[Elecraft] K2 Battery Shelf Life

[Don Wilhelm]

Carter,

I don't know about the PowerSonic charger, but if you are contemplating
using a SmartCharger of any type, I suggest you look at the method I used to
directly connect a charger to the battery terminals.  See my website
www.qsl.net/w3fpr article on the subject.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carter W. Craigie" <n3ao@comcast.net>
To: "'Charles Greene'" <W1CG@QSL.NET>; "'Elecraft Email List'"
<elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 8:04 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 Battery Shelf Life


> 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!
>
>
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