Panasonic Oxyride battery in KX1 report

[Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU]

I bought 8 Panasonic Oxyride AA's at Walgreenls for $10 and when my
Energizer Lithiums gave out I switched them in.  These new batteries are
1.7v and are marketed as lasting longer than traditional Alkaline.

The results were not good.

They measured 1.7v with my cheap backpack DVM, and the pack was about
10.3v, and I get 9.9v on my KX1 volt meter from 6 of them in the
internal holder.  Unfortunately, when I transmit on 20m, it goes down to
8.5v, with 2W out shown (ATU match 1.2:1).

I will try cleaning the contacts, but for now it looks like they have a
higher internal resistance than one might want.

Also, I found that, under no load, only one of my expired Lithium
batteries had a low voltage; the others did not.  I know Li primary
cells have a steady voltage throughout the discharge curve, but it may
be that I can get some more life out of the rest somehow.

Leigh / WA5ZNU
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[EricJ-2]

Last night I was in Lowe's for one of my interminable shopping trips to keep
my house upright, and they had the L91's $9.89 for a 4-pack, regular price.
It's getting where an external 10-pack of L91s is getting affordable.

Eric
KE6US
www.ke6us.com



-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Leigh L Klotz, Jr.
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:53 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Panasonic Oxyride battery in KX1 report

I bought 8 Panasonic Oxyride AA's at Walgreenls for $10 and when my
Energizer Lithiums gave out I switched them in.  These new batteries are
1.7v and are marketed as lasting longer than traditional Alkaline.

The results were not good.

They measured 1.7v with my cheap backpack DVM, and the pack was about 10.3v,
and I get 9.9v on my KX1 volt meter from 6 of them in the internal holder.
Unfortunately, when I transmit on 20m, it goes down to 8.5v, with 2W out
shown (ATU match 1.2:1).

I will try cleaning the contacts, but for now it looks like they have a
higher internal resistance than one might want.

Also, I found that, under no load, only one of my expired Lithium batteries
had a low voltage; the others did not.  I know Li primary cells have a
steady voltage throughout the discharge curve, but it may be that I can get
some more life out of the rest somehow.

Leigh / WA5ZNU
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com