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Re: Elecraft Digest, Vol 153, Issue 41

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Re: Elecraft Digest, Vol 153, Issue 41

The "real time" (sort of) clock is powered from the batteries if the rig
is in the OFF state, and not connected to external power. I too have
had the internal cells drain as a result.

I now keep the rig connected to the shack DC supply, even when it is not
in use, just to prevent the demise of the cell's, but also of course
keeps the clock running.

Doesn’t need much current, probably a generic 14V wall wart would run
the clock, and allow periodic battery top up if deemed necessary.

73.

Dave G0WBX.

On 30/01/17 03:50, [hidden email] wrote:

> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2017 01:10:42 +0000
> From: Lee Thompson <[hidden email]>
> To: Jim Rhodes <[hidden email]>, "[hidden email]"
> <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem
> Message-ID:
> <[hidden email]>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
> I?ve seen the Bat ERR message also, but the radio still functions and after a few attempts I can get it to charge.
>
> Lee, WA8QFE
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10
>
>
>
> From: Jim Rhodes<mailto:[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017 5:53 PM
> To: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem
>
>
>
> My KX3 has suddenly decided that it doesn't want to turn on on battery
> power. It has been pretty much just sitting in a bag for the last few
> months but when I tried to turn it on it wouldn't, so I thought that maybe
> the batteries needed charging so I plugged it in, turned it on, went to
> menu to turn on charger and got "BAT ERR" message when I did. Set display
> for battery voltage and it says 10.4 volts. Anybody seen this before?
>
> --
> Jim K0XU
> [hidden email]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: Elecraft Digest, Vol 153, Issue 41

Re: << The "real time" (sort of) clock is powered from the batteries if the rig
is in the OFF state, and not connected to external power. I too have
had the internal cells drain as a result. >>

What brand of cells are you using and how long does it take them to deplete? If the cells are healthy and are truly low self discharge NiMH cells, they should not deplete much over a period of a few weeks or even months, even taking real time clock current into account.

For example, my 4 year old Eneloop 2000 cells haven't been recharged for well over 8 months. The radio has been sitting in my day pack, ready to go, for all of that time, with a weekly power on cycle using battery power to be sure everything is OK. I just did that again this morning and the battery voltage readout says 9.4 volts. I suspect most of that discharge was from those occasional power on cycles since I sometimes check it out by transmitting on several bands.

The real-time clock does, however, gain a lot of time during that period. I can live with that.

Mark
KE6BB

On Monday, January 30, 2017 6:09 AM, Dave B via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:

The "real time" (sort of) clock is powered from the batteries if the rig
is in the OFF state, and not connected to external power. I too have
had the internal cells drain as a result.

I now keep the rig connected to the shack DC supply, even when it is not
in use, just to prevent the demise of the cell's, but also of course
keeps the clock running.

Doesn’t need much current, probably a generic 14V wall wart would run
the clock, and allow periodic battery top up if deemed necessary.

73.

Dave G0WBX.

On 30/01/17 03:50, [hidden email] wrote:

> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2017 01:10:42 +0000
> From: Lee Thompson <[hidden email]>
> To: Jim Rhodes <[hidden email]>, "[hidden email]"
>     <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem
> Message-ID:
>     <[hidden email]>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
> I?ve seen the Bat ERR message also, but the radio still functions and after a few attempts I can get it to charge.
>
> Lee, WA8QFE
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10
>
>
>
> From: Jim Rhodes<mailto:[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017 5:53 PM
> To: [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
> Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem
>
>
>
> My KX3 has suddenly decided that it doesn't want to turn on on battery
> power. It has been pretty much just sitting in a bag for the last few
> months but when I tried to turn it on it wouldn't, so I thought that maybe
> the batteries needed charging so I plugged it in, turned it on, went to
> menu to turn on charger and got "BAT ERR" message when I did. Set display
> for battery voltage and it says 10.4 volts. Anybody seen this before?
>
> --
> Jim K0XU
> [hidden email]

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
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