[Elecraft] Portable Power

[Jim Brown]

On Mon,8/10/2015 3:45 AM, David Bondy G4NRT wrote:
> So, I am looking for advice on a portable power solution.  Should I bee looking at LiFePO4 batteries

Yes.

> or Sealed Lead-Acid batteries?

No.

> What are the pros and cons of each?

LiFePO4 gives more than double the Ah capacity for their weight, AND a 
far better discharge curve (that is, the battery voltage stays higher 
until it runs down). They are also a lot more expensive, but some 
battery vendors are a lot more expensive than others for the same product.

> How about charging them when they are not in use?  Should they be left to run down and then charged or kept continuously on a charger?

They should be charged using a proper charge controller.

> Are the Buddipole one any good

Buddipole is one of those too expensive vendors of LiFePO4 batteries.  
The good vendors in North America are 
http://www.bioennopower.com/collections/12v-series-lifepo4-batteries and 
http://www.batteryspace.com/128vlifepo4batterypacks.aspx  I bought a 
BLF-1220W from Bioenno. My neighbor bought a similar pack from Battery 
Space.

UN 38.3 is a safety Standard for Li batteries, and is required for air 
transport of batteries.

> (although I would have to source the same type here as they are not shippable across the pond!).

I suggest that you send email to those two good vendors and ask for 
suggestions about how to buy in the UK.

73, Jim K9YC