[Elecraft] battery care

[Bob Lewis (AA4PB)]

According to the PowerSonic handbook (PowerSonic makes the K2
battery), The full charge/discharge cycle life is 200 to 1000. They
specifically indicate that this battery is designed for a full
discharge cycle down to 10.5 volts for typical K2 loads. From what I
read in their own handbook, I do not think that using one in a K2 is
abuse of the battery. It was designed for more than "emergency backup"
operation, although it will work in that type of service as well.

That's not to say that NiMH might not be a better technology to use in
some K2 applications. The nice thing about the SLA battery is that you
can keep it on a "float" charge and ready to go in a moments notice.
The SLA is also easier to charge and doesn't generate a lot of heat
when charging so it does have its advantages. You see SLAs of various
sizes used in all types of "non-emergency" applications. The wheel
chair is one of them. Some fork lifts use them. Hospital
instrumentation uses them.

I also think that technolgy has changed over the years and many SLAs
today will take deep cycle use much better then the older gel-cells
did.