan

[Robert McHam]

Specs say 17.1 ounces.
At over a pound I would say heavy. about two and a half inches in diameter and approximately six and a half inches tall.

Shall I say, "Spot on?"

Robert

[Andrew Borgogna]

We used the red white and blue Burgess 1.5V batteries when I was a kid.
Andy

[john e. holliday]

Never heard of them referred to as door bell batteries.  If you lived out in the country they were known as telephone batteries.  Didn't need a door bell let alone even locks on the door.  First time I visited Johnny CLemons in his hobby shop in Dallas he had a whole shelf of telephone batteries.  He stated that you wire two of them in parallel and fly all season.  DOC Holliday