FCD NEWS

Handheld Battery News - June 2025

In the original battery configuration for the FCD Handheld Spirit Box, I used a battery pack that housed 4 x AAA batteries which in affect gave out 6Volts or thereabouts. It has come to my attention in news from my supplier of parts within the spirit box, that the latest version of the FM radio module has chips which will not take any higher current than 5 volts and it will cause the module to reset if this higher voltage is applied. This will cause the Tune process to fail. Previous to June 2025, the radio module worked fine with 4 x AAA batteries as it used a different chip set up in the radio module.
So, we had to come up with a solution to this. It was an easy one to sort out in that there is no reverb module housed in the Handheld, so I decided to look at a way that we could keep the current overall electronic set up in the Handheld, but supply no more than 4.5 volts, enabling the FM radio to work as it should.
It was just a matter of changing the previous 4 x AAA battery holder (which supplied 6 Volts) to a 3 x AA Battery Holder which would supply 4.5 Volts.
I did this on a number of test Handhelds and everything worked perfectly! In fact, I would go as far to say there are benefits to this new battery configuration.

• New Radio Module is receiving the correct voltage and amperage, so a cleaner output to audio amplifier.

• Less Batteries to use and lasts longer.

• Volume and Wave Generator remain the same as they both operate at 4.5 volts.

• Any type of AA Alkaline Batteries can be used - low or high duty in good condition.

• A cleaner sweep and more radio station snippets with antenna being picked up.

  Apart from this external change to the battery holder, the FCD Handheld Spirit box will remain the same and set up & operate in exactly the same way.
  

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