[Elecraft] [K2] custom LiFePO4 pack

[Robert G Strickland]

Steve...

Thanks for your effort in making this battery available. I'll be buying 
one. Perhaps Elecraft can make them available like they did for the 
Powerwerx switching powersupply. I do agree: many peers for the K2 yet 
none really better. The new Elecraft portable radios are nifty, and I 
fully understand their popularity. That said, my K2 is still in use [470 
Q's on 40m CW during FD] and a LiFePO4 battery will be a nice upgrade.

...robert

On 07/07/2016 16:09, inventor61 . wrote:
> Gents
>
> Recently I saw some commentary regarding a LiFePO4 pack for the K2.
>
> There is already one made specifically for the application, intended to
> replace the gel cell option in the rig and to use the bracket provided for
> same.  The picture on the web link below is slightly inaccurate in that the
> wiring pigtail has a 'flying' lead so it is a 1:1 replacement for the
> Elecraft gel cell assembly.
>
> http://www.batteryspace.com/custom-lifepo4-18650-battery-12-8v-4500-mah-57-6wh-7a-rate-w-pcb-and-connector.aspx
>
> As a *very* happy owner of this pack, I have to share that I am not
> affiliated with the producer in any way.
>
> This pack is purposefully made to charge using a LiFePO4 charger, available
> from the battery supplier, via the radio's DC input jack, and works with
> the battery switch on the K2 in a manner according to specifications I
> provided.  Several design options were considered in the process of
> creating the specs and I believe the best balance of these were selected.
>
> When I am charging the internal pack with the LiFePO4 charger I am not
> operating the radio (although it is possible); when I am operating from
> mains, I use the KX33 supply from Pro Audio Engineering.
>
> In some qualitative testing I am able to get roughly 80% more operating
> time per charge than I was with the gel cell and at less weight.
>
> The K2 is aging gracefully.  Newer radios for field use beckon but still
> manage only to be just peers, not better.
>
> Steve KZ1X
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-- 
Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY
rcrgs at verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA