11 Set stuff

[cletrac (RIP)]

On the wavemaker instructions line 7 it mentions an adapter that stores in the lid for using an HT battery . Here's a pic of the lid with the clips to hold it but what does the adapter look like? Also what would the wire and plug in that picture be for? In the last picture what kinds of end would the wire to the LT battery have? And what would the LT battery look like?

[Mike K]

The battery connectors may have been the Aust. standard Niphan plugs, or, more likely, just large alligator clips that clamped onto battery posts . It depends on where or who used these wavemeters . In the field, the Niphan plugs were useless if the appropriate battery was not available , sometimes , the Niphan plugs were cut off and replaced with generic alligator clamps

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by cletrac

On the wavemaker instructions line 7 it mentions an adapter that stores in the lid for using an HT battery . Here's a pic of the lid with the clips to hold it but what does the adapter look like? Also what would the wire and plug in that picture be for? In the last picture what kinds of end would the wire to the LT battery have? And what would the LT battery look like?

The HT battery adapter is a bakelite block - a socket similar to the one on the vibrator supply but with screws to connect the HT battery to. (I have one in my wavemeter but everything is inaccessible due to an imminent house move.)

Other accessories are a crystal calibrator that fits in the space normally occupied by the spare valve tin. I have one somewhere (but no idea where it is - I will probably find it during the move).

The power cable will probably end in either a Niphan connector, or possibly a 2-pin bakelite push-fit plug to mate with the early accumulator sockets. I think the push-fit plugs were polarised (by having different pin diameters) and restricted to the correct battery by the pin spacing. The LT battery for the wavemeter was probably the 6 volt 16 amp-hour unit that had a wooden case, a niphan socket on the front, and a bakelite socket on the side - that was still in service in the 1960s, I think.

There were all kinds of oddball accumulators: I have the wooden box of a 10-volt 16AH unit (tapped to allow 4 or 6 volt supplies) but the socket has been removed as well as the contents & wiring. That was intended for early sets with 4 and 6 volt valve heaters, and also for the Lamp, Daylight Signalling, Long Range that required the full 10 volts. (I have the lamp, which is why I bought the battery box despite its condition.)

Chris.
(Up to my ears in cardboard boxes.)

[cletrac (RIP)]

The second pic shows the adapter I presume and the first shows the power wire with nothing fancy on the battery end.

[things_green]

Hope I'm not muddying the waters here as my Wavemeter Class C is an Aussy one.
The adaptor appears to be the same as your English one requires?
The pin outs seem to be an original fitting but after 70 plus years there are no guarantees on that score.

Brent

[cletrac (RIP)]

No muddy waters! I have both an Aussie wavemaker and a Brit one. Those pins could be part of a Niphan plug.
Here's a guy on eBay that has some brass Niphan plugs that are pretty close to the wartime ones and they're a good price too. I bought a few from him and now I just have to find some of the other half.

[Mike K]

Maybe we should do a group build of WW2 battery boxes !

I have two 1942 British batteries , the 6V ones in the wooden box with the Niphan connectors . I uploaded drawings of the box somewhere on this forum .

I think Ron Pier has some of the original batteries as well . Rory B made some I believe .

I was talking to a WW2 signaller, he told me his job was to recondition the wireless batteries every 3 months. He would use a kero blowtorch and melt the tar seal , insert new plates , reseal and add acid .

[Ron Pier]

Quite right Mike. I have three out of the four I need for my set up, and have had to accept later dates on them than would be correct. I also have your drawings which came in very handy as one of my 6V boxes was a larger size and my chippy mate took it apart and rebuilt it the correct size. No mean feat I might add. Ron