Yes, 13.8VDC is required to charge. The voltage drop has to be above a certain value to properly regulate the charge voltage and current level.
I had a set of 1750s that I put in the KX3 and charged. They charged faster than the nominal C/10 rate, but still charged up just fine. I think the 1900 mAH minimum is stated so that the charge rate is C/10 or less. But lower capacity cells will also charge, just at a higher rate. I'm using a 9A variable switcher set to 13.9VDC output. This PSU also powers other loads. It had to be "ferrited" half to death to kill the switching harmonics. :) 73, matt W6NIA On Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:22:35 +0200, you wrote: >And do not forget that the supplied voltage needs to be correct to >charge the cells. > >I use 2400 mAh cells (Sanyo Eneloop XX) without any problem. > >As stated in the KXBC3 manual: >only NiMH cells rated at 1900 mAH or greater may be charged with the KXBC3. > >As far as I know the voltage applied should be more than 13.5 volts. >Using a standard lead-acid battery as a source will not work. > >However I have tried to lower the voltage while charging. At 13.8 Volt >the current drawn from my power supply is 330 mA. Initially I could sink >the voltage to 12.7 Volt keeping 330 mA. Under that voltage, current >dropped gradually and at 12.0 I got the "low supply" message on the KX3 >display. While charging, the voltage needed to be increased at times to >maintain the 330 mA current flow and the "low supply" message showed at >12.5 volt, which proves that you cannot get a full charge on that >voltage level. > >The bottom line is: Use a power supply that can deliver at least 0.5 >Amp. at 13.8 Volt as a "charge only" option. > > > >73, >Peter - PA0PJE > >Op 2013-04-06 21:22 schreef Matt Zilmer: >> Any capacity NiMH cells are OK. They will charge at the rate of 200 >> mA. Your 1900's should charge from 0SOC to fully charged in about ten >> hours. >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
