[Elecraft] KXBC3 behavior

[Fred Carvalho]

Hi Rich

Thanks input. When it stopped charging, it is very unlikely that
batteries reached 45C. I felt no

abnormal temperature. The case was as warm as it was one hour earlier.
As I said, no error message was

issued. The charging never resumed.

I have depleted the batteries and went thru a 16hours charging cycle.
Close to 12 hours latter,

same thing happened again. Charge stopped.

I have emailed the factory couple days ago and I am waiting their input on it.

Regards  Fred PY2XB



Fred,

Most likely the battery temperature got up to 45 degrees C and charging
was suspended until they cooled to 40 C.  Normally a message should
appearwhen that happens.

73,
Rich  AC7MA


On 02/01/2013 12:02 PM, Fred Carvalho wrote:
>* Hi Folks. Sorry if this has been asked/explained before.*>* I have installed the KXBC3 NiMH Battery Charger module. I am using 2300mh/h*>* NiMH AA cells.*>* I have plugged a bench power supply with voltage/amp meters so I can check*>* what is going on. My cells were not empty, so I have chosen 4 hours charge.*>* I set the PS to 14VDC. The PS amp meter reads 390mA during the charging,*>* which is about 190mA for the rig RX drain plus 200mA for the batteries. So*>* far so good.*>* I monitor the elapsed time in the MENU/BAT CHG and the BAT voltage, which*>* goes up to 11.7V. After 1 hour and so, the elapsed time chronometer stops.*>* The PS amp meter reads only 190mA. So it seems that the charger stopped*>* charging. That is in-line with the fact that the battery was somewhat*>* charged.*>* I go to MENU/BAT CHG and turn the charger OFF. I also unplug the power*>* supply. The battery voltage drops to 11V on the screen.*>* In any phase of the process I got no error message.*>**>* Is this an expected behavior ? I have not seen anywhere an explanation of*>* what happens if the battery is totally charged. Is  the counter supposed to*>* stop, or it should keep on  sending charge to the battery until the total*>* programmed time elapses?.*>**>* Any input is appreciated. Thanks*>


-- 
Fred - PY2XB

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