[Elecraft] K2 Battery Shelf Life

[Carter W. Craigie]

Hi Charles,

Could you please tell me the exact model number of your Power Sonic
automatic battery charger?  I'd like to get one for the
Elecraft-supplied 2.9 amp-hour battery in the lid of my K2.

After I searched on the internet I found a Power Sonic charger model
number that seems appropriate to me: the PSC-12500A, one that is
intended for 2-10 amp-hour capacity.  Would you agree, or do you have
another suggestion?

Right now, I have the 100W option module on my K2, and the original
lid-and-battery are sitting, unattached to anything, on my closet shelf.
I think I should have had that battery on charge, so when I go camping
in the warmer weather, my K2 battery will be ready to use for QRP
battery operation.

Thanks for your advice.

73,

Carter

-- 
Carter Craigie N3AO
K2/100 s/n 678
K1 s/n 159
KX1 s/n 119
All my Email is scanned by Norton AntiVirus
-- 
 
-----Original Message-----
  On Behalf Of Charles Greene
 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Battery Shelf Life

The battery should last about 300 cycles, full charge to full discharge.
I 
don't know how many years if you take care of it.  It works best when
you 
keep it on constant float when not in use.  The Elecraft manual suggests
a 
method of floating the which consists of increasing the power supply 
voltage to 14 to 14.2 volts and keeping it on to float the battery when
not 
in use.  I bought a Power Sonic automatic charger and use it in lieu of
the 
suggested Elecraft method, so I can turn the power supply off.  The
power 
sonic charger is a smart charger and knows when to charge and when to 
float, so it possibly takes better care of the battery than just float 
charging it.  I keep the battery switch off unless I am using the
battery 
with a separate, fused connection direct to the charger.  My battery
still 
is in good condition, and it is going on 5 years old!