Today, having just unblocked the loo, I was told that the gas fire
wouldn't light.
It's a Baxi Dream (I think) and has a little 9 volt battery (alkaline
6F22) that usually runs the clicking thing that lights the fire.
I tried to get the original 8-year old battery out. Eventually, with the
aid of 2 screwdrivers, I managed to lever it out.

Then, try as I might, I couldn't get the replacement to stay in place.
The concept of the battery holder seems to be that the bottom of the
battery should be placed against the end of the battery holder and the
two clips on the connector end pushed over some shaped springy wire. The
trouble seems to be that the batteries are slightly larger than the ones
the designer had when he specified the shape of the springy wire rather
than specifying standard connectors.
The replacement (Poundland) battery seems exactly the same size as the
original.

I wondered if anyone had one of these fires and had encountered the
problem. I don't really want to have to try dismantling the fire and the
missus is threatening to get a man in.
--
Bill

In message , Bill
writes
Today, having just unblocked the loo, I was told that the gas fire
wouldn't light.
It's a Baxi Dream (I think) and has a little 9 volt battery (alkaline
6F22) that usually runs the clicking thing that lights the fire.
I tried to get the original 8-year old battery out. Eventually, with
the aid of 2 screwdrivers, I managed to lever it out.

Then, try as I might, I couldn't get the replacement to stay in place.
The concept of the battery holder seems to be that the bottom of the
battery should be placed against the end of the battery holder and the
two clips on the connector end pushed over some shaped springy wire.
The trouble seems to be that the batteries are slightly larger than the
ones the designer had when he specified the shape of the springy wire
rather than specifying standard connectors.
The replacement (Poundland) battery seems exactly the same size as the
original.

I wondered if anyone had one of these fires and had encountered the
problem. I don't really want to have to try dismantling the fire and
the missus is threatening to get a man in.

OK, sort of solved.

I went through my stock of new batteries with a micrometer. The one that
came out was the same thickness and length, but 0.03mm less wide than
the alkaline PP3 that didn't fit.
I found a non-alkaline battery, a Sony Ultra heavy duty, that, compared
to the original, measured approx 0.04mm less in both width and thickness
and was very slightly shorter, and that fitted.

The Baxi instructions suggest Ever Ready Silver Seal, which appears to
be some sort of higher performance zinc battery.
I see that used ones are advertised on ebay as vintage collectors items.
--
Bill