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[KX3} Charging internal batteries

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gareth.m5kvk

[KX3} Charging internal batteries

Seems like there's a bit of a battery theme at the moment.

I ahave the KXBC3 intalled with some Eneloop batteries. I notice that when
I plug in the external PSU, the internal battery level increases: even
though I'm not charging.

Does this imply that just having the external PSU connected causes some
charge to go into the internal batteries, or does one always have to use
the internal charger?

73
Gareth, M5KVK
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: [KX3} Charging internal batteries

Gareth,

The internal battery voltage does not increase. You have to understand
what the VFO voltage reading is telling you. It reads the highest
supply voltage, not always the internal battery voltage.

If you are looking at the VFO B voltage display, you will see the
highest supply voltage applied. So, if your external supply is at a
higher voltage than the internal batteries, that voltage is what you
will read. If you want to see the voltage of the internal batteries
only, you will need to disconnect the external supply.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/5/2015 11:18 AM, Gareth - M5KVK wrote:

> Seems like there's a bit of a battery theme at the moment.
>
> I ahave the KXBC3 intalled with some Eneloop batteries. I notice that when
> I plug in the external PSU, the internal battery level increases: even
> though I'm not charging.
>
> Does this imply that just having the external PSU connected causes some
> charge to go into the internal batteries, or does one always have to use
> the internal charger?
>
>

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Arlen Fletcher

Re: [KX3} Charging internal batteries

Well, that’s one way to do it. On my KX3 I simply turn the VFO B knob until the display is showing PS voltage, or BT voltage, whichever I desire.

73,

Arlen - AA7F

> On Jun 5, 2015, at 8:40 AM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Gareth,
>
> The internal battery voltage does not increase. You have to understand what the VFO voltage reading is telling you. It reads the highest supply voltage, not always the internal battery voltage.
>
> If you are looking at the VFO B voltage display, you will see the highest supply voltage applied. So, if your external supply is at a higher voltage than the internal batteries, that voltage is what you will read. If you want to see the voltage of the internal batteries only, you will need to disconnect the external supply.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 6/5/2015 11:18 AM, Gareth - M5KVK wrote:
>> Seems like there's a bit of a battery theme at the moment.
>>
>> I ahave the KXBC3 intalled with some Eneloop batteries. I notice that when
>> I plug in the external PSU, the internal battery level increases: even
>> though I'm not charging.
>>
>> Does this imply that just having the external PSU connected causes some
>> charge to go into the internal batteries, or does one always have to use
>> the internal charger?
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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GM4JJJ

Re: [KX3} Charging internal batteries

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Gareth

There are two separate choices for reading PS (external) and BT (internal). The PS one however shows the internal battery volts when there is no PS connected. With my PSU disconnected PS says 8.2V and BT says 8.2V
Connect the PSU and PS reads 13.4V and BT reads 8.5V.

So what you are seeing Gareth is the same as me. ( I don't believe the battery is being charged very much at all under this circumstance). If you leave it for an extended period it will not charge the battery fully, for that you need to set the BAT CHG on.

What I <think> is happening is that with the PSU connected and the radio now being powered from the PSU not the internal batteries, the batteries can recover from the load that they were subjected to while running the radio without the PSU.

73

David Anderson GM4JJJ

> On 5 Jun 2015, at 16:40, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Gareth,
>
> The internal battery voltage does not increase. You have to understand what the VFO voltage reading is telling you. It reads the highest supply voltage, not always the internal battery voltage.
>
> If you are looking at the VFO B voltage display, you will see the highest supply voltage applied. So, if your external supply is at a higher voltage than the internal batteries, that voltage is what you will read. If you want to see the voltage of the internal batteries only, you will need to disconnect the external supply.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 6/5/2015 11:18 AM, Gareth - M5KVK wrote:
>> Seems like there's a bit of a battery theme at the moment.
>>
>> I ahave the KXBC3 intalled with some Eneloop batteries. I notice that when
>> I plug in the external PSU, the internal battery level increases: even
>> though I'm not charging.
>>
>> Does this imply that just having the external PSU connected causes some
>> charge to go into the internal batteries, or does one always have to use
>> the internal charger?
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]