[NJARC] Old Battery Question

[Scott Roberts]

Ok, battery guru types, here is a question for you- I just received a Weston 665 (I-56-A)set analyzer, and discovered it uses two Burgess 7 1/2 volt batteries, #5540, and arranged with 5 terminals, labelled "+", "-1 1/2", -3", "-4 1/2", and "-6". The batteries both state "Install Before May 1965", and are in really great looking shape! The neat thing is, they also both have about a 75% charge each!

Now, 75% is nice, but I am sure readings will suffer for it. I could probably adapt a 1.5 "AA" cell in line for each, to bring required voltages in line, but I was thinking of a long term solution: Can I put together two sets of batteries, each of 5 cells in series, and tap off them at the required locations, as it appears is the original construction here? Or is there more I need to know? I mean, if I link the 5 cells in series, and have one providing the positive terminal, if I go over two cells(from the positive), will I get -3VDC, and if I go over 4, will I get -6VDC? I may try some experimenting here, but I think it may work.

Comments?

I am hoping to use this set to analyze the BC-348P which is trying to drive me nuts... I actually have the proper manual for the analyzer set, and can extrapolate how to set it up for my particular needs...

Thanks!
Scott