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[Amps] Terminology Question

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [Amps] Terminology Question
From: n8de@thepoint.net (Don Havlicek)
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 21:24:04 -0500
In the early days of radio, most all circuits were BATTERY powered.
The delineation of A, B, C, etc ... referred to the batteries used to
power such devices.
The A battery was used to power the filament of the vacuum tube, and,
YES, the polarity was important in some circuits, so the terminals were
labelled:  A+ and A-
The B battery was used for plate voltage.
B+ indicating that POSITIVE voltage was connected to the plate, and B-
indicating the battery return to the 'neutral' of the circuit [usually
'ground'].
The C battery was used for grid bias, C- indicating negative bias, and
C+ indicating that the positive potential of this battery was attached
to 'neutral' [usually ground].
Hope this helps you understand.  
I'm 65, and learned all this from those who assisted me in getting my
license on my 17th birthday.  Gosh, that's a LONG time ago!
73
Don - N8DE


RMead100@aol.com wrote:
> 
> What is the origin of the B+ term in amp/radio/power supply terminology. I
> understand it to be the high voltage supply, but I do not know the origin of
> the designation and that has finally bothered me at age 52. It seems to me
> the only voltage referred to with this type of shorthand.........i.e. no A+
> or -; no B-, no C + or -.
> 
> R Meadows
> k8BUX
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