[K2] custom LiFePO4 pack

[inventor61 .]

Gents

Recently I saw some commentary regarding a LiFePO4 pack for the K2.

There is already one made specifically for the application, intended to
replace the gel cell option in the rig and to use the bracket provided for
same.  The picture on the web link below is slightly inaccurate in that the
wiring pigtail has a 'flying' lead so it is a 1:1 replacement for the
Elecraft gel cell assembly.

http://www.batteryspace.com/custom-lifepo4-18650-battery-12-8v-4500-mah-57-6wh-7a-rate-w-pcb-and-connector.aspx

As a *very* happy owner of this pack, I have to share that I am not
affiliated with the producer in any way.

This pack is purposefully made to charge using a LiFePO4 charger, available
from the battery supplier, via the radio's DC input jack, and works with
the battery switch on the K2 in a manner according to specifications I
provided.  Several design options were considered in the process of
creating the specs and I believe the best balance of these were selected.

When I am charging the internal pack with the LiFePO4 charger I am not
operating the radio (although it is possible); when I am operating from
mains, I use the KX33 supply from Pro Audio Engineering.

In some qualitative testing I am able to get roughly 80% more operating
time per charge than I was with the gel cell and at less weight.

The K2 is aging gracefully.  Newer radios for field use beckon but still
manage only to be just peers, not better.

Steve KZ1X
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[RobertG]

Steve...

Thanks for your effort in making this battery available. I'll be buying
one. Perhaps Elecraft can make them available like they did for the
Powerwerx switching powersupply. I do agree: many peers for the K2 yet
none really better. The new Elecraft portable radios are nifty, and I
fully understand their popularity. That said, my K2 is still in use [470
Q's on 40m CW during FD] and a LiFePO4 battery will be a nice upgrade.

...robert

On 07/07/2016 16:09, inventor61 . wrote:

> Gents
>
> Recently I saw some commentary regarding a LiFePO4 pack for the K2.
>
> There is already one made specifically for the application, intended to
> replace the gel cell option in the rig and to use the bracket provided for
> same.  The picture on the web link below is slightly inaccurate in that the
> wiring pigtail has a 'flying' lead so it is a 1:1 replacement for the
> Elecraft gel cell assembly.
>
> http://www.batteryspace.com/custom-lifepo4-18650-battery-12-8v-4500-mah-57-6wh-7a-rate-w-pcb-and-connector.aspx
>
> As a *very* happy owner of this pack, I have to share that I am not
> affiliated with the producer in any way.
>
> This pack is purposefully made to charge using a LiFePO4 charger, available
> from the battery supplier, via the radio's DC input jack, and works with
> the battery switch on the K2 in a manner according to specifications I
> provided.  Several design options were considered in the process of
> creating the specs and I believe the best balance of these were selected.
>
> When I am charging the internal pack with the LiFePO4 charger I am not
> operating the radio (although it is possible); when I am operating from
> mains, I use the KX33 supply from Pro Audio Engineering.
>
> In some qualitative testing I am able to get roughly 80% more operating
> time per charge than I was with the gel cell and at less weight.
>
> The K2 is aging gracefully.  Newer radios for field use beckon but still
> manage only to be just peers, not better.
>
> Steve KZ1X
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

--
Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY
[hidden email]
Syracuse, New York, USA
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[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu,7/7/2016 2:19 PM, Robert G Strickland wrote:
> Perhaps Elecraft can make them available like they did for the
> Powerwerx switching powersupply.

Why does Elecraft need to be involved if it's a got a part number from
batteryspace? They're a good vendor.

73, Jim K9YC

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