§1What this business is
A battery eliminator replaces dry cells as the power source for radios, tape recorders, calculators and other low-power equipment. It has a CRGO-core step-down transformer, a rectifier and a filter: components are checked, soldered on a terminal strip or PCB, mounted in a cabinet with the transformer and switches, wired, and each unit is tested for output voltage and current. The profile's model takes 220 V AC and gives 1.5 to 12 V DC at 500 mA with ripple under 2 mV.
Capacity: 60,000 power packs a year (5,000 a month), worth ₹70.80 L at ₹118 each.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An electronics assembler with buyers among device makers who still need low-cost linear adapters.
Who it is not for
A newcomer hoping for retail volume; the market has moved to SMPS and USB chargers.
Advantages
- Simple circuit (transformer, rectifier, filter)
- Small fixed capital (₹1.57 L)
- Can be made in many voltages to order
- Assembly suits small teams
Drawbacks
- Thin margin (5.90%) in the profile
- Light switch-mode adapters have largely replaced transformer types
- Devices that used eliminators (radios, tape recorders) are fading
- Large working capital tied in components
Skills you need
- Soldering and PCB assembly
- Transformer selection and testing
- Output testing with meters and oscilloscope
- Selling to device makers and traders
Why difficulty 2/5: Easy to make, hard to sell profitably against SMPS adapters.
§3Market
Who buys
- Makers of radios, calculators and other low-power devices
- Electronics traders and repair shops
- Households replacing dry cells
How it sells
- Electronics wholesalers
- Supply to device makers
Good to know
- The profile puts 2001 retail prices at ₹40 to ₹170 depending on transformer and component quality.
- The profile notes many small units already in the trade and the item then reserved for small-scale units; that reservation has since been withdrawn.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Oscilloscope, 20 MHz | 1 | ₹20,000 |
| Digital multimeter, 4½ digit | 2 | ₹17,000 |
| Insulation tester, 1,000 V | 1 | ₹6,000 |
| DC regulated power supply, 30 V 5 A | 1 | ₹5,500 |
| DC regulated power supply, 30 V 2 A | 1 | ₹4,500 |
| Digital panel meters (volt/amp) | 2 sets | ₹4,000 |
| Digital true-RMS meter | 1 | ₹3,500 |
| Drilling machine, ¼" | 1 | ₹3,000 |
| Variac, 4 A | 1 | ₹2,000 |
From: DC-MSME project profile — Power Pack/Battery Eliminators (2003)
- Transformer, 230 V to 12/9/6 V, 500 mA₹45 a unit
- Metal cabinet and packing₹10 a unit
- Voltage-regulator IC, diodes (4), electrolytic capacitors (6), glass-epoxy PCB₹18.50 a unit
- 8-way rotary switch, switch with indicator, moulded mains lead, hardware₹21.50 a unit
- All components for 5,000 units a month₹95 a unit = ₹4,75,000
From: DC-MSME project profile — Power Pack/Battery Eliminators (2003)
Suppliers in Building Business Bazaar
Aplab Limited · Secunderabad →Automatic Electric Limited · Secunderabad →BEL Abids · Hyderabad →Cosmic Engineering Enterprises · Hyderabad →Electromagnetic Cores and Coils · Hyderabad →Ralli Wolf Limited · Secunderabad →SainiElectronics · Hyderabad →Signetic Systems Pvt. Ltd · Hyderabad →Instrument Techniques Pvt. Ltd · Hyderabad →Keltron · Hyderabad →M. B. Electronics · Hyderabad →Motor Industries Co. Ltd · Secunderabad →
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST
- BIS registration if the adapter falls under the electronics Compulsory Registration Scheme (check before sale)
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
The ₹17.47 L project fits PMEGP, MUDRA (Tarun, up to ₹20 L) and CGTMSE.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: DC-MSME profile: machinery and test equipment ₹79,000 (20 MHz oscilloscope ₹20,000, 2 digital multimeters ₹17,000, insulation tester ₹6,000, DC power supplies, variac, true-RMS meter, digital panel meters, drill) + electrification ₹7,900 + tools, fixtures and furniture = fixed capital ₹1.57 L; working capital for 3 months ₹15.90 L; total ₹17.47 L. Premises rented.
Working capital: Working capital for 3 months ₹15.90 L; monthly spend ₹5.30 L, of which components ₹4.75 L (₹95 a unit, transformer ₹45).
Prices from 2002–03 — machinery, material and wage costs will be much higher now.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: ESC (Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council)
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker before shipping.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Shift to SMPS and USB power
- Thin margins
- Cheap imports
- Copper and CRGO price rise
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working battery eliminator / ac-dc power pack assembly unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Battery Eliminator / AC-DC Power Pack Assembly?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.