A question about amperage

[teevee]

Not rocket surgery.. 201 has a 5V 1A filament, 201A is 5V .25A. So, (assuming a standard 5 tube radio) you'd need 5A capable supply form running 201's, or 1.25A capable supply to run the 201A's. You might try swapping the tubes to different positions and check performance. We used to put the weakest tube in the "detector" position.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by teevee

Not rocket surgery.. 201 has a 5V 1A filament, 201A is 5V .25A. So, (assuming a standard 5 tube radio) you'd need 5A capable supply form running 201's, or 1.25A capable supply to run the 201A's. You might try swapping the tubes to different positions and check performance. We used to put the weakest tube in the "detector" position.

Thanks for your input. Yes, I have a good understanding of the situation now. The Westinghouse RC has 3 tubes. I have the non-A UV-200 in the det. and 201's in the amps as the original manual states. The original ads from the period instructs the use of a 6V battery for these sets and well over 3 amps is necessary. I used a 6V lead-acid battery with 4 amps with no audio out of the Vocarola speaker. Surprisingly a 12amp battery provides a borderline acceptable audio. I actually tinkered with the set today and got decent results. I have a 20amp multi-purpose battery on order and I'm expecting this to be optimum. At minimal it should provide plenty of operating time.

***UPDATE***I received the 6V 20amp battery and, lo and behold, the set plays great. It proves that these sets with these early tubes needed plenty of kick from their batteries!
In conclusion as to what was needed to run my RC with the non-A UV tubes:
1 UV-200 tube (det.)
2 UV-201 tubes (amp)
1 6V/20amp multi-purpose lead-acid battery (A supply)
1 ARBE III battery eliminator (B supply det-22, amp-45)
#12 gauge wire

Here's a pic of the non-A's blazing away. It's quite a sight and so cool to see the set playing the way it did in '22!