Re: [Elecraft] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] 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 c...@strattonfamily.uswrote: 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] 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 c...@strattonfamily.uswrote: 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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: w...@hotmail.com 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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: w...@hotmail.com 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries
KX3 2135 is alive and well, and hungry for energy. I'm feeding it with AA Alkaline batteries now, but am looking for a more permanent set of internal batteries. I have a KXBC3 installed. I'm considering low discharge1.2v 2500 mAH NiMH AAs because they may be recharged by the KXBC3. Regular 2700 mAH NiMH AAs can lose as much as 20% of their charge in the first 24 hours. That drops their available power to about 2150 on the second day. Low discharge seems a better path. Also considering NiZn batteries. Newer stabilized NiZN seem like a useful alternative. Discharge curves seem similar to NiCd or NiMH, but they offer 1.65 nominal voltage. I'm thinking the KXBC3 will not be a suitable charger. I'm thinking that the 13v of the NiZN AA batteries will allow 10W output from the KX3, where the 9.6v of the NiMH only allows 5W output. I also have 11.1 LiPo batteries I can use as external sources, but will likely consider a 4S1P 14.8v 25C LiPo as a potential external battery. Anyone go through this exercise already? I'm interested in comments. Thanks. -- Rich NU6T __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 KXBC3 and NiZN batteries
Is there a better NiZn implementation out now? I was very disappointed with their charge retention and ultimate life when I tried them about two years ago, and I gave up on them. In any event, the KX3 charger is unlikely to charge them properly like you suggest. Definitely go for Sanyo Eneloop cells for the internal battery pack, they will last much longer than typical Nimh cells. I used to have a load of Energizer Nimh 2500 mAh cells that all developed high internal resistance and very high self-discharge rates over time despite having had only tens of cycles on them and careful charging. The Eneloops have been very stable. Normally when portable I use a 4S LiFePO4 pack with my KX1 and now KX3. These will deliver close to 14V when fully charged, and still give 12V when near the end. When they were available, I was able to make 4S packs by buying DeWalt battery packs on clearance that contained 18650 (1100 mAh) LiFePO4 cells. Over the past three years these packs have been great, but I think the DeWalt supply has dried up. You may be able to find genuine A123 cells from other vendors, but any other brand and anything from China will be hit or miss. I'm batting about 50% on attempts to get good LiFePO4 battery packs from China. At least half have come to me with one or more weak cells which bring down the whole pack capacity. Hobbyking sells Zippy brand LiFePO4 packs which have been hit or miss. They also claim to sell genuine A123 26650 (2300 mAh) cells with solder tabs for $13 each plus shipping- I have an order in for some of those and am hopeful they are what they say! This will let me make Buddipole equivalent packs for about 60% of what they charge. Safest bet to avoid a lot of aggravation is to use the Eneloops internally in your KX3, and buy the Buddipole 4S1P pack made with A123 brand cells for use as an external battery when you want more than 5 watts portable. It is expensive, but properly cared for should last a long time and give very good service. On Wed, Oct 17, 2012 at 9:28 AM, Rich reh...@ix.netcom.com wrote: KX3 2135 is alive and well, and hungry for energy. I'm feeding it with AA Alkaline batteries now, but am looking for a more permanent set of internal batteries. I have a KXBC3 installed. I'm considering low discharge1.2v 2500 mAH NiMH AAs because they may be recharged by the KXBC3. Regular 2700 mAH NiMH AAs can lose as much as 20% of their charge in the first 24 hours. That drops their available power to about 2150 on the second day. Low discharge seems a better path. Also considering NiZn batteries. Newer stabilized NiZN seem like a useful alternative. Discharge curves seem similar to NiCd or NiMH, but they offer 1.65 nominal voltage. I'm thinking the KXBC3 will not be a suitable charger. I'm thinking that the 13v of the NiZN AA batteries will allow 10W output from the KX3, where the 9.6v of the NiMH only allows 5W output. I also have 11.1 LiPo batteries I can use as external sources, but will likely consider a 4S1P 14.8v 25C LiPo as a potential external battery. Anyone go through this exercise already? I'm interested in comments. Thanks. -- Rich NU6T __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
