[Elecraft] Dead Battery

[k6se@juno.com]

Jeff, AD9T wrote:

"The battery was purchased from a battery supply house I found on the
Internet, rather than Elecraft. For a charger I use a laptop computer
supply rated 19v and 2.64A (only cost $3). I made a box with a LM350AT
voltage regulator to drop the 19v to 14v. Anything wrong with this
setup?"
==========
A constant 14 volt float charge on a gel-cell or lead-acid battery is too
much and will damage the battery.  The battery evidently went bad due to
overcharging.

I recommend that gel-cell and lead-acid batteries be kept charged using a
"smart" charger such as the one made by A&A Engineering (they advertise
in QST).  These smart battery chargers top off the battery and then
maintain the battery at a precision float level value of 13.8 volts. 
They are guaranteed to not overcharge the battery, even when connected
indefinitely.

I purchased a 12 volt lead-acid garden tractor battery for less than $15
from Wal-Mart a few years ago and keep it constantly connected to my
smart charger when not in use.  It still acts as good as the day it was
new.  The battery would be ideal for powering the K1 or K2 in the field. 
It has about a 20-amphour capacity and is lightweight, easily carried by
its built-in carrying handle.

73, de Earl, K6SE
81 countries with K2 #2622 and counting.....