14 Volt Gel Cell?

David Kinsell wrote:

The LX5000 is a vario system. It should be repaired before it stops
working entirely.



Yes, I'm quite aware the LX5000 is a vario. When I used the term "radio",
I was talking about his actual radio, which he earlier said that he optimistically
assumed might work at 10 volts. I thought that should be obvious.

Sorry! My focus was on the LX5000. It would be a most unusual radio that
would transmit on 10 volts (basically a dead battery). If it were me,
I'd try the radio on the ground on a 12 volt battery like the one in the
glider, and see how low a voltage would satisfactorily operate it,
before going to a 14 volt system. I used to use 14 volt packs on my
older gliders, but it was always an irritation having an additional cell
that didn't fit in the battery box, and cost almost as much as the 12
volt pack. Some of the radios I used back then turned out to be
satisfactory on the 12 volts, so I quit using the extra cell on them.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

For a radio to be able to work correctly with a
12V (nominal) SLA battery, it would have to be tested
down to 10.5V, which is technically the discharged voltage
of a 12V SLA battery. And this is exactly the problem, as many
radios won't work well at that voltage level. The discharge
voltage of a 14V nominal SLA battery is 12.25V.

David


Eric Greenwell wrote in message ...
David Kinsell wrote:

The LX5000 is a vario system. It should be repaired before it stops
working entirely.



Yes, I'm quite aware the LX5000 is a vario. When I used the term "radio",
I was talking about his actual radio, which he earlier said that he optimistically
assumed might work at 10 volts. I thought that should be obvious.

Sorry! My focus was on the LX5000. It would be a most unusual radio that
would transmit on 10 volts (basically a dead battery). If it were me,
I'd try the radio on the ground on a 12 volt battery like the one in the
glider, and see how low a voltage would satisfactorily operate it,
before going to a 14 volt system. I used to use 14 volt packs on my
older gliders, but it was always an irritation having an additional cell
that didn't fit in the battery box, and cost almost as much as the 12
volt pack. Some of the radios I used back then turned out to be
satisfactory on the 12 volts, so I quit using the extra cell on them.

David Anisman wrote:

Sorry! My focus was on the LX5000. It would be a most unusual radio that
would transmit on 10 volts (basically a dead battery). If it were me,
I'd try the radio on the ground on a 12 volt battery like the one in the
glider, and see how low a voltage would satisfactorily operate it,
before going to a 14 volt system. I used to use 14 volt packs on my
older gliders, but it was always an irritation having an additional cell
that didn't fit in the battery box, and cost almost as much as the 12
volt pack. Some of the radios I used back then turned out to be
satisfactory on the 12 volts, so I quit using the extra cell on them.

For a radio to be able to work correctly with a
12V (nominal) SLA battery, it would have to be tested
down to 10.5V, which is technically the discharged voltage
of a 12V SLA battery.

Most of the amp hours are gone by 11.0 volts, so I wouldn't bother going
lower than that.

And this is exactly the problem, as many
radios won't work well at that voltage level. The discharge
voltage of a 14V nominal SLA battery is 12.25V.

I suggested Joe test his radio, in case his isn't one of the many that
won't work on a partially discharged 12 volt battery. It might work
fine, especially if his flying doesn't run it down very far and he's
willing to charge it frequently. It's a matter of convenience for Joe,
and testing the radio's performance is simple.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA