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The Blue solution
30 May 2013 | by The last time I was out and about with my KX3 my re-chargeable internal batteries let me down.........actually it was user error as I failed to charge them the evening before. Planing is everything they say so the spur of the moment thought of taking my KX3 to the field did not work out so well for me! The weather forecast has been known to change from rain to sunshine on any given day. To me that is translated as a non KX3 day thats transformed to a perfect KX3 outing day. To avoid my radio let down I went online and ordered a 12 volt portable 9800Ah Li-ion rechargeable battery pack. It has a wall wart for charging and seems to be a nice little unit. Larry W2LJ has the same pack and it seems to be working well for him. This
way next time when the internal KX3 batteries TRY to let me down......I will plug in the "Blue solution" As a side note Elecraft offers (which I purchased) an internal battery charger called the KXBC3. This way you can load the KX3 with rechargeable batteries and just plug the KX3 into your power supply and have the KX3 charge the batteries on it's internal timer. Unfortunately this unit does not (as of yet.... but I'm hoping) have the ability to trickle charge the internal batteries. This way it's always ready to go! That is the only downfall to the KXBC3 I have found.
Mike Weir, VE9KK, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from New Brunswick, Canada. Contact him at [email protected]. |
| My Blue solution |
6 Responses to “The Blue solution”
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I had the same experience today with my Kx3. I used it a couple of times and didn’t realize the internal battery was that low. I have som K5oor LiO batteries that I use for QRP. One is a 25 WH batter the other is a 100 WH battery. The 25 will outlast this old guy many times over. The 100 is for a 100 watt rig. Its nice to see other LiO batteries being manufactured. This gives hams a good choice.
BTW I ‘top off my Kx3 internals with a 4 hour charge if its not ‘too low’ but it quit completely on me today, so its getting the royal treatment tonight, 16 hours. 73 de AA1IK
Good morning Ernest, yes it is a bit surprising and disappointing when the rig dies on you once you have settled down for a nice couple of hours of outdoor op’s. I am not one to bring some extra charged batteries along for the ride, I am just not to crazy about opening up the KX3. There is the ribbon cable and some power wires that have a chance of getting damaged each time the radio is opened and closed. Going to see if this external battery solves my problem of running out of juice in the field.
Have a good weekend Ernest
Mike
What was your source for the battery?
this is noted in the adds for these batteries (shortened and snipped version)
“These batteries are designed for low current applications only.The current (ampere) requirement is usually in the 500mA (6 watts) or less range.”
but as cheap as they are,that wouldn’t stop me from getting one
Good morning Dave, to charge the batteries that are in the KX3 now I use an Astron 20amp supply and the output voltage is at 14 volts.
Mike
Good to hear from you Scott, I read the same and also thought the same as you and wanted to give it a go and see how it worked out.
Mike