Elecraft K3

[Peter Sinclair-3]

Has anyone done any tests of voltage input against power out on the K3 ?
What I want to know is when running on a battery fully charged to about 13 volts at what level of voltage does the power drop off to say 50 Watts ?
I see MFJ has a unit (4416B) to get over this problem.Has anyone any experience with this unit.
Peter G3UCA
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[Phil Salas]

"...I see MFJ has a unit (4416B) to get over this problem.  Has anyone any
experience with this unit..."

I did a review of the MFJ-4416 and TGE N8XJK boost regulators in the
November 2008 QST.  I also have a review of just the MFJ-4416 on my website
at www.ad5x.com.

Phil - AD5X

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[Peter Sinclair-3]

Many thanks for information Hector
I have looked on two of the major suppliers of amateur radio equipment in the U.K.. and they don't appear to stock the MFJ unit but I will keep looking as it appears to get over the voltage drop problem.
Peter
G3UCA.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Hector Padron
  To: Peter Sinclair
  Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 10:36 AM
  Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K3


        Good morning Peter,I did that test for you,I put my K3 to send a string of dots at 50wpm with 13.8V and 100W out,then started to drop the PS voltage until I saw PO drop to 50W and that happened at 10.5V,below that voltage the whole radio turned off.
        I am using that MFJ product on my SUV to keep the battery power always at 14V when I use my IC-7000 on HF mobile,it works great,I can even have the engine off without alternator charging and the output of that box remains at 13.8v.

        Hector
        AD4C



        "For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3"

        --- On Sat, 2/20/10, Peter Sinclair <[hidden email]> wrote:


          From: Peter Sinclair <[hidden email]>
          Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft K3
          To: [hidden email]
          Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010, 10:36 PM


          Has anyone done any tests of voltage input against power out on the K3 ?
          What I want to know is when running on a battery fully charged to about 13 volts at what level of voltage does the power drop off to say 50 Watts ?
          I see MFJ has a unit (4416B) to get over this problem.Has anyone any experience with this unit.
          Peter G3UCA
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[n7ws]

I'm using a TGE in my station.  I originally bought it to use portable while on battery power.  I now use it full time even when using a power supply just to keep the voltage up at the radio input.

Just because the radio puts out rated power at lower voltages doesn't mean the IMD is acceptable. 

--- On Sun, 2/21/10, Phil & Debbie Salas <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Phil & Debbie Salas <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K3 Battery Boost Regulators
To: [hidden email]
Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010, 6:14 AM

"...I see MFJ has a unit (4416B) to get over this problem.  Has anyone any
experience with this unit..."

I did a review of the MFJ-4416 and TGE N8XJK boost regulators in the
November 2008 QST.  I also have a review of just the MFJ-4416 on my website
at www.ad5x.com.

Phil - AD5X





     
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[KM5Q]

Peter,
You do NOT need a voltage booster with the K3.

If you allow a 12V lead-acid battery to drop to 10.5 you have just  
over-discharged it and have already caused it at least minor damage.  
Using a voltage booster to squeeze out a few more amp-hours will yield  
only a few more minutes of operation, and a disappointment next time  
you use the battery and find out its capacity is much reduced  
(permanently).

The boosters are sold for other rigs that require around 13.8V  
(standard for a vehicle battery while engine is running). The K3 has a  
wonderfully wide voltage acceptance so it doesn't need that gadget  
(which also wastes a portion of the power that it converts).

In the solar and portable power field, battery system controllers are  
routinely set to shut loads off at 10.5 (or as high as 11.5) volts to  
prevent battery damage. Electraft built that in for us! K3 ideal for  
battery operation with NO accessories. Just make sure your power  
cables are of sufficient size to minimize voltage drop.

Incidentally -- Best longevity of a lead-acid battery is achieved if  
you normally discharge it no more than half-way. Voltage can only give  
you a clue to the state-of-charge, but not going below 11.75 volts is  
a reasonable guideline. This applies to deep-cycle batteries.  
Automotive engine battery should not be discharged that much because  
it will damage the battery, and you may not be able to restart the  
vehicle.

Smile!
Windy

> Many thanks for information Hector
> I have looked on two of the major suppliers of amateur radio  
> equipment in the
> U.K.. and they don't appear to stock the MFJ unit but I will keep  
> looking as it
> appears to get over the voltage drop problem.
> Peter
> G3UCA.
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Hector Padron
>   To: Peter Sinclair
>   Sent: Sunday, February 21, 2010 10:36 AM
>   Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K3
>
>
>         Good morning Peter,I did that test for you,I put my K3 to  
> send a string
> of dots at 50wpm with 13.8V and 100W out,then started to drop the PS  
> voltage
> until I saw PO drop to 50W and that happened at 10.5V,below that  
> voltage the
> whole radio turned off.
>         I am using that MFJ product on my SUV to keep the battery  
> power always
> at 14V when I use my IC-7000 on HF mobile,it works great,I can even  
> have the
> engine off without alternator charging and the output of that box  
> remains at
> 13.8v.
>
>         Hector
>         AD4C
>
>
>
>         "For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3"
>
>         --- On Sat, 2/20/10, Peter Sinclair <[hidden email]>  
> wrote:
>
>
>           From: Peter Sinclair <[hidden email]>
>           Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft K3
>           To: [hidden email]
>           Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010, 10:36 PM
>
>
>           Has anyone done any tests of voltage input against power  
> out on the
> K3 ?
>           What I want to know is when running on a battery fully  
> charged to
> about 13 volts at what level of voltage does the power drop off to  
> say 50 Watts
> ?
>           I see MFJ has a unit (4416B) to get over this problem.Has  
> anyone any
> experience with this unit.
>           Peter G3UCA

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[n7ws]

Just because the radio continues to operate at some reduced voltage doesn't mean that it should be operated there.  The transmit IMD performance of nominal 12V radios is horrible enough at full voltage; exacerbating this by operating at lower voltage is a real disservice to your ham neighbors.

IMHO, any new transmitter intended for fixed station use that continues to use 12V bipolar finals should be boycotted.

--- On Sun, 2/21/10, KM5Q <[hidden email]> wrote:

The boosters are sold for other rigs that require around 13.8V 
(standard for a vehicle battery while engine is running). The K3 has a 
wonderfully wide voltage acceptance so it doesn't need that gadget 
(which also wastes a portion of the power that it converts).



     
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[Ken Kopp-3]

Windy has given sage advice about battery usage.

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
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