[Elecraft] FD2004: Solar K2 w/Li-Ion

[John Buck]

Unless my information is obsolete, NiMh batteries will be ruined by 
trickle charging indefinitely at 1/10 C.  The recommendation quoted 
below is good for NiCad but is not valid for NiMh.  The NiMh application 
notes that I have clearly state that even low rates of overcharge will  
kill the NiMh Battery.  This is the principle reason that old nicad 
chargers are not recommended for use on NiMh batteries.

Is there new information available of which I am unaware?

Yes you can charge the NiMh batteries with a small uncontrolled solar 
panel.  But you must watch the voltage and be sure to disconnect the 
charge source when the battery nears full charge.

John KH7T

Don Brown wrote:

>You can charge NiMh batteries with a small solar panel without a controller. I am assuming you want to run a K2 not a K2/100. 10 AA 2200 ma/hr cells can be charged with a 5 to 10 watt panel and power your K2 at the same time. These batteries can be left on charge at 1/10 C indefinitely without damage. A 5 watt panel will supply about 320 ma, just a little above the 1/10 C rate for a 2200 ma battery.
>snip
>