FWIW, a slew of (majority?) of SOTA activators (including me) regularly use
inexpensive Chinese LiPO batteries and chargers from hobbyking.com with
good results.
73, Barry N1EU
On Sun, Mar 20, 2016 at 3:32 AM, Reed <w4jz@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Steve, batteries have come a long way just as the Argonaut 515 has
> compared to the HW-7 & not to mention today's rigs. I got introduced to
> these batteries I believe around 2010. The gel-cells were so much improved
> over the wet cells, but the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery is so
> much ahead in battery design than anything I have seen. Weight, size &
> holds the output voltage & amps to 10% of discharge. You have to charge
> them with a special charger, if the circuit is not built inside the
> protective cover or case, to balance the cells & charge to the proper
> voltage of each cell. They also charge up much faster than a gel-cell. You
> don't want to discharge them all the way as you can with a gel. Follow
> those guidelines and you got a very good battery for portable or emergency
> power that has a life of around 10 years. Price has come down too!
>
> The gel-cell is still one to use for a battery backup system, but for
> portable the size, weight and holding the voltage and amps much longer is
> where this battery has the advantage over the gel. Big disadvantage is the
> price. They are not cheap!
>
> Some of the Chinese ones you want to stay away from. I'm also not crazy
> about the lithium-ion polymer battery. Though some like them, these can be
> dangerous from what I have read and from those that experience this on
> other forms. The iron phosphate ones sold at Buddiepole & Bioennopower are
> reliable ones.
>
> https://www.bioennopower.com/collections/12v-series-lifepo4-batteries
>
> 73,
> Reed W4JZ
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