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Another Battery Question

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Tom McCulloch

Another Battery Question

Hi all,

I have a basic K2 (s/n 1103) without the 100 amp. I also have the Elecraft internal battery (KBT2), which I use in the field. At home the K2 is connected to a 13 volt power supply which, of course, charges the battery while I'm operating.

Unfortunately life will be getting in the way of operating over the next several months and I was wondering if I should be concerned about causing any permanent damage to the K2 battery while it is not getting charged. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.

I will be around and can turn on the PS to charge the battery from time to time (how long and how often?), necessary.

Thanks
Tom, WB2QDG
k2 1103

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Mike B-12

Re: Another Battery Question

Yeah, life gets in the way sometimes. My first recommendation is to
remove the battery from the K2 - no need to tempt fate. A sealed lead
acid battery, in reasonable health, can probably go up to 6 months at
normal room temps before needing to be recharged. Charge it fully, pull
it out & stick it on a shelf somewhere, and mark your calendar. Mark it
for 4 or 5 months, if you want to be safe. Colder temps reduce the
self-discharge rate, higher temps dramatically shorten it.

Now may be the time to invest in a small PV (photovoltaic; solar) panel
and charge controller. Up to 5 watts, oriented south at a tilt equal to
your latitude, coupled with a charge controller like Don Brown (I think
that's the fellow) offers here, or the Micro M+
(http://www.seslogic.com/microm+.html), or Morningstar's SunGuard
(http://store.solar-electric.com/sg-4.html). I have no connection to
any of these vendors, other than having a Micro M for 6 or 7 years, and
using other models of Morningstars at work.

--
73,
Mike Boice, KW1ND
Karns, TN
Behold the power of the penguin
Reclaim Your Inbox! http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

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Charles Greene-2

Re: Another Battery Question

In reply to this post by Tom McCulloch

Tom,

If you can adjust your power supply to 14.0 volts, it should work a little
better. I bought my K2 battery with the K2 in 1999 (S/N 462), and it still
is as good as new. I also bought a Power Sonic 0.5 amp automatic charger,
and it floats the battery all the time. It charges the battery at a
constant current until 14.4 volts is reached, then maintains a constant
voltage until the battery is charged as sensed by the current decreasing to
a small value, then floats the battery at about 13.8 volts. My perception
is that if the battery is not topped off at 14.4 volts it never is fully
charged, but it may reach full charge if floated at 13.8 volts
constantly. It just takes longer to reach full charge.

73, Chas, W1CG

At 12:56 PM 7/15/2005, you wrote:

>Hi all,
>
> I have a basic K2 (s/n 1103) without the 100 amp. I also have the
> Elecraft internal battery (KBT2), which I use in the field. At home the
> K2 is connected to a 13 volt power supply which, of course, charges the
> battery while I'm operating.
>
> Unfortunately life will be getting in the way of operating over the
> next several months and I was wondering if I should be concerned about
> causing any permanent damage to the K2 battery while it is not getting
> charged. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.
>
>
> I will be around and can turn on the PS to charge the battery from time
> to time (how long and how often?), necessary.
>
>Thanks
>Tom, WB2QDG
>k2 1103
>
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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George Cortez Jr

Re: Another Battery Question

In reply to this post by Tom McCulloch

Hi
So are you connecting the 14 volt supply to
The power connector or connecting in some other way (direct to the battery)
Is there an easy way to boost the voltage on
any of the astron power supplies?
I have several and can dedicate one to
The k2

George Ne2i

-----Original Message-----
From: "Charles Greene"<[hidden email]>
Sent: 7/16/05 8:25:35 AM
To: "[hidden email]"<[hidden email]>, "Elecraft List"<[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Another Battery Question

Tom,

If you can adjust your power supply to 14.0 volts, it should work a little
better. I bought my K2 battery with the K2 in 1999 (S/N 462), and it still
is as good as new. I also bought a Power Sonic 0.5 amp automatic charger,
and it floats the battery all the time. It charges the battery at a
constant current until 14.4 volts is reached, then maintains a constant
voltage until the battery is charged as sensed by the current decreasing to
a small value, then floats the battery at about 13.8 volts. My perception
is that if the battery is not topped off at 14.4 volts it never is fully
charged, but it may reach full charge if floated at 13.8 volts
constantly. It just takes longer to reach full charge.

73, Chas, W1CG

At 12:56 PM 7/15/2005, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
> I have a basic K2 (s/n 1103) without the 100 amp. I also have the
> Elecraft internal battery (KBT2), which I use in the field. At home the
> K2 is connected to a 13 volt power supply which, of course, charges the
> battery while I'm operating.
>
> Unfortunately life will be getting in the way of operating over the
> next several months and I was wondering if I should be concerned about
> causing any permanent damage to the K2 battery while it is not getting
> charged. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.
>
>
> I will be around and can turn on the PS to charge the battery from time
> to time (how long and how often?), necessary.
>
>Thanks
>Tom, WB2QDG
>k2 1103
>
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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Charles Greene-2

Re: Another Battery Question

George,

II don't know about the Astron power supplies. You need to remove the
cover and see if there is a screw driver adjustment for voltage. Maybe
someone on the reflector knows; this was discussed a few years ago. I
currently am using a RS 6 amp PS to float the old car battery at 13.8 volts
and it does not have any adjustment. I have a Diamond 40 A power supply
with a knob on the front that adjusts the voltage, but I am not using it to
float the battery. The idea of the battery is to use it for high current
on transmit and float it to keep it charged. It does go down to 11 -11.7
volts after a extended period of operation.

73, Chas, W1CG

At 08:43 AM 7/16/2005, you wrote:

>Hi
>So are you connecting the 14 volt supply to
>The power connector or connecting in some other way (direct to the battery)
>Is there an easy way to boost the voltage on
>any of the astron power supplies?
>I have several and can dedicate one to
>The k2
>
>George Ne2i
>
>-----Original Message-----
> From: "Charles Greene"<[hidden email]>
> Sent: 7/16/05 8:25:35 AM
> To: "[hidden email]"<[hidden email]>, "Elecraft
> List"<[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Another Battery Question
>
> Tom,
>
> If you can adjust your power supply to 14.0 volts, it should work a
> little
> better. I bought my K2 battery with the K2 in 1999 (S/N 462), and it
> still
> is as good as new. I also bought a Power Sonic 0.5 amp automatic
> charger,
> and it floats the battery all the time. It charges the battery at a
> constant current until 14.4 volts is reached, then maintains a constant
> voltage until the battery is charged as sensed by the current
> decreasing to
> a small value, then floats the battery at about 13.8 volts. My
> perception
> is that if the battery is not topped off at 14.4 volts it never is
> fully
> charged, but it may reach full charge if floated at 13.8 volts
> constantly. It just takes longer to reach full charge.
>
> 73, Chas, W1CG
>
> At 12:56 PM 7/15/2005, you wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >
> > I have a basic K2 (s/n 1103) without the 100 amp. I also have the
> > Elecraft internal battery (KBT2), which I use in the field. At home
> the
> > K2 is connected to a 13 volt power supply which, of course, charges
> the
> > battery while I'm operating.
> >
> > Unfortunately life will be getting in the way of operating over the
> > next several months and I was wondering if I should be concerned about
> > causing any permanent damage to the K2 battery while it is not getting
> > charged. I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.
> >
> >
> > I will be around and can turn on the PS to charge the battery
> from time
> > to time (how long and how often?), necessary.
> >
> >Thanks
> >Tom, WB2QDG
> >k2 1103
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Elecraft mailing list
> >Post to: [hidden email]
> >You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> >
> >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

hank k8dd-2

Re: Another Battery Question

Charles Greene wrote:

> George,
>
> II don't know about the Astron power supplies. You need to remove the
> cover and see if there is a screw driver adjustment for voltage.
> Maybe someone on the reflector knows;

Last time I opened up a RS-35 there was a small pot on the bottom of the
PC board that adjusted the output voltage.
I would think most of the Astrons are like this. (there I go thinking
again!)

72 73 Hank K*DD
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Fernando Quinones

Re: Another Battery Question

I'm using a RS-20A and it also has a pot adjustment.

Hank Kohl K8DD wrote:

>
> Last time I opened up a RS-35 there was a small pot on the bottom of
> the PC board that adjusted the output voltage.
> I would think most of the Astrons are like this. (there I go thinking
> again!)
>
> 72 73 Hank K*DD
> _______________________________________________

--

73
Fernando N2FQ/NNNØJYM
San Jose, CA
<http://pages.sbcglobal.net/n2fq>

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