This cat is is at least 75% of the way out of the bag :)
That said: consider this the official announcement for the KXIBC2 internal
battery charger for the KX2. The unit has been extensively beta tested, and a
few of us have been using them for over a year. It has proven safe and reliable.
Here's a little Q, which you can also find on our KX2 options web page:
* * *
Q: What benefit does the KXIBC2 provide?
A: KX2 owners who have installed the KXIBC2 have told us they love the
convenience of simply plugging in their regular power supply to charge the
internal battery pack. The charger operates with or without the radio turned
on, and the process is fully automatic, so your KX2 will be ready to go
whenever you are. Of course you can still use the fast charger if you're in a
hurry.
Q: How hard is it to install the KXIBC2 module?
A: Anyone with a modest amount of soldering experience should be able to do the
KXIBC2 installation. Based on lots of feedback from field testers, we
dramatically simplified the installation procedure. For field installation, we
recommend "Method 1" (see the revision B2 instruction manual or later). There's
no need to do any disassembly other than removing and replacing the right side
panel. And there are only two wires to solder. If after having a look at the
instructions you feel that you'd rather let Elecraft to the job, we'll be happy
to. Simply contact supp...@elecraft.com to obtain an RMA.
* * *
Of course it goes without saying that internal charging will also reduce wear
and tear on the KX2's speaker wires.
=
IMPORTANT
=
We've heard at least one claim that the battery can be charged internally by
adding a diode to the KX2's 12 V circuitry. This is not advisable, for a few
reasons:
1. It virtually eliminates the ability to use a standard external power supply
or battery to run the radio normally.
2. An external Li-ion charger is not going to function as it was designed with
a diode in series with the battery. It's probably safe but the level of charge
the battery reaches may be inadequate.
3. If you did take this approach, you might accidently violate #1, above.
The KXIBC2 was designed with safety in mind, avoiding these issues entirely.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
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