Rechargables in the Kenwood TH-D72A

[W0ALE]

So, I was hoping to get an AAA battery pack as another backup (I have a couple batteries and a DC cable already) solution for my TH-D72A.  I was looking at rechargable Eneloops (http://us.sanyo.com/Battery-Products/AAA-4-Pack-SEC-HR4U4BPN) , but then I read this in the Kenwood manual: "Do not use Manganese batteries or Rechargeable batteries in place of Alkaline batteries."

So, I guess I can't use the Eneloops?  Any idea why they say Alkaline only?  Is it the 1.2V vs the 1.5 that would cause issues?

Thanks!

WØALE

[W8JX]

Radio will develop less power on xmit because of reduced voltage. It will not hurt it otherwise. As far as dry cells they are prone to leak over time and can damage case.

[KA4POL]

They leave you a choice between Lithium and Alkaline which you must select from in the menu 112.
You are loosing .3 V per battery with rechargeables. So your assumption is correct. There is a lower limit of voltage for correct operation as well as an upper limit.
It is a bit strange to say no manganese cells as alkaline batteries use manganese dioxide.

[W0ALE]

Thanks for info. 

Anyone know what the minimum voltage needed for this radio is?
So, if I went with these and with them being Ni-MH, would you suggest I choose Lithium or Alkaline in menu 112?

Which model would you suggest? 

Eneloop - all-purpose, 1800 life cycles, 1900 mAh
Eneloop XXX - medium-to-high power consumption, 500 life cycles, 2450 mAh

Since I have a few battery packs and this would be a last resort type thing should I just get some regular Alkalines?

[W8JX]

if I went with these and with them being Ni-MH, would you suggest I choose Lithium or Alkaline in menu 112?

Lithium

Which model would you suggest? 

Eneloop - all-purpose, 1800 life cycles, 1900 mAh
Eneloop XXX - medium-to-high power consumption, 500 life cycles, 2450 mAh

Eneloop XXX - medium-to-high power consumption, 500 life cycles, 2450 mAh

Since I have a few battery packs and this would be a last resort type thing should I just get some regular Alkalines?

Ni Mih.  Like Lithium they will have a more stable voltage during discharge.

[KA4POL]

You'll have to adjust menu 112 according to the batteries used so you have a good indication of charge status. So it is definitely closer to choose Lithium.
The spec says 4.5 to 10.8 V at the battery terminals.

[W0ALE]

You'll have to adjust menu 112 according to the batteries used so you have a good indication of charge status. So it is definitely closer to choose Lithium.
The spec says 4.5 to 10.8 V at the battery terminals.

Where did you find this information? All I see in the manual is:

"Rated voltage
External power supply (DC IN) DC 12.0 ~ 16.0 V (13.8 V nominal)
Battery terminals DC 5.5 ~ 9.0 V (7.4 V nominal)"

So, to make sure I understand this...6 AAs at 1.2V give me 7.2V.  7.4V is nominal, but it'll operate anywhere from 5.5 to 9.0V.

Thanks for all this information & helping out an electronically-challenged dummy! 

[W8JX]

So, to make sure I understand this...6 AAs at 1.2V give me 7.2V.  7.4V is nominal, but it'll operate anywhere from 5.5 to 9.0V.

The radios main circuits operate of a regulated 5 volt feed and only transmit power is effected by voltage range. When voltage is too low it simple will not operate. Ni Mih will work fine.

[W0ALE]

Thanks a  lot for all the info!   I really appreciate it.

73, 
W0ALE

[KA4POL]

I found the values on page 42 of the manual for both, the E and the A version. I could not find a year. The copyright notice has only B62-2235-00 (K,E) as imprint.