[ARC5] BC-453 Current Draw

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi,

I looked up the specs for alkaline 9-volt battery capacity and found the 
ratings between 400 and 600 mA-H with the mean around 550 mA-H. That is 
for loads close to the current drains reported here between 8 and 18 mA. 
For my BC-453 drawing 8 mA at 45 volts the batteries can run it 
continuously for something a little over 50 hours. That is the B+ 
supply. The heater supply is a different matter and I am using a pair of 
7.5 Amp-hour batteries in series for ~24 volts. That will be somewhere 
around 16 hours or so for the heater batteries - but those are 
rechargeable. I use mine for an hour or so per day so the B+ batteries 
can last quite a while.

With those heater batteries the radio is still within reason for picnic 
table/tailgate operation in parks and campgrounds. The radio alone is 
out of the question for mountain top (or any *real*) back packing.

73,

Bill  KU8H