Batteries for Boomboxes...

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sunshine_ax

Member (SA)
Hey everyone,

I've put batteries in my boombox (first time for this) and they don't seem to power the box. The batteries are new. They are Energizer Industrial LR20 1.5V D cells • EN95 • AM1 • MONO • MN1300.

My Boom says that it wants Only Standard Carbon Zinc Battery "D" Cell (UM-1)x6

I'm sure that I've put them in correctly, but no power.

Does anyone know if this is a wrong battery issue or maybe there's something wrong with my boomer?



Are there standard battery issues with these vintage stereos that you know of? Something I should look for? This battery box looks pristine. There's no corrosion on the springs either.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 

Transistorized

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Jun 19, 2012
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Aside from poor connection in the battery tray, there are several things that keep a box from working on Batteries. A dirty AC/DC selector switch (if it has one) or dirty DC barrel jack and/or power cord leaf switch (disengages battery power when the AC plug or DC car adapter is plugged into the box). Usually its the DC barrel plug port that prevents power from getting to the box because they are almost never used and the contacts get dirty over time.

If I am not mistaken this box has a round DC power input below the square AC plug on the left side. Grab a power adapter that fits the plug. Do not plug the wall adapter into house current just use the barrel plug end to insert and work the DC plug leaf switch. Sometimes that's enough to get the power flowing :-)
 

JVC Floyd

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May 6, 2009
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If it has an ac/ DC switch then you should switch it to that position. Also check the springs and contacts for and corrosion.

Sometimes these contacts don't make contact so check it with the batteries in to see if there touching the contacts correctly.
 

T-STER

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Jul 14, 2014
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For what it's worth I had a box last week with a clean battery compartment that was getting no power, the contacts looked clean but I cleaned them with a stop and servisol and it fired straight up. Also, rotating the batteries in situ is often enough to make a contact if it's not been used for a while.
 

sunshine_ax

Member (SA)
T-STER said:
For what it's worth I had a box last week with a clean battery compartment that was getting no power, the contacts looked clean but I cleaned them with a stop and servisol and it fired straight up. Also, rotating the batteries in situ is often enough to make a contact if it's not been used for a while.
Thanks for the help everyone! It turns out that everyone had it right! I took a piece of light grit sandpaper and went over the ends of the springs and put the batteries back in. BOOM! LOL!

Sounds great!

P.S. There actually isn't a DC selector switch on this one. It must be handled internally through circuitry.

Thanks again!


Transistorized said:
Aside from poor connection in the battery tray, there are several things that keep a box from working on Batteries. A dirty AC/DC selector switch (if it has one) or dirty DC barrel jack and/or power cord leaf switch (disengages battery power when the AC plug or DC car adapter is plugged into the box). Usually its the DC barrel plug port that prevents power from getting to the box because they are almost never used and the contacts get dirty over time.

If I am not mistaken this box has a round DC power input below the square AC plug on the left side. Grab a power adapter that fits the plug. Do not plug the wall adapter into house current just use the barrel plug end to insert and work the DC plug leaf switch. Sometimes that's enough to get the power flowing :-)
I'm going to remember this! Thanks for the education here :)
 

Ghettoman

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Jul 7, 2018
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i had a Unisef Sz5000, i used a 12v lipo battery and it powered it great, but the Ah of the battery was very low so i dont think it would have powered anything with bIgger W-ampage, but li-po is a good way to go, i wonder if the 12v lipo cobalt car battery booster/ starter would be cool.
 

Transistorized

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Jun 19, 2012
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sunshine_ax said:
I'm going to remember this! Thanks for the education here :)
Please read this thread below. It will truly change the way you use your boxes portability in a fun way. I think you will find this thread interesting and it will change the hobby for you in a fun way and save you money. Especially if you would like to enjoy your radio not tethered to AC current giving you freedom of portability without the constant cost associated with it.


https://boomboxery.com/forum/index.php/topic/27981-finally-broke-down-and-bought-a-set-tenergy-10000-mah/?hl=tenergy
 

sunshine_ax

Member (SA)
Thank you Transistor! I have already priced out some batteries since I can’t be buying D cells all the time. I need to be charging these on solar panels. Now after reading this thread with everybody’s helpful experience, everything’s updated! I was given a price of $110 for the charger and the cells. I don’t know if they were the Tenergy or not. I’m going to be getting one of those maha PowerEx chargers now and Tenergy cells!

Thank you again everybody!
 
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