Internal battery question

[Charles B. Wilber]

I recently installed the KBT2 internal battery kit in my K2. I bought this kit
from a ham in Australia who had installed it in his K2 and later removed it.
Consequently, it had been all assembled prior to my receiving it. I had only to
move the various components to my existing cover, mount the connector jack on
the main circuit board and plug everything in. I charged the battery overnight
and read a voltage of 12.5V the next morning. I then removed the external power
supply and turned the K2 on. With the backlight turned off (LCD = Day) and the
AF gain at 33% volume, the battery voltage dropped from 12.5 volts to 9.3 volts
in four hours.

After receiving the kit, I left it on my shelf for almost a year before doing
anything with it. When I finished installing it in my K2 a couple days ago, the
battery voltage was 8.9 volts before I charged it up. Given the relatively rapid
rate at which the battery seems to have been depleted, I am wondering if sitting
on the shelf for a year at a charge below 10 volts has ruined the battery.
Should I assume it has and just buy a replacement battery?

73,
Charlie
N1AOK
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[Randy Rathbun]

I have a bunch of gel cells sitting around here that have been  
subjected to stress like that and yeah, they go down in efficiency,  
but I sure would not throw them out if they are working. I might not  
get as good a time as if I had taken care of them, but they are still  
useful.

Unless it is really bothering you, I would continue to use the thing.

Randy Rathbun
[hidden email]


On Jul 3, 2005, at 10:19 PM, Charles B. Wilber wrote:

> I recently installed the KBT2 internal battery kit in my K2. I  
> bought this kit
> from a ham in Australia who had installed it in his K2 and later  
> removed it.
> Consequently, it had been all assembled prior to my receiving it. I  
> had only to
> move the various components to my existing cover, mount the  
> connector jack on
> the main circuit board and plug everything in. I charged the  
> battery overnight
> and read a voltage of 12.5V the next morning. I then removed the  
> external power
> supply and turned the K2 on. With the backlight turned off (LCD =  
> Day) and the
> AF gain at 33% volume, the battery voltage dropped from 12.5 volts  
> to 9.3 volts
> in four hours.
>
> After receiving the kit, I left it on my shelf for almost a year  
> before doing
> anything with it. When I finished installing it in my K2 a couple  
> days ago, the
> battery voltage was 8.9 volts before I charged it up. Given the  
> relatively rapid
> rate at which the battery seems to have been depleted, I am  
> wondering if sitting
> on the shelf for a year at a charge below 10 volts has ruined the  
> battery.
> Should I assume it has and just buy a replacement battery?
>
> 73,
> Charlie
> N1AOK
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Charlie,

It is likely that you ddid not have the battery fully charged.  What was the
voltage out of your power supply - a standard 13.8 volt supply will not
adequately charge the battery (see the Elecraft internal battery manual).

Before you give up on the battery, try putting a 14.3 volt power supply on
the K2 and let the battery charge up for several days, even a week.  If the
battery is at full charge, you should see a bqttery terminal voltage of 13.8
volts (float voltage) while the battery is connected to the power supply -
it will drop a bit after removing the power supply, but not more than a
volt.  Charge it until that condition comes valid.  After that, you can
evaluate the discharge cycle and compare with the Panasonic typical
performance data for that battery.  If the discharge cycle on your battery
is significantly shorter than normal, you may want to replace it - examine
your needs (portable operation duration, etc.) and decide if the current
battery will suffice for your needs.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I recently installed the KBT2 internal battery kit in my K2. I
> bought this kit
> from a ham in Australia who had installed it in his K2 and later
> removed it.
> Consequently, it had been all assembled prior to my receiving it.
> I had only to
> move the various components to my existing cover, mount the
> connector jack on
> the main circuit board and plug everything in. I charged the
> battery overnight
> and read a voltage of 12.5V the next morning. I then removed the
> external power
> supply and turned the K2 on. With the backlight turned off (LCD =
> Day) and the
> AF gain at 33% volume, the battery voltage dropped from 12.5
> volts to 9.3 volts
> in four hours.
>
> After receiving the kit, I left it on my shelf for almost a year
> before doing
> anything with it. When I finished installing it in my K2 a couple
> days ago, the
> battery voltage was 8.9 volts before I charged it up. Given the
> relatively rapid
> rate at which the battery seems to have been depleted, I am
> wondering if sitting
> on the shelf for a year at a charge below 10 volts has ruined the battery.
> Should I assume it has and just buy a replacement battery?
>
>

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