HT and Grid Bias
Grid Bias, "Winner" and "Portable HT" Ever Ready packs
The "Winner" and "Portable" packs date probably introduced at various years from mid 1920s to 1930s. The LT of the radio was from 2V, 4V or 6V Lead Acid Accumulator. No "Dry Cell" Radios till 1938 in USA and 1939 in UK.
These all appear to use U10 / "B size" cells. So all have about 2500mAH capacity and about 76mm height. Width and Depth are mm, sockets on top face are usually 1/8" wander plugs. All appear to be two part boxes with "tabs" folded in at short sides, so packs with unknown dimensions calculated on this basis. The Winner 9 Grid Bias pack about 72 mm high. Sockets are usually soldered direct to top caps or if required (i.e. the most negative connection) to the edge of the zinc can supported by the rim.
| Type | Voltage | Cells | W | D | kg | Comment |
| Winner 9 | 9 | 6 x 1 | 127 | 22 | 0.25 | Grid Bias, Every 1.5V |
| GB12 1 | 12 | 8 x 1 | 170 | 22 | 0.33 | Grid Bias. tapped every 1.5V |
| GB15 2 | 15 | 10 x 1 | 202 | 22 | 0.41 | Grid Bias. tapped every 1.5V |
| GB22.5 3 | 22.5 | 15 x 1 | 316 | 23 | 0.61 | Grid Bias, tapped every 1.5V |
| Winner 60 | 60 | 8 x 5 | 170 | 106 | 1.63 | |
| Winner 66 | 66 | 11 x 4 | 233 | 85 | 1.80 | |
| Winner 99 | 99 | 11 x 6 | 233 | 126 | 2.70 | taps top and bottom (every 9V) |
| Winner 108 | 108 | 12 x 6 | 254 | 126 | 2.94 | taps top and bottom (every 9V) |
| Winner 120 4 | 120 | 10 x 8 | 212 | 168 | 3.27 | 12 , 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 108V |
| Winner 120 | 120 | 10 x 8 | 212 | 168 | 3.27 | 48, 60, 72 108V taps |
| Winner 120GB | 111 + 9 | 10 x 8 | 212 | 168 | 3.27 | |
| Winner 126GB | 120 + 6 | 12 x 7 | 254 | 147 | 3.43 |
- There may be an Ever Ready 12V Grid Bias pack with taps every 1.5V, certainly the Siemens 12V used in Mullard kits in 1929.
- There is a 15V Siemens "Full O'Power" GB pack shown in September 1931 Mullard "Radio for the Millions" issue. Also Crompton Parkinson.
- There is a 22.5V GB pack shown in 1930 to 1931 Mullard "Radio for the Millions" issues.
- Older version of Winner 120 has very many more taps.
Ever Ready Portable HT Packs
Portable 12 97 + 7.5
Portable 17 108
Portable 18 120
Portable 19 126
| Type | Voltage | Total Volts | Cells | W | D | kg | Comment |
| Portable 24 | 126 + 10.5 | 136.5 | 13 x 7 | 274 | 147 | 3.72 | GB tapped, taps 3V from 63V. |
| Portable 30 | 114 + 6 | 120 | 10 x 8 | 212 | 168 | 3.27 | 6V GB |
| ?? 2 | 115.5 + 10.5 | 126 | 12 x 7 | 254 | 147 | 3.43 | GB 10.5V, tap 108V |
| Portable 32 | 166.5 + 9 | 175.5 | 13 x 9 | 274 | 186 | 4.78 | 12V taps 60 .. 162, GB 1.5V |
| Portable 33 | 120 + 9 | 129 | 11 x 8 | 233 | 168 | 3.59 | 129V |
| Portable 34 | 120 + 9 | 129 | 11 x 8 | 233 | 168 | 3.59 | 129V |
| Portable 40 | 135 + 9 | 144 | 12 x 8 | 254 | 168 | 3.92 | 4.5V, 12V taps 51:123, G 1.5 |
| Portable 56 | 126 + 10.5 | 136.5 | 13 x 7 | 274 | 147 | 3.72 | |
| Portable 61 | 90 | 90 | 10 x 6 | 212 | 124 | 2.45 | |
| Portable 75 | 124.5 +12 | 136.5 | 13 x 7 | 274 | 147 | 3.72 |
- All Winner and Portable 2500 mAH
- ?? = Ever Ready designation unknown
- There is a Vidor 17872, tapped at least 1.5, 3, 72 &108V. Size of a Winner 108
- The Portable 32 and Portable 56 may be 84mm high as the base needs to be stronger.
- Most data is from R&TVS 1959-60 and GEC battery Shortform catalogue, some from eBay photos. Voltages and sizes may be in error.
Other 1930s packs
Popular 108GB (=Vidor 17872)
W.812 108
W.966 126
W.972 90 + 9
W.1031 108 + 9
W.1112 120
W.1134 123 + 3
W.1139 99
W.1148 126
W.1152 126.5 + 10.5
British Code for wander plugs used on Battery packs
| Type | Colour | Comment |
| Highest + HT | Red | 45, 67, 90, 120 up to over 200V |
| 2nd highest | Yellow | Typically g2 or Screen Grid |
| 3rd " | Green | |
| 4th " | Blue | |
| LT Positive | Pink | 2V, 4V, 6V till 1938 |
| Negative | Black | Can be common GB+, HT-, LT- |
| Max GB neg. | Brown | Can be up to -18V |
| 2nd GB neg. | Grey | typically -1.5, -3, -4.5, -6, -7.5 etc |
| 3rd GB neg. | White | typically -1.5, -3, -4.5, -6, -7.5 etc |
| Centre tap | White | |
| Additional | Violet | Two GB, every 3V from 63V |
HT Cell packs from 1938/1939 using B size Cells
| Type | Voltage | Cells | mAH | use mA | W mm | H mm | D mm | Conn. | Weight |
| AD2 | 45 | 30xB | |||||||
| AD3 | 90 + 1.5 | 60xB, 8x |
Notes:
AD3 replaced by B103 and B130 (high capacity) packs using layer cells for HT about 1946. US Eveready (NCC) introduced "mini-max" (prismatic or layer cells) between 1938 and 1940, the UK Ever Ready "batrymax" are the same. There was also layer version of the Winner 120 called PP120. Layer cells are twice the capacity in the same volume (and two thirds weight) as the "B"/U10 based HT packs at 10mA..