K1 internal battery mods

[Ron Pfeiffer]

Well I liked the idea of the internal battery for field use but I did not
like the sound
coming out of the little replacement speaker.  So I got out my round file
and I enlarged
the original speaker hole in the battery bracket. I enlarged it more towards
the center of
the radio and towards the back of the radio.  I then cut a notch in the
corner of the original speaker so it would clear the post near the
front-right. Placed the original speaker grill over the speaker to minimize
vibration and placed the new battery cover on.  Turned K1 on and once again
that sweet K1 sound came forth from the radio.

Next mod I want to do is add the same jack to the battery bracket as the K1
12V on the back panel. I will then terminate battery packs with matching
plug.  Then I can keep the packs external
and charged. Use them at home by plugging directly into the back power
connector and
when I want to go to the field just put a charged battery inside the K1.  I
know there is an
extra voltage drop by plugging into the back connector but I feel the
convenience overrides
the loss of voltage.

Any helpful info or suggestions to what I have done would be greatly
appreciated.

Ron

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[Paul Gates, KD3JF]

FB on your mod for the speaker.... There are a lot of
options a person can think of for a battery back
outside of the K1. I got hooked on lithium batteries!
<g> I have the latest set installed for a long, long
time! For me I dislike re-chargable batteries for the
K1. Could you not just take an outboard battery pack
and plug it into the regular DC input of the K1? The
L. batteries are not all that expensive because my
wife can order them overnight from Office Depot at her
office for  a big discount for me.

Pastor Paul, KD3JF

--- Ron Pfeiffer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Well I liked the idea of the internal battery for
> field use but I did not
> like the sound
> coming out of the little replacement speaker.  So I
> got out my round file
> and I enlarged
> the original speaker hole in the battery bracket. I
> enlarged it more towards
> the center of
> the radio and towards the back of the radio.  I then
> cut a notch in the
> corner of the original speaker so it would clear the
> post near the
> front-right. Placed the original speaker grill over
> the speaker to minimize
> vibration and placed the new battery cover on.
> Turned K1 on and once again
> that sweet K1 sound came forth from the radio.
>
> Next mod I want to do is add the same jack to the
> battery bracket as the K1
> 12V on the back panel. I will then terminate battery
> packs with matching
> plug.  Then I can keep the packs external
> and charged. Use them at home by plugging directly
> into the back power
> connector and
> when I want to go to the field just put a charged
> battery inside the K1.  I
> know there is an
> extra voltage drop by plugging into the back
> connector but I feel the
> convenience overrides
> the loss of voltage.
>
> Any helpful info or suggestions to what I have done
> would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Ron
>
>

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Paul Gates, KD3JF
K1  #0231
KX1 #1186
XG1


               
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[Paul Gates, KD3JF]

Ron, let me re-phrase what I said... It is a matter of
preference for sure. But, I just do not like
re-chargable batteries and that is just me personally.
9V against 12 volts and the regular rechargables do
not last that long so you are constantly opening up
the K1 and taking the batteries out to recharge them.
Now having that said the newer rechargables like you
indicated ... 2000-2300 mah will last longer on a
charge. If I was going on vacation I probably would
take a 7AMPHR sealed battery although I have 4 3.5"X5"
battery packs that are 12 volts at 2 AMPHR. Also have
a battery pack for the laptop that plugs into the cig.
lighter in car and I can charge that up to 13v. Then
there is the battery pack for the toy race cars!! So
thee are a lot of options.

I do not go backpacking any more for I am 75 years old
and am still recovering from a full knee replacement
but I do spend a day at the Parks around here... My
wife and I enjoy going to Ft McHenry National Park in
Baltimore we go early and get a picnic table and then
we have 2 folding chairs with a tray on the right side
of each. I throw my 26ft antenna in a tree and lay the
33ft. counterpoise on the ground. Or I clamp the MP1
Vert. ant. on the picnic table, also have a small
tripod that sits nicely on the picnic table for the
MP1. I put my KX1 or K1 on the tray of my chair and
ham in style! I like you, have never taken a outboard
power with me to the park yet,, I say yet! You ought
to try the Lithium batteries sometime for they really
last a long time.

While I am hamming My YL is getting caught up on her
reading and we both enjoy ourselves. Of course we have
a picnic lunch with us! We enjoy this as an activity
on Saturdays when we are free from appts, etc.
Pastor Paul, KD3JF
--- Ron Pfeiffer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have never had problems with rechargeable
> batteries.  I really like that
> the K1 is self-contained
> for going into the field.  Just add key and wire and
> your on the air.
>
> I am not fond of carrying batterypacks around.  I
> lose them or break off the
> leads, etc.
>
> Of course the Lithiums sound great and would last
> longer than the Nimh.  The
> packs I just
> ordered from BatterySpace are 9.6V 2000mah at $12.95
> each.
>
> Ron
>
>

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Paul Gates, KD3JF
K1  #0231
KX1 #1186
XG1


               
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