Posted on 01/02/2011 11:03:21 AM PST by Zionist Conspirator
Well, it's not enough that I have to put up with ongoing computer problems, now my radio is messed up.
Several years ago I purchased a Sangean portable battery-operated radio from The Short Wave Store. It's one of those radios where the batteries are the primary power source (the AC adapter had to be purchased separately and is very large, heavy, and unwieldy). Unfortunately, for whatever reason, batteries no longer work in it.
Now let's be absolutely clear about this: it's not the batteries themselves. Not only are they only three months old (and they're Energizer lithiums at that), but I purchased some brand-new batteries out of the store just day before yesterday. The radio simply cannot tell it has batteries in it at all. No batteries will work in it and without batteries its portability is dead. And the large heavy adapter makes moving it around and powering it with electricity very inconvenient.
Okay. So it's not the batteries. Plus I've gone into it with a pencil eraser to clean off any corrosion or whatever. Still doesn't work. And I've pushed the re-set button, in the off-chance that that might solve the problem. I didn't expect it to, and it didn't.
Does anyone out there have any insights into this problem or any suggestions as to what can be done for it? Is this problem fixable? With my ongoing computer problems I really don't need to spend over a hundred dollars on another radio because the one I have can't tell it has batteries in it.
Help please?
Yes. As you push the external power connector in, it pushes a spring aside which moves an internal contact from the battery position to the external power position. The spring also has the function of holding the external connector firmly in the hole.
Just in case you are looking for a $100 Grundig radio..
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/4000.html
Thanks!
You bet. We have 3 put away, one all band crank radio, one DC/AC, and one which uses AC. Not to mention my ICOM which can hear and talk world wide on DC.
If s*** ever really hits the fan, they'll likely be the only things that actually work.
Try CCRadio in N. California (Fortuna, I think), they handle Sangean and other similar products. At least can steer you in the right direction...
JC
I'd like to announce that my radio is fixed, but technically, I can't . . . because it turns out it was never broken in the first place.
Turns out I wasn't properly placing the little ribbon (it's there to help lift out the batteries, but I didn't know that) and it was covering one of the anodes. My schoolmate/repairman showed me how to place the ribbon when putting in batteries and it works like a top.
My face is red, but I'm so relieved!
As more than one poster noted, I was wrong to say there are no lithium AA batteries. There are now a dozen or so lithium battery chemistries which yield varying voltages, including 1.5 v AA’s. Sorry for the error.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.