Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 Battery Pack Performance
A question: I have an automatic sealed battery charger for my 12V Pb-Ac battery. From: http://www.ctcbattery.com/LiFePO4-Rechargeable-Battery/CTC-12-8V-4-5Ah-57-6Wh-Lithium-Iron-Phosphate-LiFePO4-Rechargeable-Battery I read Require no change to a lead acid battery charging system Does it means that my old charger will also work with those batteries? 73 de Pierre KX3 S/N 190 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/LiFePO4-Battery-Pack-Performance-tp7560224p7560233.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 Battery Pack Performance
This batter seems to have a PCB that prevents overcharging so you may be good with any charger. A good lead acid battery charger should have a cutoff at about 14.5 V, which is good for 12.8V LiFePO4 battery. I found that some chargers actually produce up to 18V but perhaps at a very low current. So it would help to check. Ignacy -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/LiFePO4-Battery-Pack-Performance-tp7560224p7560234.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 Battery Pack Performance
Generally the answer to your question is yes. However I am reminded of the old cartoon where the patient is asking the doctor who is treating his broken arm. 'Doctor when my arm mends will I be able to play the violin?' 'Of course,' the doctor answered. The patient replied, 'Good! I never could play the violin before.' 73 Fred, AE6QL -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Pierre Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 6:31 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 Battery Pack Performance A question: I have an automatic sealed battery charger for my 12V Pb-Ac battery. From: http://www.ctcbattery.com/LiFePO4-Rechargeable-Battery/CTC-12-8V-4-5Ah-57-6W h-Lithium-Iron-Phosphate-LiFePO4-Rechargeable-Battery I read Require no change to a lead acid battery charging system Does it means that my old charger will also work with those batteries? 73 de Pierre KX3 S/N 190 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/LiFePO4-Battery-Pack-Performance-tp7560 224p7560233.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
[Elecraft] LiFePO4 Battery Pack Performance
I recently purchased a 4 cell LiFePO4 12.8v 4.5ah battery. I fully charged the battery to 14.4v and then hooked it up to my KX3. Total hours of run time = 21.4 hrs. Settings = backlight off, high power and all the other settings in normal positions. I transmitted in ssb for what would be a normal transmit / receive cycle. I received in ssb and psk 31. John Lally W7JJL __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 battery packs
On 7/6/2012 7:06 PM, Steve Jackson wrote: So, what is the opinion of the learned and experienced regarding these battery packs? Well, there's the obvious ... 600mAh vs 3,000mAh of course. The LiFePO4 batteries have a very good capacity to weight ratio, and they are safe, you can carry or pack them onto airplanes. Neither one of them allow you to balance the cells however, something that should be done at least periodically. Assuming it is for your K2, you'd probably find that 600mAh was a little small. My K2 draws about 280mA on receive, and at 5W, around 1.5A key down. I use a 4Ah 4S1P LiFePO4 pack that I can balance the cells on charge and it lasts about as long as I want to be off in the field somewhere. Li-Poly batteries have a higher capacity to weight ratio which is why they are used by RC model folks. I have one that's about the size of a small matchbox, weighs an ounce or so, and is rated at 800mAh, 11.7V. I use it on my KX1. Li-Poly is somewhat unstable under some circumstances and I've had one catch fire while I was using it. Mine is on a short pigtail outside of the rig. What's the better deal? Two of the former? Anything awful about these packs? Caveats in their use, other than the obvious? A123 cells are probably the highest quality, Buddipole sells them, they are a bit pricey however. Whatever you choose, be sure to fuse the cable to the rig. These chemistries can deliver anywhere from 10C to 15C or more if shorted. For mine, that could be more than 60A. Beware, the 12V and RF connectors on the RF board are the same and the cables from the KAT2 will interchange quite easily. I speak from experience and now have a jumpered trace on the board that decided to be a fuse. :-( 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012 - www.cqp.org __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 battery packs
According to the product descriptions, both of these battery packs have a balancing board built into them. The documentation for the board shows that the board has independent connections to each cell. It protects each cell from over charge, over discharge, high current discharge, and short circuit. Thus, you gain the benefit of balance charging while only having to purchase a lower cost charger, such as the ones suggested for these packs on their product pages. The larger of these two packs appears to be very cost effective and a great solution for external power for a KX3, K2/10, K3/10 or other QRP rig. A123 branded cells are more expensive, although EP Buddy has them at a very favorable price. Their packs do not have internal circuitry, however, requiring purchase of a balancing charger if you want to recharge at higher rates. See recent KX3 batteries thread on this reflector for discussion. 72/73 de JP WF4Z On Sat, Jul 7, 2012 at 12:59 PM, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: On 7/6/2012 7:06 PM, Steve Jackson wrote: So, what is the opinion of the learned and experienced regarding these battery packs? Well, there's the obvious ... 600mAh vs 3,000mAh of course. The LiFePO4 batteries have a very good capacity to weight ratio, and they are safe, you can carry or pack them onto airplanes. Neither one of them allow you to balance the cells however, something that should be done at least periodically. Assuming it is for your K2, you'd probably find that 600mAh was a little small. My K2 draws about 280mA on receive, and at 5W, around 1.5A key down. I use a 4Ah 4S1P LiFePO4 pack that I can balance the cells on charge and it lasts about as long as I want to be off in the field somewhere. Li-Poly batteries have a higher capacity to weight ratio which is why they are used by RC model folks. I have one that's about the size of a small matchbox, weighs an ounce or so, and is rated at 800mAh, 11.7V. I use it on my KX1. Li-Poly is somewhat unstable under some circumstances and I've had one catch fire while I was using it. Mine is on a short pigtail outside of the rig. What's the better deal? Two of the former? Anything awful about these packs? Caveats in their use, other than the obvious? A123 cells are probably the highest quality, Buddipole sells them, they are a bit pricey however. Whatever you choose, be sure to fuse the cable to the rig. These chemistries can deliver anywhere from 10C to 15C or more if shorted. For mine, that could be more than 60A. Beware, the 12V and RF connectors on the RF board are the same and the cables from the KAT2 will interchange quite easily. I speak from experience and now have a jumpered trace on the board that decided to be a fuse. :-( 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012 - www.cqp.org __ 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
[Elecraft] LiFePO4 battery packs
Greetings to all from the Old North State ... which doesn't feel all that 'north' lately. 100F + every day. There's a good contingent of portable-power aficionados here, and likely to be even more ... with the new radio shipping in volume. So, what is the opinion of the learned and experienced regarding these battery packs? http://www.batteryspace.com/customizelifepo414505battery128v600mah4sflat77wh06aratewith55x21mmmalebarrelconnectorandpcb.aspx and/or http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo418650battery128v2700mah55mmmalebarrelplug3456wh4aratewpcb.aspx What's the better deal? Two of the former? Anything awful about these packs? Caveats in their use, other than the obvious? They seem small, light, protected, and relatively inexpensive. Am I missing something? I am not associated with this supplier. Is there another one that's better? Steve KZ1X/4 Chapel Hill K2 # 0771 (the World's Most-Experienced Elecraft) K3 # 6108 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePO4 battery packs
Steve, Temperature today was only 96 here in Wake Forest today, and the nasty Thunderstorm mid-afternoon cooled it off some. Sounds like you might want to move a bit East to the other edge of the Triangle area. My answer depends on how you are going to use them - If you are going to put them inside either the K2 or K3, then I would discourage that, but then there are many reports that the LiFePo batteries are plenty safe. Any of the Lithium battery technology batteries provide great power/weight ratios. Use the proper charger(s) for any battery. Most proper chargers want direct access to the battery terminals, and that is one reason I do not recommend putting them inside the transceivers. That can be done, but do it safely and install a fuse. If you are considering these batteries for the KX3, then think the process through carefully. Are you going to be portable for extended times? If so, stick with the internal NiMH batteries and the charger. If those batteries are exhausted, go to the store and buy a pack of AA size Alkalines and continue to operate. If instead you have converted the battery pack to use LiFePo batteries, and they are discharged, you are off the air until you can get the KX3 to a proper source of power to recharge the batteries (you cannot use AAs from the store). So, that is why my KX3 will retain the NiMH batteres, but I may use am external LiFePo battery pack because the voltage is higher. I do not have experience with either of the batteries you mentioned, so I will have to let others answer that part. Too many choices, too little time!!! 73, Don W3FPR On 7/6/2012 10:06 PM, Steve Jackson wrote: Greetings to all from the Old North State ... which doesn't feel all that 'north' lately. 100F + every day. There's a good contingent of portable-power aficionados here, and likely to be even more ... with the new radio shipping in volume. So, what is the opinion of the learned and experienced regarding these battery packs? http://www.batteryspace.com/customizelifepo414505battery128v600mah4sflat77wh06aratewith55x21mmmalebarrelconnectorandpcb.aspx and/or http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo418650battery128v2700mah55mmmalebarrelplug3456wh4aratewpcb.aspx __ 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] LiFePo4 Battery
Has anyone used a LiFePo4 battery to run Elecraft transceivers? What charging techniques do you use? What battery brand and or size do you use? Your thoughts? Thanks John Lally W7JJL __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePo4 Battery
No. 100 amp HB power supply plus West Mountain Radio ISOPower. Battery brand unknown. Three commercial server room backup batteries. Larger than a car battery. The ISOPower trickle charges the batteries. When mains power fails the ISOPower switches the power to the batteries which can sustain the station operation for about 2 or three weeks. On Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:44:19 -0800, John Lally jla...@icehouse.net wrote: Has anyone used a LiFePo4 battery to run Elecraft transceivers? What charging techniques do you use? What battery brand and or size do you use? Your thoughts? [snip] __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LiFePo4 Battery
John, There are lots and lots and lots of web sites to buy both the batteries and chargers. I normally buy my Hyperion batteries from allerc.com I use them for my r/c planes. I use lipo's for my electric motors (generating 2000 to 6000 watts depending on how big the plane is). Anyways check out http://www.allerc.com/batteries-lithium-polymer-batteries-hyperion-premium-lipoly-hyperion-lifepo4-c-3_4_93_158.html and http://www.allerc.com/chargers-hyperion-chargers-c-9_204.html Pay attention to the charger spec's especially wattage. It may say its good for so many amps output but is limited by the wattage spec. Also be sure it supports charging the LiFe batteries. Hyperion is probably one of the premium brands. For the cheap stuff, which would probably work just fine for the low current requirements you can check out http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbycity/store/index.rc Rich - N5ZC On 2/22/2012 1:44 PM, John Lally wrote: Has anyone used a LiFePo4 battery to run Elecraft transceivers? What charging techniques do you use? What battery brand and or size do you use? Your thoughts? Thanks John Lally W7JJL __ 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
[Elecraft] LiFePo4 battery
John, I have a K2/10 and I am using this LiFePo4 battery installed inside the radio. http://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo426650battery128v3300mah42wh7aratewpcb.aspx http://www.batteryspace.com/smartcharger15afor128vlifepo4batterypack4cells152vcut-offwith55mmx21mmmalebarrelplug.aspx I contacted this company and they gladly added separate charging leads to the battery's PCB for free. I got the charger that they recommend for this battery (second link) and I hooked it up as follows. Discharging leads to the aux 12v on board. Charging leads to panel mount 5.5 x 2.1mm jack which fits perfectly in the xvrter hole. I flip the battery switch from the KBT2 to off when charging and on when running off batteries. Works very well and very light. 73 Lyam N9LVG __ 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
