[Elecraft] [OT] Any good experience/recommendations with boostregulators with K3?

[dmoes at nexicom.net]

I don't use a booster either.   I run from solar charged RV battery at 
the cabin.     when I see that the voltage is getting low (below 12V) 
I reduce power to 50W and at 11V  I go to bed.   The trick here is 
short heavy supply cables.  I have about 6 feet of 10 AWG  with a 12 
inch 12AWG jumper   at the rig.   I found that the 10AWG into the rig 
was to stiff and would pull out if things were moved. except for only 
once on PSK that I think was a problem at his end not mine, I have 
never had complaints of splatter or degraded audio even when the 
voltage aproaches 11V.



David Moes
VE3DVY


>
>
> Bob,
>    Not sure why you'd need a boost regulator.  The K3 is one of the 
> very few
> HF transceivers that specifies it will work fine down to 11v.  I've 
> used
> mine for years from a 12v SLA with no problems at all.  Use 100AH
> SLA(wheelchair battery) at home (use Powergate to charge/control 
> voltage),
> so most of the time K3 supply is sitting at 13.8v.  However, I often 
> unplug
> AC when storms are near.  I often forget to plug AC back in and the K3 
> runs
> on 12v for weeks of daily nets before I notice low input voltage.  
> (Couple
> of hours a day at 100 watts tx, SSB).
>    When camping with Boy Scouts, I usually use a 26AH SLA.  Never had 
> a
> problem with that either.  However, I usually run around 40 watts 
> power to
> help conserve energy.  That's usually just a weekend.
>    If you want to be able to run another brand transceiver from 
> battery
> power, then, yes, you do need the boost regulator.  Elecraft rocks!
> Oscar, WB5GCX
>