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Viscount 1240 melting battery
#1

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.
#2

There may be a RF bypass condenser across the battery pack. Possibly 10mf that may have failed.

Icon_biggrin 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”
#3

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
#4

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”
#5

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
#6

Hello Guys,
I have bought batteries from costco to have one leak in the package before even openning the package !

Sincerely Richard
#7

Around here Costco sells Duracell so we don't buy them there. Usually wait for the Pink Bunny to put his on sale.




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