Gents Recently I saw some commentary regarding a LiFePO4 pack for the K2.
There is already one made specifically for the application, intended to replace the gel cell option in the rig and to use the bracket provided for same. The picture on the web link below is slightly inaccurate in that the wiring pigtail has a 'flying' lead so it is a 1:1 replacement for the Elecraft gel cell assembly. http://www.batteryspace.com/custom-lifepo4-18650-battery-12-8v-4500-mah-57-6wh-7a-rate-w-pcb-and-connector.aspx As a *very* happy owner of this pack, I have to share that I am not affiliated with the producer in any way. This pack is purposefully made to charge using a LiFePO4 charger, available from the battery supplier, via the radio's DC input jack, and works with the battery switch on the K2 in a manner according to specifications I provided. Several design options were considered in the process of creating the specs and I believe the best balance of these were selected. When I am charging the internal pack with the LiFePO4 charger I am not operating the radio (although it is possible); when I am operating from mains, I use the KX33 supply from Pro Audio Engineering. In some qualitative testing I am able to get roughly 80% more operating time per charge than I was with the gel cell and at less weight. The K2 is aging gracefully. Newer radios for field use beckon but still manage only to be just peers, not better. Steve KZ1X ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
