[Elecraft] "Bat Err" on KX3 - follow-up

[Dauer, Edward]

Several replies suggested I check the voltage of the NiMH batteries as a first step.  Did so this morning, with an interesting result.   Of the eight (all are 2700 mAh Powerex NiMH 1.2 v nominal), the mean voltage was less than a half volt (0.45 VDC); the median and mode were each less than one tenth of a volt (0.06 VDC.)  The best of them was only 1.23 and 5 of them were at 0.06 VDC or a bit less.  So much for advertised shelf life.  Seems that the KX3 draws some trickle current even when turned off.

It might be they could be resuscitated with another charger, but Don Wilhelm wisely cautions against it.  With this deep a discharge, the charging current could be excessive without having a constant-current lab-type charger, which I don’t have.  Best to just replace the whole bunch.

Of course I would learn this on Easter morning, when there are none for sale anywhere nearby.

If replacing all eight doesn’t fix the error message I’ll post again with another plea for ideas.  Thanks, all, for the advice; have a great holiday weekend.

Ted, KN1CBR