[Elecraft] KX3 Internal battery issue

[Anthony de Maillet]

Hi,

I have a new (last week) KX3 built by Waters and Stanton in the UK.  It has all the extras other than the 2m/4m Transverter.  I have installed a fully charged and new set of Eneloop 1900mah NiMH batteries.  If I trun the radio on the battery voltage drops from 10.9 volts to 7.9 volts over about 2 minutes then the radio switches off.  If I plug in the external power (13.6 Volts) the battery voltage inceases back up to about 10.7 volts - again over about 2 minutes.  Presumeably the batteries are recovering? The Batt Chg in the menu is OFF at this point.

Any ideas?  Radio issue, Battery issue or normal behaviour?  I’m wasn’t intending running from internal batteries except in an emergency.  Pre amp, NB, NR etc. all off.  Backlight is on though.  I’m a bit puzzled.

Tony
M0ZZA