Best Batteries for KX-3?
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Best Batteries for KX-3?
 
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I have just put my KX-3 into portable service trying to locate noise sources around my property and neighborhood. I put eight brand new Duracell alkaline cells into the KX-3 and turned off the backlight. Preamp is set to 20 db gain and I am using headphones with a homemade 26 inch loop for DF.
I am surprised with how fast the battery voltage is dropping as indicated by the KX-3 display. What batteries would be better to use for this application where I might be out for as long as two hours looking for noise sources? 73 Dennis W0JX Milan, OH ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Dennis,
Although a bit expensive, AA size Non-rechargable lithium batteries will give longer life. Rechargeable Ni-MH batteries will also last a longer time. If you do not have the internal charger, you will have to remove them for charging, so carry a 2nd set of fully charged batteries. Two hours seems like a short time for receive only. If you are using alkaline batteries, use a good brand - the off-brand bargain batteries are often short lived. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/28/2018 10:21 PM, Dennis W0JX via Elecraft wrote: > I have just put my KX-3 into portable service trying to locate noise sources around my property and neighborhood. I put eight brand new Duracell alkaline cells into the KX-3 and turned off the backlight. Preamp is set to 20 db gain and I am using headphones with a homemade 26 inch loop for DF. > > I am surprised with how fast the battery voltage is dropping as indicated by the KX-3 display. What batteries would be better to use for this application where I might be out for as long as two hours looking for noise sources? > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: Best Batteries for KX-3?
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
First, and most important, don't leave alkaline cells in your radio for long periods. They will eventually leak. If you have the KXBC3 installed, I suggest high quality Low Self Discharge (LSD) NiMh cells such as Eneloops, If you don't have the KXBC3 installed, non-rechargeable Lithium cells would be a good choice, although those are pretty pricey where I live. I could quickly justify the cost of a KXBC3 based on the price of non-rechargeable Lithium cells.
The Eneloop LSD Rechargeable cells have a great track record. I've had my Eneloop 2000 cells since February 2013 with no problems. I think I am finally just starting to detect signs of reduced capacity, so maybe it is time to upgrade them to the newer, higher capacity Eneloops. I have tried non-LSD NiMH cells from time to time, but they really don't work very well. They quickly self-discharge to below 1 volt per cell, damaging themselves in the process. Don't waste you money on them. Cells that are shipped fully charged are usually LSD. On Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 7:27:18 PM PST, Dennis W0JX via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: I have just put my KX-3 into portable service trying to locate noise sources around my property and neighborhood. I put eight brand new Duracell alkaline cells... I am surprised with how fast the battery voltage is dropping as indicated by the KX-3 display. What batteries would be better to use for this application where I might be out for as long as two hours looking for noise sources? ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Another caution to not leave alkalines installed. I used to swear by
Duracell, but they changed around the time Gillette bought them. In spite of the "10 year no leak" marketing, I've stopped buying alkalines entirely due to newer Duracells destroying a thousand dollars worth of gear. Makes the lithiums look a lot cheaper. I've got the Amazon branded hi capacity lsd nimhs in my kx3, no problems with them. On Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 9:07 PM, Mark Petiford via Elecraft < [hidden email]> wrote: > First, and most important, don't leave alkaline cells in your radio for > long periods. They will eventually leak. If you have the KXBC3 installed, > I suggest high quality Low Self Discharge (LSD) NiMh cells such as > Eneloops, If you don't have the KXBC3 installed, non-rechargeable Lithium > cells would be a good choice, although those are pretty pricey where I > live. I could quickly justify the cost of a KXBC3 based on the price of > non-rechargeable Lithium cells. > > The Eneloop LSD Rechargeable cells have a great track record. I've had my > Eneloop 2000 cells since February 2013 with no problems. I think I am > finally just starting to detect signs of reduced capacity, so maybe it is > time to upgrade them to the newer, higher capacity Eneloops. > > I have tried non-LSD NiMH cells from time to time, but they really don't > work very well. They quickly self-discharge to below 1 volt per cell, > damaging themselves in the process. Don't waste you money on them. Cells > that are shipped fully charged are usually LSD. > > On Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 7:27:18 PM PST, Dennis W0JX via Elecraft > <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I have just put my KX-3 into portable service trying to locate noise > sources around my property and neighborhood. I put eight brand new Duracell > alkaline cells... I am surprised with how fast the battery voltage is > dropping as indicated by the KX-3 display. What batteries would be better > to use for this application where I might be out for as long as two hours > looking for noise sources? > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] > -- Scott Small ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: Best Batteries for KX-3?
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Note that "low self-discharge" or "precharged" batteries are a must.
You can get higher capacity batteries, but they'll always be dead when you reach for the rig. 73 -- Lynn On 2/28/2018 9:20 PM, Tox wrote: > I've got the Amazon branded hi capacity lsd nimhs in my kx3, no problems > with them. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: Best Batteries for KX-3?
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Very good advice.
Even these so called "10 year" batteries WILL leak and probably B4 the 10 years is up. 73, Charlie k3ICH -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mark Petiford via Elecraft Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2018 12:08 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best Batteries for KX-3? First, and most important, don't leave alkaline cells in your radio for long periods. They will eventually leak. If you have the KXBC3 installed, I suggest high quality Low Self Discharge (LSD) NiMh cells such as Eneloops, If you don't have the KXBC3 installed, non-rechargeable Lithium cells would be a good choice, although those are pretty pricey where I live. I could quickly justify the cost of a KXBC3 based on the price of non-rechargeable Lithium cells. The Eneloop LSD Rechargeable cells have a great track record. I've had my Eneloop 2000 cells since February 2013 with no problems. I think I am finally just starting to detect signs of reduced capacity, so maybe it is time to upgrade them to the newer, higher capacity Eneloops. I have tried non-LSD NiMH cells from time to time, but they really don't work very well. They quickly self-discharge to below 1 volt per cell, damaging themselves in the process. Don't waste you money on them. Cells that are shipped fully charged are usually LSD. On Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 7:27:18 PM PST, Dennis W0JX via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote: I have just put my KX-3 into portable service trying to locate noise sources around my property and neighborhood. I put eight brand new Duracell alkaline cells... I am surprised with how fast the battery voltage is dropping as indicated by the KX-3 display. What batteries would be better to use for this application where I might be out for as long as two hours looking for noise sources? ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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If cost is not but weight is an issue, lithium AA work well. I expect that
you get at least 10 hrs receive. They do not leak. I used KX3 to locate noise with small loops, with limited success due to poor dieirectivity. If your noise sources are on 80m, the new RDF from RigExpert works very well. Ignacy, NO9E -- Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Sam's Club has the exact same Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries in an 18
pack for $19.95. This is the best deal I have been able to find. They work great in the KX3. Jim G. W4JRG ================================================================================================== Non-rechargeable AA batteries aren’t that expensive. $12 for an 8-pack. With 3000 mAh, they should last a long time on receive, up to 20 hours. https://smile.amazon.com/Energizer-Ultimate-Lithium-Batteries-L91SBP-8/dp/B00EAKP8S0/ wunder K6WRU Walter Underwood CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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