[Elecraft] K2 - KBT2 and solar power?

[Don Wilhelm]

Peter,

Yes, the solar controller must connect directly to the battery.

Take a look at the "Using a SmartCharger with the K2 Internal Battery" 
article on my website http://w3fpr.qrpradio.com to see how I made a 
direct connection to the battery (I highly recommend that the connection 
be fused for safety).

Substitute your solar controller for the SmartCharger and you have it 
complete.

73,
Don W3FPR

Peter Wollan wrote:
> After using my K2 for its first Field Day, I now see a reason to install
> the KBT2 built-in battery.  But, I particularly liked using solar power
> -- a 10-watt panel running through Don Brown's solar charge controller
> to a gel-cell battery in parallel with the radio while operating. Worked
> really well.  Can something like that be done with the KBT2?  
> 
> The charge controller cuts off the solar panel when the battery gets to
> about 14 volts, but it needs to be near the battery to sense the voltage
> correctly.  The solar panel can generate 20 volts at 1/2 amp -- what
> happens if this particular charge controller is plugged in between the
> K2+KBT2 and the solar panel? My guess is that the controller would keep
> the voltage down to 14 volts, but would never see the battery as fully
> charged.  Do the diode and resistor in the KBT2 prevent overcharging?
> It sounds less controlled than the KBT2 is designed for.  Anyone have
> experience with this?
>