Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

A thought struck me, there was a pp1 a 6 volt battery then the pp3 and there was a round pp4 at one time then pp6 and pp7 and pp9 and pp10 but I never remember a pp2 or a pp5 or a pp8 does anyone know if there ever was a pp2 pp5 or a pp8. Just curious.

Dave

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

There was definitely a PP8 (big 6V thing) not seen a PP2 or PP5 though.

Cheers

Mike T

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

PP2, not as far as I know. The PP5 was a cylindrical 9 volt battery of roughly 'AA' size but with a PP3-style connector at each end, not used in many radios - an "Aero" pocket set and I think the Sinclair Slimline were perhaps the best known, so it wasn't easy to find even when current. The PP8 is a long 6 volt battery, essentially three PP1s in parallel, used in Roberts' first transistor set, the RT1, and in a few further models where portability wasn't a priority. It lasted long enough to be produced in Ever Ready's "Blue" livery, I think I last bought one in the early '90s. And don't forget the PP11 ;)

Paul

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

This may be of interest https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Pra...PW-1973-01.pdf Page 826 (P60 pdf).
I wonder how the Battery capacities compare with todays offerings. I seem to remember there was never a PP2 made.

John.

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

Here's an article I posted from Practical Electronics on batteries.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=20800

Keith

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

Interesting that it doesn't list the PP5 though.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

Thanks chaps, all very interesting.

Dave

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

I'll have a couple of those PP9s at 3/9 each please.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

I remember using PP5's.

Here's a Sinclair Slimline advert showing a PP5:

https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/ID...%20slimline%22

Lawrence.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

PP8 are still readily available, rather big for most radio or electronic applications. Commonly used to power electric fences.

There is a double version that consists of two PP8s in one outer casing.

Available in both zinc carbon and in air alkaline technology.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

The Sinclair Micro FM I built in my teens used a PP5. Our local shop (Currys?) had to specially order it, they only sold one or two a year. I don't recall what it looked like, probably like a miniature PP3.

Dave

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

Curious I had a quick look around and sure enough

http://www.dustygizmos.com/arcpages/arcsinstuff.htm

Scroll down to Sinclair Micro FM Tuner Receiver, 1965

I had one one of these in the early 1970's but I don't recall ever seeing the PP5 I probably ran it with a PP3 taped to the back of the case :thumbsup:

Paul_RK's description looks to be spot on (post #3)

Cheers

Mike T

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

There was also a PP11 which was a double 4.5V unit with a 4 pin socket connector. It was used in radios with a push-pull output stage with no output transformer where the speaker returned to the centre tap of the battery.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

It's only speculation, but I wonder whether PP2 was set aside as Ever Ready's designation for the Vidor T.6050, which, because it seems only ever to have been adopted for one not very popular radio (the Vidor Gem), Ever Ready in the event never saw fit to manufacture.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=82989

Evidence is only circumstantial, on two pillars:

(i) There seems no obvious reason for avoiding use of the PP2 designation.
(ii) I can't think of another type of battery, specifically introduced to power early transistor radios, which Ever Ready didn't get around to making. Has anyone an alternative candidate?

The thread referenced above includes a VT50 battery, containing 'D' cells, which I'm guessing was introduced by Vidor solely to keep the few remaining Gems in service for a few more years when it wasn't worth continuing to produce the layer-built T.6050.

Many early transistor sets of course eschewed the "power pack" range in favour of existing cylindrical cells or batteries built from them - the AD28, the 996 lantern battery, the 1289 handlamp battery (not in the UK as far as I know, but popular in continental Europe). I've even a Weyrad kit set built to be powered either by a PP11 or by a standard grid bias battery. On reflection it's a little odd to me that standard LT batteries such as the then very popular and readily available 7.5 volt AD38 seem never to have been employed in commercial transistor radios.

Paul

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

I remember Maplin used to stock some odd batteries for cameras in the mid 1990s, sadly the catalogue I had from then was binned in a parentally enforced clearout!

Re: Where are the missing battery numbers
 

Wow, look at the number of ads. Page 29 before you get to the contents. I used to actually love looking at the ads; happy memories.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

Here is a photo of several types, all under discussion feature except the PP5 (and the non-existent PP2)

Courtesy Wikicommons - but I posted it directly in case it is 'pulled' ever.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

There was a rather odd battery available in the 1980s, similar size and shape to the popular 996 lantern battery and containing 4 F cells.
These four cells were connected in parallel so as to give 1.5 volts, not 6 volts.
Connection by screw terminals.
Only made by Ever Ready, AFAIK.

Marketed I suspect as a replacement for the "flag" cells.

I knew of only one retail shop that stocked these, "Portman homecare" Whitecross street, near the Barbican arts center.
They sold loads of these to a local college.

Useful for "hot wire" cutters for expanded polystyrene for art projects.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

Maplin sold that 1.5V battery at one point too. There was also (and sold by Maplin) another Ever Ready battery with 4 F cells in series and screw terminals rather than springs.

As a sort-of aside, what happened to all the missing numbers in the 'U' (single cell, U2 = D cell, U11 = C cell, etc), AD ('All Dry' LT batteries) and 'B' (HT batteries). There seems to be no logic to their numbers and there are lot missing.

Re: Where are the missing PP* battery numbers?
 

I've not used them yet, but I have found this place has a very large range: https://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/

- If you scroll through their search, they list PP3,4,6,7,9 (Although some then cross-reference to a modern replacement). And they do say contact them for types not listed (So maybe they can produce the other PP1 PP5 or PP8).

I've found the site quite useful for measurements details, pictures, and what they were used in info on many batteries. And see they still sell a range of 'CMOS' backup batteries, that might be useful in 80's etc. computer-based equipment.


And you can also often get good-quality colour scans of the original packaging, to printout and make up your own replicas - especially for HT ones, to fill with cheap PP3's or use a low-noise step-up switching regular inside.


I do recall a very-large 1.5V cylindrical 'beer-can' size screw-terminal Ever-ready one I had back in the 70's, that I had thought was a PP1. But it looks like it was a 'No.6' in the 'Ignitor' range of various voltages.

And I've just seen how much people are trying to sell old used PPx batteries for! (even old plastic-cased PP3's and others not in too good condition) - I had often kept onto a sample of less usual ones (especially these days if they are cardboard boxed and can be 're-stuffed'), but tended to throw out if they'd started leaking.