[Kenwood] Emergency Batteries

[Philip, KO6BB]

Don et al,

This may NOT be such a good idea.  For many years I've run all my 12 Volt 
radio gear on 3 12 Volt deep cycle batteries in parallel (gives me roughly 
315 Amp hours reserve) that are kept on constant float charge by an Astron 
VS-50M power supply (I could get by with a smaller supply, but I have it). 
To keep a 12 Volt deep cycle battery fully charged it needs to be "floated" 
at approximately 13.6 Volts with an occasional "bump" above that to keep 
things stirred up.  If you had an 8 Volt and 6 Volt battery in series (14 
Volts), the same combination would need to be charged with a supply of 
approximately 15.9 VDC, quite possibly damaging the radio equipment that is 
connected (electrolytic capacitors in mobile equip etc. is often rated at 
about 16 Volts).

Also, if the Amp hour rating of the two series batteries aren't equal, as 
they approach discharge it is 'possible' to put a (probably slight) reverse 
polarity across the lower voltage battery and that certainly isn't going to 
do it any good.

73 de Phil  KO6BB

> Also, I noticed they had 8 volt and 6 volt deep
> cycle batteries. I plan to get one of each and
> put them in series for a station back up battery.
> This may be much better than a 12 volt deep
> cycle battery. Most radios work better at 13.0 V
> than they do at 11.0 volts.
> Healthfully yours,
                          Don W4BWS