[Elecraft] Fw: K3 battery power

[WILLIS COOKE]

This does not exactly address your question, but I am using a JTPS 35 BCM with a 
marine type pseudo deep cycle battery.  The K3 runs at 13.8V from the power 
supply when the power is on and the battery is trickle charged.  When the power 
drops the JTPS switches to the battery and supplies slightly more than 12 volts 
to the K3.  You will not notice the swap when in receive and if you have good 
connections you will not notice it in transmit either (except your desk lamp 
will go out and you amp won't work.  The K3 seems to work fine down to about 
11.0 volts but I don't know about the IMD.  I recommend reducing power when on 
battery to 50 watts or less to minimize the loss through the connectors.  The K3 
will shut down when you have drained your battery, but I have never observed 
that during a power out, just in testing without the battery and turning down 
the voltage on the power supply.  The K3 operates much better at low voltage 
than the other transceivers that I have tried.

I don't see how you can save money with a battery and trickle charger over a 
power supply when you can get good power supplies as low as $99.95.  A good 
battery is about $80 and a good charger maybe $50 unless you have better sources 
than I have.  The low voltage operation would be helpful if you desire a solar 
charged battery system because a special 8 cell battery system to furnish 14 
volts is not required.  You can use regular car, boat or RV batteries with their 
limited ability for deep cycle or pay the higher price for a true deep cycle 
battery if you have the deep pocket that makes that possible.
 Willis 'Cookie' Cooke 
K5EWJ 




________________________________
From: Steve Ellington <n4lq at carolina.rr.com>
To: David Guernsey <mooo1941 at yahoo.com>; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thu, July 15, 2010 8:32:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 battery power

Is anyone using full time battery power and trickle charging?
Considering the high price of power supplies and the security of a full time 
backup system, it would seem to make sense. The K3 draws so little current 
on receive that it would make sense to run it this way. I would be a bit 
concerned about gas from the battery however.
Currently I use an Astron 35m and I love it but I just bet that it consumes 
more power than the K3! Perhaps the battery/charger concept would be more 
efficient?
Steve
N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Guernsey" <mooo1941 at yahoo.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:32 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 on Order


>I have an Astron RS-35M as my power supply through a Rigrunner to my K3/10.
> Enough left to upgrade to K3/100.
>
> 73s de Dave KJ6CBS
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> 

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html