[Elecraft] Battery question

[Bob Nielsen]

On Jan 16, 2006, at 11:53 AM, <nz7c at cox.net> <nz7c at cox.net> wrote:

> Hello -
> I finished a K2 last Spring. Shortly therafter the shack came down  
> while I did a massive home remodel. About two months into the  
> remodel it occurred to me that I did not have the K2 plugged and  
> thus the onboard battery was not being charged.
> I turned on the K2 without external power and I believe the display  
> said around 10 volts before it died. The battery had no juice. I've  
> plugged in the power supply and have started recharging the  
> battery. The radio will stay on now with battery only, but I cannot  
> get the battery voltage to go much over 11 volts. Yes I am a  
> technical dunce, chuckle - and now that the chuckle is overwith:  
> How can I determine if the battery is permanently damaged? Also,  
> how long would it normally take a K2 battery to discharge when not  
> in use and, conversely, how long should it take to charge back to  
> full capacity? Thank you in advance.


I would not expect the battery to be damaged if you had it sitting  
for only two months (I have gone much longer than that without any  
problems).

What is the voltage of your power supply?  In order to charge the  
battery, you should have between 13.8 and 14.2 volts out of the  
supply (13.6 to 14.0 volts as read on the K2 display because of diode  
drop inside the K2).   I had to increase the output of my supplies  
above the factory setting to do this.   If the supply voltage is less  
than this, it will not fully charge the battery.  A fully charged  
battery should read approximately 12.0 volts on the K2 display when  
the charging supply is removed.

73, Bob N7XY