Posts: 182
Threads: 39
Joined: May 2023
City: Pocatello
State, Province, Country: idaho
I picked up one of these late 60s 4 band transistor radios in a flea market today. Threw in 4 c cells and it didn’t work so I left it.
An hour or so later I decide to take the batteries out. They were so hot they were melting . Got thenm disconnected and thrown away. The radio works based on using the power cable.
I’ve never seen this before? A five dollar item so I can just junk it or use it for parts. I can see a loose wire so that’s probably the issue causing a short but it’s simply not worth my time. These units are $10 all day every day on eBay. I actually have use for the parts.
(This post was last modified: 10-11-2024, 07:52 PM by
bridkarl.)
Posts: 693
Threads: 8
Joined: Apr 2018
City: S. Dartmouth
State, Province, Country: MA
There may be a RF bypass condenser across the battery pack. Possibly 10mf that may have failed.
Are you sure batteries installed correctly? Radio may want two strings of cells in parallel. Flipping cells in one string would cause a short...
There may also be a diode isolation from the AC supply, that has failed short.
Chas
Pliny the younger
“nihil novum nihil varium nihil quod non semel spectasse sufficiat”
Posts: 1,191
Threads: 25
Joined: Jan 2014
City: Wellborn Florida
Had the same thing happen in a LED portable light. Thing was super bright touch the bottom of the light and it was hot. One of those pull up lights with 3 AA batteries one measured 4.5 volts the other 3.7 the last one 1.75. put in a different set of batteries and light output was ok and no heating. If you happen to still have the batteries check them. David
Posts: 693
Threads: 8
Joined: Apr 2018
City: S. Dartmouth
State, Province, Country: MA
Alkaline cells have been known to go to short circuit when they are dead.
Pliny the younger
“nihil novum nihil varium nihil quod non semel spectasse sufficiat”
Posts: 1,191
Threads: 25
Joined: Jan 2014
City: Wellborn Florida
The batteries were new from a pack of 24 purchased before the storm. The store was like crazy maybe they got dropped before being on display. Never had that happen before. David
Posts: 1,596
Threads: 100
Joined: May 2008
City: Omak
State, Province, Country: WA
Hello Guys,
I have bought batteries from costco to have one leak in the package before even openning the package !
Sincerely Richard
Posts: 986
Threads: 40
Joined: Feb 2015
City: Roseville, MN
Around here Costco sells Duracell so we don't buy them there. Usually wait for the Pink Bunny to put his on sale.
![[-]](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/bootbb/collapse.png "[-]")
