[Elecraft] KX1 and K1 Battery Notes

[Leigh L. Klotz, Jr WA5ZNU]

I have had good luck lately with AA cells from PowerGenix.
They are Nickel-Zinc, and start at 1.83 volts fully charged and are 
discharged at 1.8v.

With 6 of them in my KX1, the internal voltage was about 10.8 volts.

They don't have as good self discharge (about 10%/month) as the Lithium 
primary cells, Eneloop or LiFePO4/Nano-phosphate, nor as good energy 
density (about half at 1200mAH), but they can't be beat for internal 
batteries and voltage.

They are available through Amazon, Fry's, and other such stores and 
sites.  I bought two packs of 4, each of which came with a wall charger.

Leigh/WA5ZNU


On 11/02/2010 03:05 AM, eric norris wrote:
> Dear Gang:
>
> I've been playing with different battery packs for my KX1 and K1 lately, and I
> thought I would share these observations--if only for a brief break in the K3
> APF action. 
>
>
> KX1:
>
> I tested my KX1 key down with various battery packs and noted the output.  This
> was into an OHR QRP wattmeter and a dummy load.  Here are the results, in
> descending order of output:
>
> Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate pack (4.6 AH) from Buddipole        4.3W
>
> 12v Pb Gel Cell
> 5AH                                                             4.0W
>
> Fresh Alkaline 8-cell AA
> pack                                                   3.3W
>
> 8 C Cell NiMH in spring-clip holder 5000mAH                              2.8W
>
> Mid-life alkaline 8-cell AA pack
> spring                                      2.7W
>
> 8 cell AA NiMH spring Eneloop 2000mAH                                2.7W
>
> 8 cell AA NiMH 2650 mAH in spring loaded pack                        2.6W
>
> Internal 6-cell pack with Lithium AA                                           
> 1.5 W
>
> K1:
>
> I originally squeezed the 2650 mAH NiMH batteries into my K1's internal holder. 
> But they were always dead when I got a sudden schedule opening and good weather
> for a little QRP portable.  I replaced these with the lower-capacity 2000 mAH
> Eneloop batteries that are supposed to retain 80% of their charge for an entire
> year.  Then I attached a wattmeter and dummyload to the K1, and let it call CQ
> for two hours.  At then end of this it was still putting out 5 watts and I
> stopped the test--a couple hours of QRP portable is usually all I do.
>
> Your mileage may vary, of course.  While looking for battery articles online I
> ran across one by a regular contributor to this list, who warned of the rather
> substantial I**2R losses from spring-loaded battery holders.  Also, I just
> received the nanphosphate pack so I haven't used it in the field.  I will report
> back later after I have some experience with it.   
>
> 72..74
>
> Eric WD6DBM
>
> KX1 K1 K2/10 K3/100 P3 XV144 XV432 W2x2 nearly all mini-modules and foaming for
> a KPA500.  Email me if you are looking to buy a pristine pre-MFJ AL-1200 
>
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