This was test was done to evaluate the indications in the previous test that sporatic use of the alkaline batteries will result in an effective increase in their capacity. In short - do they regain some of their capacity by resting. This test did not indicate and improvement from spreading the usage over more days.
Data Summery Test 1 Test 2 Day 1 10 Hours 3 Hours Day 2 9 Hours 3 Hours Day 3 5 Hours 3 Hours Day 4 3 Hours 3 Hours Day 5 0 Hours 3 Hours Day 6 0 Hours 3 Hours Day 7 0 Hours 3 Hours Day 8 0 Hours 3 Hours Day 9 0 Hours 1.5 Hours Total 26 Hours 25.5 Hours QSOs 22 14 As you can see from the table spreading the use over 9 days instead of 4 days did not give me any additional operating time. One interesting feature to come out of the test happened at the end. On the last day in the 1.5 hours of operating time I got six of the 14 QSOs and the K1 read 8.0 volts so I decleared the test done. I then took an hour break. When I came back I used the same set of batteries. In the next hour and half I ran off three more QSOs. The K1 did drop the power down to 8.0 volts but it never went below that. This illustrated the property I observed first in the test. But what this test seems to show is that while there may be some recovery in the batteries after a rest period it does not have any significant effect on how long the batteries last. It also illustrated how difficult it is to set a standard for when the battereis are really "dead." My standard is the first time the meter on the K1 say 8.0 volts the batteries are dead. I will maintain that standard as it ensures consitancy in the testing.
I now intend to get into testing how the number of QSOs and how the power output level of the rig effect how long the rig can be used.
Test Conditions
First the K1 was set up with just the auto tuner. I had not put the NB in the rig. Plus the autotuner was off line as I was feeding tuned dipoles. I also set the power at my usual 500 mWatts. And lastly I used the speaker rather than headphones. All the QSOs were contest type. The were either getting counties off the county hunter net, playing in the VA QSO party, or in the NJ HB sprint. No rag chewing for these tests and I didn't send CQ for either contest. This was done to keep the comparisons as equal as possible. Wayne of Elecraft has said that the rig is good down to 8 volts. So I declared the batteries dead when they hit 8.0 volts on key-down when running 500 mWatts according to the display on the K1. Receive current drain was about 54 mA, and transmit current drain was about 330 mA. I used an eight cell pack of batteries.