[Elecraft] KX3 Smarter Charger

[Alan Davenport]

Your questions are valid. I asked the same ones myself. I'm also disappointed in the charger. I also found that it is very fussy about input voltage. I run my 12v rigs in my shack off deep cycle marine batteries which I keep topped off with a high end marine smart charger (ironic!) When the smart charger shuts down because the batteries are topped off the charger in the KX3 refuses to charge its batteries while stating "input voltage too low". There is nothing wrong with my shack batteries. This issue (input voltage too low) occurred even when the shack batteries were brand new. (I had replaced them all just prior to hurricane Sandy.)  
 
I'm sorry Elecraft. All your other gear it a grand slam home run. This charger is just a bloop single.
 
73 de Al, W2GZN
 
 

________________________________
 From: "kissov at me.com" <kissov at me.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 5:53 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 Smarter Charger
  
I don't claim to know about battery charging but why can't the charger stop when the batteries get to "X" volts and start charging when the total battery voltage drops below "Y" volts, would this feedback system add to the cost of the charger.  I bought a "smart charger" at Harbor Freight for $5.99 the red light goes green when the batteries ( 4 NiMH) are fully charged and when you put depleted batteries in it it blinks red. Why can't the charger in the KX3 be totally transparent? load and forget.  I found the whole charging instructions confusing after an initial 16 hour charge do I occasionally give it a 4 hour charge or what ? do I want a lot of hot batteries in there?

K6CG
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