[Elecraft] KX3 Smarter Charger

[eric norris]

I am among those not thrilled with the KXBC3.  A few simple changes could improve it, however:  1)  A top-off or balancing mode where the charger would charge at a 50ma rate, with a charge time up to 24 hrs at that rate.  2.  More full-current charge times available.  Why not allow 1-16 hrs in one hour increments?  Why the restrictions?  Are we in Moscow?  Or worse yet, Cupertino?  

My RC smart charger, a Triton, peak charges NiCd and NiMH packs at 200ma (or whatever I want) and rarely misses a peak.  When it does, either the backup total time cutoff, or total current in cutoff, does.  I understand why Elecraft would not want a high-current charger inside the KX3.  But to say a peak detection charger isnt practical is just not true IMHO.   Oh, and my Triton is old enough to vote. 

On a brief off-topic note, unable to make a CW contact this morning at 2am, I discovered two guys chatting on RTTY in Florida (I am in CA).  WHAT THE HELL, I thought, I whipped out my KX3 manual and put the KX3 into FSK mode and their QSO started to print.  I gave one of them a call, and he answered.  With 5 watts, I worked him on RTTY from my KX3 using the CW paddles.  Unfreakingbelievable!

73 Eric WD6DBM

Sent from the metering jack on my Heathkit Twoer