[Elecraft] K2 Internal Battery Voltage

[Don Wilhelm]

  Dick,

I can second Alan's suggestions.  Either your battery has failed, or it 
is not being charged fully.  Do you hsave at least 14.1 volts output 
from the power supply that normally connects to your K2?  If it is lower 
than that, the battery will never be fully charged.  If it is 14.1 to 
14.3 volts, then do you turn off the power supply when not using the 
K2?  If so, the battery will never be fully charged.  Leave the power 
supply on so it can charge the internal battery while the K2 is off.

One way to shorten the life of a battery is to constantly undercharge it 
- the other way is to overcharge it.

It may also be that your battery has seen its end of life.  If the 
battery is more than 3 or 4 years old, that is a possibility.

You may want to look at my Smartcharger solution on my website - 
www.w3fpr.com - a fused direct connection to the battery terminals is 
required to use a Smartcharger.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/15/2011 3:15 PM, RICHARD SCHNEIDER wrote:
> Insight needed. I noticed my K2's internal battery voltage dropped to below
> operating range even though the rig was in charging mode while plugged into
> mains. I assumed the battery had gone bad. Pulled the rig apart and measured
> voltage while the rig was off. 12.1 VDC. Turned the rig on and measured
> across the battery. 8.9 VDC. Any ideas where the problem lies?
>
> 72, Dick AB0CD..
>