On Jan 13, 10:50�am, "Michael J. Coslo" wrote:
A battery using salt water as an electrolyte. One version is a
"Volta's pile".

They usually had discs of copper and zinc separated by paper soaked in
electrolyte. 1 volt per cell in that construction. I don't know the
current per cell.

Typical laboratory use had stacks in a glass tube, but that wouldn't
be strong enough for use on the ocean.

I remember now. Yes, it would probably take a raft-sized set of cells
to run the radio!

From what I've read, they considered all the available technologies
but settled on plain carbon-zinc primary "dry" batteries as the best
compromise of size, weight, dependability and power output. (A carbon-
zinc #6 dry cell is about 50 AH, which is a lot more than most other
battery technologies of that time could provide). In the event, the
batteries turned out to be a considerable problem due to highhumidity.

Most of their operation was on 20 meters. They had provision for 40,
20, 10 and even 6 meters, but 20 proved to be the most reliable for the
distances covered and available antennas. With just 6 or 7 watts of CW
they were able to contact Oslo and wish the King a happy birthday. At
the time, they were just about at the Antipodes.

73 de Jim N2EY