Elecraft

Re: KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries

Classic

List

Threaded

5 messages Options

Chip Stratton

Re: KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries

Just a battery update: I got the A123 26650 2400 mAh cells from Hobbyking
and they are indeed good quality new cells that test out at better than
rated capacity at a 3 amp discharge rate. These will make excellent long
life and safe battery packs.

Ive recently been made aware of another vendor who sells ready-made 4s
26650 packs for about $50 - epbuddy.com. They claim to use genuine A123
cells but I don't have personal experience with them. If true they would be
a real bargain at about half what Buddipole charges.

Chip
AE5KA
______________________________________________________________
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

JP O'Connor

Re: KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries

I have two 4S1P sets of the battery packs from epbuddy.com for use with my
KX3. Initial testing and use suggests they seem to have full rated capacity
and work well.

JP
WF4Z

On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 4:23 PM, Chip Stratton <[hidden email]>wrote:

> Just a battery update: I got the A123 26650 2400 mAh cells from Hobbyking
> and they are indeed good quality new cells that test out at better than
> rated capacity at a 3 amp discharge rate. These will make excellent long
> life and safe battery packs.
>
> Ive recently been made aware of another vendor who sells ready-made 4s
> 26650 packs for about $50 - epbuddy.com. They claim to use genuine A123
> cells but I don't have personal experience with them. If true they would be
> a real bargain at about half what Buddipole charges.
>
> Chip
> AE5KA
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

______________________________________________________________
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

W7GJ, Lance

Re: KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries

I have ordered the KXBC3 for my KX3 and hope to install it soon. I know nothing
about rechargeable batteries, and would like some guidance. Will the KXBC3 handle
automatic charging of any batteries I put into the battery pack? Do I just run up to
15 VDC into the KX3 power jack and it automatically charges up whatever is inside there?

I looked at the A123 batteries referenced below and they don't look like the same
size as standard AA batteries. I believe the KX3 internal battery pack will only
accommodate AA size batteries. Do the appropriate rechargeable batteries call
themselves AA size?

Thanks for the guidance! VY 73, Lance

On 11/16/2012 10:38 PM, JP O'Connor wrote:

> I have two 4S1P sets of the battery packs from epbuddy.com for use with my
> KX3. Initial testing and use suggests they seem to have full rated capacity
> and work well.
>
> JP
> WF4Z
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 4:23 PM, Chip Stratton <[hidden email]>wrote:
>
>> Just a battery update: I got the A123 26650 2400 mAh cells from Hobbyking
>> and they are indeed good quality new cells that test out at better than
>> rated capacity at a 3 amp discharge rate. These will make excellent long
>> life and safe battery packs.
>>
>> Ive recently been made aware of another vendor who sells ready-made 4s
>> 26650 packs for about $50 - epbuddy.com. They claim to use genuine A123
>> cells but I don't have personal experience with them. If true they would be
>> a real bargain at about half what Buddipole charges.
>>
>> Chip
>> AE5KA
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

--
Lance Collister, W7GJ
(ex WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR, 5W0GJ, E6M)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT 59834-0073
USA
TEL: (406) 626-5728
QTH: DN27ub
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
Windows Messenger: [hidden email]
Skype: lanceW7GJ
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815

Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the Magic Band EME
email group, or just fill in the request box at the bottom of my web
page (above)!

______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries

Lance,

The KXBC3 will not charge just any kind of battery - it must be of the
NiMH chemistry if you are to be successful.
.
There are many battery chemistry types out there - in the AA size, the
most common rechargable is the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) is one of the
more common, and that is the type that the KXBC3 was designed to charge.

Yes, there are more exotic batteries, but the one advantage of NiMH that
does not exist with many of the others is that should the rechargeables
be depleted and you need to operate, go to the nearest drug, grocery,
office supply, Walmart, K-Mart, etc and you can buy alkaline AA
batteries that will keep you going - other specialized battery types may
last longer or give higher voltages, but when they are depleted, you
cannot substitute commonly available AA batteries.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/16/2012 6:47 PM, Lance Collister, W7GJ wrote:
> I have ordered the KXBC3 for my KX3 and hope to install it soon. I know nothing
> about rechargeable batteries, and would like some guidance. Will the KXBC3 handle

> automatic charging of any batteries I put into the battery pack? Do I just run up to
> 15 VDC into the KX3 power jack and it automatically charges up whatever is

______________________________________________________________
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

W7GJ, Lance

Re: KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries

MNI TNX Don - As usual, very clearly stated and most helpful ;-) VY 73, Lance

On 11/17/2012 12:20 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Lance,
>
> The KXBC3 will not charge just any kind of battery - it must be of the
> NiMH chemistry if you are to be successful.
> .
> There are many battery chemistry types out there - in the AA size, the
> most common rechargable is the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) is one of the
> more common, and that is the type that the KXBC3 was designed to charge.
>
> Yes, there are more exotic batteries, but the one advantage of NiMH that
> does not exist with many of the others is that should the rechargeables
> be depleted and you need to operate, go to the nearest drug, grocery,
> office supply, Walmart, K-Mart, etc and you can buy alkaline AA
> batteries that will keep you going - other specialized battery types may
> last longer or give higher voltages, but when they are depleted, you
> cannot substitute commonly available AA batteries.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 11/16/2012 6:47 PM, Lance Collister, W7GJ wrote:
>> I have ordered the KXBC3 for my KX3 and hope to install it soon. I know nothing
>> about rechargeable batteries, and would like some guidance. Will the KXBC3 handle
>> automatic charging of any batteries I put into the battery pack? Do I just run up to
>> 15 VDC into the KX3 power jack and it automatically charges up whatever is
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>