[Elecraft] Choosing A Battery For Ham Use

[Jim Brown]

Hi Clay,

Because this is of general interest, I'm replying to the list.

First, LiFePO4 batteries are pretty much ideal for ham applications 
because of their relatively flat discharge curve, and because their Ah 
vs weight ratio is a good compromise.  For example, an LiFePO4 pack will 
be above 12.5 for about 80% of capacity and 12V for 90% of capacity, 
while a lead-acid battery will drop below 12V before it reaches 50% of 
capacity.

Second, LiFePO4 batteries provide a LOT more charge-discharge cycles if 
treated properly. The result is that if you're going to use them for a 
lot of years, the longer life more than compensates for their higher cost.

Third, LiFePO4 batteries are MUCH safer than Li-ion batteries.

Disadvantages of LiFePO4 are initial cost and the fact that they need a 
special charger. However -- Bioenne told me that they can be safely 
charged using the West Mountain SuperPWR Gate set for AGM batteries and 
a power supply that is adjusted to about 14.5 volts. The AGM setting of 
the PwrGate limits the charging voltage to 14.2V, which is what LiFePO4 
batteries need.  Also, LiFePO4 batteries do NOT like to be discharged 
below about 95%, so care must be taken not to fully discharge them. Good 
battery packs will have control circuity that prevents this.

Now, as to how much battery to buy.  Start by studying current draw of 
the radio(s) and other equipment that you'll use with the battery, 
taking TX/RX duty cycle into account. Also look at weight if you're 
going to carry it.  I bought a 20Ah pack (5.5#) to loan to a friend who 
was going to pack several miles uphill to activate a rare 6M grid with a 
KX3 and the 100W amp, and I just bought a 100Ah pack (26#) to run my 
SO2R shack. If I were going to pack with a KX2 or KX3, I'd buy something 
much smaller, like 6 - 12 Ah (2 - 4#), or even smaller.  Your 
application carrying a K3/P3 around to chase RFI pulls about 1.6A, (1.8A 
with the SVGA module in the P3).  A KX3 plus PX3 pulls about 350 mA at 
max screen brightness.

Bioenne (and other vendors) package their LiFePO4 batteries more than 
one way for the same Ah capacity, often to retrofit into existing gear. 
With Bioenne batteries, I chose the PVC pack, which is lighter weight 
than the rectangular "solid" format.

Bioenne and other battery vendors do NOT say that their chargers are 
RF-quiet, which is why you would use a PowerGate and known clean supply. 
To charge from solar, buy a Genasun charge regulator, which IS pretty 
RF-quiet.  I've told Bioenne that they need to find quiet chargers. 
We'll see how they respond.

As to voltages -- I would ONLY buy 12V nominal to power ham gear. If you 
need other voltages for other gear, look at http://www.batteryspace.com  
which carries a MUCH broader range of batteries. They're also good 
people, located in the SF Bay area. Bioenne is in Santa Ana, CA.

I've chosen to avoid voltage boost products, which are essentially SMPS, 
and noisy. Yes, you can set them to be active only on TX, but if you're 
running two radios, the one you aren't TXing on will hear the noise.

As to charging -- LiFePO4 batteries will last a lot longer if they are 
not fast-charged.  A good rule of thumb is their 4 hour or 10 hour 
discharge current. In other words, for a 20Ah battery, avoid more than 
about 5A charge current.

If you're sizing the battery to power your shack and will be float 
charging it, the charge current can be added to the capacity to figure 
how much battery you need. In my application, with worst case of SO2R 
contesting at 100W, I'll be TX on one radio or the other almost all the 
time, so I'm looking at roughly 12A worst case. If I wasn't doing SO2R, 
I could get by with a smaller battery.

For non-critical applications like video monitors, router, cable modem, 
etc, I'm using el-cheapo lead acid batteries from my hamfest stash, and 
floating them from suitably sized linear wall warts. I've found that for 
most gear, voltage is not all that critical. For example, my Samsung 
computer monitors are sold with a 14VDC wall wart, but were still 
running fine when my lead-acid battery had dropped to 10.5 volts.

I've looked around a lot, and so far have not found a better practical 
battery chemistry than LiFePO4.

Another important point. For running electronics of all types, we do NOT 
want automotive batteries, which are primarily designed to provide a big 
hunk of current to start the engine, but which don't like to be deeply 
discharged. Instead, we want deep discharge types. Pay attention to this 
when selecting a battery.

73, Jim K9YC

On Thu,6/30/2016 12:07 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
> Jim,
>
> Looking to get LFP batts for my shack/house/mobile.
>
> Could you recommend sizing guidance?  Is it as simple as multiplying the
> voltage x amps to get watts and then dividing by 12VDC to get a 12VDC
> current draw, and then spec'ing a batt based on Ah, etc etc... calculate
> run time to 80% discharge (they claim up to 90%).
> Or do I need to spec for some % overhead.  I usually size stuff for 50%
> overhead, so that if the device is running flat out it won't push the
> supply beyond 50% max continuous.  Does that apply here?
>
> Suggestions on how to get the required voltages I need:
>
> 5VDC - Probably won't need for now...  Can get most of the supply I need
> from the laptop docking station via multiple powered USB sockets.
> 12 VDC - easy (and run the 18.8 VDC K3s and P3 from 12V if I have to?)
> 13.8 VDC - For radio if possible to do it quietly.  (12 VDC w/ boost
> circuit or 24 VDC with buck circuit...  Boost seems more efficient, but
> see below)
> 19.5 VDC - Laptop (and USB 5VDC)  Boost or buck...
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated...
>
> At a minimum, I want to get at least one battery to run my K3s/P3 to
> hunt RFI with the house service off and then on one branch at a time.
> At some point want to put batteries on all HAM, Broadband, Router, and
> switches...
>
>
> Thanks...
>
> ______________________
> Clay Autery, KY5G
> MONTAC Enterprises