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KX3 - Batteries

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KX3 - Batteries

I was considering getting the charger board and putting in rechargeable batteries but the though of them leaking and damaging the KX3 has shied me away from that.

I was curious about what others are using for batteries for the KX3. Preferably in some sort of an external pack.

Thank you

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MarcV

Re: KX3 - Batteries

I've never had rechargeable batteries leak, only alkalines.

Two of my KX3s have the popular Panasonic NIMH Eneloop AAs and they work well.

The other KX3 relies on outside power.
--
Marc W8SDG

> On May 11, 2015, at 2:46 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
> I was considering getting the charger board and putting in rechargeable batteries but the though of them leaking and damaging the KX3
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Raymond Sills

Re: KX3 - Batteries

Ditto. NiMH cells are quite stable, very very unlikely to leak.
Elecraft -recommends- NiMH cells. The clock/charger board is -
designed- for NiMH cells.

73 de Ray
K2ULR
KX3 #211

On May 11, 2015, at 2:53 PM, Marc Veeneman wrote:

> I've never had rechargeable batteries leak, only alkalines.
>
> Two of my KX3s have the popular Panasonic NIMH Eneloop AAs and they
> work well.
>
> The other KX3 relies on outside power.
> --
> Marc W8SDG
>
>> On May 11, 2015, at 2:46 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft <[hidden email]
>> > wrote:
>> I was considering getting the charger board and putting in
>> rechargeable batteries but the though of them leaking and damaging
>> the KX3

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Tony Estep

Re: KX3 - Batteries

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Harry, I have NiMH in my KX3. For many years I was an active RC flyer and
used NiMH for my receiver packs. I must have put 1000 cycles on them in
total over many planes and many years, and never had one leak. However,
having said that, I recently found an unused single cell in my parts box
that had leaked, just enough to be visible, not enough to damage anything.
It had been there for 5 years or more. If you use NiMH in the KX3 I'm sure
it's a good idea to check every few months, and maybe replace them after a
year or two, or if you notice that they don't hold as much charge as they
did when new.

73,
Tony KT0NY

On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 1:46 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> I was considering getting the charger board and putting in rechargeable
> batteries but the though of them leaking and damaging the KX3 has shied me
> away from that.
>
>
> I was curious about what others are using for batteries for the KX3.
> Preferably in some sort of an external pack.
>
>
> Thank you
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
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>

Jim Brown-10

Re: KX3 - Batteries

On Mon,5/11/2015 12:08 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
> Harry, I have NiMH in my KX3.

I have a set of 2.8 Ah NiMH cells in my KX3, which has the recharging
module.

I also bought one of these 12V - 20Ah units for longer operating
periods. LiFEPO4 is the preferred battery chemistry, and this particular
model has the lightest weight I've found. I paid about $250 for battery
and charger w/tax and shipping.

http://www.bioennopower.com/collections/12v-series-lifepo4-batteries/products/12v-20ah-lfp-battery-black-pvc-pack

73, Jim K9YC
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Stephen Shearer

Re: KX3 - Batteries

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

I use:
With the Elecraft NiMH charger...

* 2550mAh type, 2450mAh min, Ni-MH High Capacity pre-charged
rechargeable battery
* Recharge up to 500 times
* Maintain 85% of their charge up to 1 year (when not in use)
* No memory effect - batteries can be recharged when fully, or
partially discharged
* Work in extreme temperatures down to -4 DegreeF

Panasonic BK-3HCCA8BA*Eneloop Pro AA High Capacity Ni-MH *Pre-Charged
Rechargeable Batteries, 8-Pack
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JHKSL28/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=28VPZ85K0BU48&coliid=I1TVX5ZVH8C4MB&psc=1

I also use an external battery pack to run 10W:
A123 homemade battery pack {4 cells - cost about $40}
http://www.a123rc.com/goods-101-8+PCS+Nano-Phosphate+LiFePO4+Original+A123+ANR26650M1A+Cell.html

73, steve WB3LGC

On 11-May-15 2:46 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote:

> I was considering getting the charger board and putting in rechargeable batteries but the though of them leaking and damaging the KX3 has shied me away from that.
>
>
> I was curious about what others are using for batteries for the KX3. Preferably in some sort of an external pack.
>
>
> Thank you
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Re: KX3 - Batteries

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Hi Jim,
My KX3 set up is similar with a couple of added items. I have the LiFePO4 12V 9.9 AH battery, the LFP Battery Smart charger, and a Mercury 27 watt fold-able solar panel with both 12 VDC and USB 5V ports. The solar panel keeps the battery charged and the USB for any accessories..... FUNNNN.
Mel, K6KBE

From: Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 - Batteries

On Mon,5/11/2015 12:08 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
> Harry, I have NiMH in my KX3.

I have a set of 2.8 Ah NiMH cells in my KX3, which has the recharging
module.

I also bought one of these 12V - 20Ah units for longer operating
periods. LiFEPO4 is the preferred battery chemistry, and this particular
model has the lightest weight I've found. I paid about $250 for battery
and charger w/tax and shipping.

http://www.bioennopower.com/collections/12v-series-lifepo4-batteries/products/12v-20ah-lfp-battery-black-pvc-pack

73, Jim K9YC
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: KX3 - Batteries

Thank you all

From: Mel Farrer via Elecraft <[hidden email]>
To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 6:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 - Batteries

Hi Jim,
My KX3 set up is similar with a couple of added items. I have the LiFePO4 12V 9.9 AH battery, the LFP Battery Smart charger, and a Mercury 27 watt fold-able solar panel with both 12 VDC and USB 5V ports. The solar panel keeps the battery charged and the USB for any accessories..... FUNNNN.
Mel, K6KBE

From: Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 - Batteries

On Mon,5/11/2015 12:08 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
> Harry, I have NiMH in my KX3.

I have a set of 2.8 Ah NiMH cells in my KX3, which has the recharging
module.

I also bought one of these 12V - 20Ah units for longer operating
periods. LiFEPO4 is the preferred battery chemistry, and this particular
model has the lightest weight I've found. I paid about $250 for battery
and charger w/tax and shipping.

http://www.bioennopower.com/collections/12v-series-lifepo4-batteries/products/12v-20ah-lfp-battery-black-pvc-pack

73, Jim K9YC
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James Bennett

Re: KX3 - Batteries

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Jim - Do you use a solar panel to charge that LFP battery, and if so, what do you use for a charge controller? Is it one specific for LiFePO4 chemistry?

Jim / W6JHB

> On Monday, May 11, 2015, at Monday, 12:54 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> On Mon,5/11/2015 12:08 PM, Tony Estep wrote:
>> Harry, I have NiMH in my KX3.
>
> I have a set of 2.8 Ah NiMH cells in my KX3, which has the recharging module.
>
> I also bought one of these 12V - 20Ah units for longer operating periods. LiFEPO4 is the preferred battery chemistry, and this particular model has the lightest weight I've found. I paid about $250 for battery and charger w/tax and shipping.
>
> http://www.bioennopower.com/collections/12v-series-lifepo4-batteries/products/12v-20ah-lfp-battery-black-pvc-pack
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
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Jim Brown-10

Re: KX3 - Batteries

On Tue,5/12/2015 10:45 AM, James Bennett wrote:
> Jim - Do you use a solar panel to charge that LFP battery, and if so, what do you use for a charge controller? Is it one specific for LiFePO4 chemistry?

No. I bought their dedicated 4A charger that runs from 120VAC.

73, Jim K9YC
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: KX3 - Batteries

They also have a 12 VDC smart charger for the LFP batteries, I use that so I can charge from the solar panel or the car.
Mel, K6KBE

From: Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 - Batteries

On Tue,5/12/2015 10:45 AM, James Bennett wrote:
> Jim - Do you use a solar panel to charge that LFP battery, and if so, what do you use for a charge controller? Is it one specific for LiFePO4 chemistry?

No. I bought their dedicated 4A charger that runs from 120VAC.

73, Jim K9YC
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