Andy wrote:
I don't know enough about the readings in the table to know what they mean.

I know what they mean but I am happy with
my MFJ-259B anyway.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long will
they run for?

73 Andy


"Cecil Moore" wrote in message
...
Andy wrote:
I don't know enough about the readings in the table to know what they
mean.

I know what they mean but I am happy with
my MFJ-259B anyway.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

Andy wrote:
How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long will
they run for?

IMO, Ni-Cads are a royal pain in the neck. Instead,
I use a YUASA gell cell NP1.2-12 at ~$20. I Velcro
it to the MFJ-259B as it has almost the same form
factor. It is easily recharged using an Astron 12v
(13.8v) power supply, i.e. no "battery charger"
required. After using the NP1.2-12 to power the
MFJ-259B, I would NEVER go back to standard batteries.

If one removes the battery holder, the NP1.2-12 will
almost fit inside the MFJ-259B. When I get time, I am
going to modify the MFJ to accomplish that feat. MFJ
missed a selling point by not making the 259B case a
couple of mm larger to accommodate a standard gell cell.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

Cecil Moore wrote:
IMO, Ni-Cads are a royal pain in the neck. Instead,
I use a YUASA gell cell NP1.2-12 at ~$20.

Sorry, my mistake, that is not the battery I use
although it will work. The YUASA battery with the
perfect form factor for the MFJ-259B is the NP2-12
at ~$48. That one failed after many years of use
and I am going to replace it with an NP2.3-12 at
~$29 which is 1.7 times as thick but is higher
capacity and costs 60% as much as the NP2-12.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com

On May 6, 2:27*pm, Cecil Moore wrote:
Andy wrote:
How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long will
they run for?

IMO, Ni-Cads are a royal pain in the neck. Instead,
I use a YUASA gell cell NP1.2-12 at ~$20. I Velcro
it to the MFJ-259B as it has almost the same form
factor. It is easily recharged using an Astron 12v
(13.8v) power supply, i.e. no "battery charger"
required. After using the NP1.2-12 to power the
MFJ-259B, I would NEVER go back to standard batteries.

If one removes the battery holder, the NP1.2-12 will
almost fit inside the MFJ-259B. When I get time, I am
going to modify the MFJ to accomplish that feat. MFJ
missed a selling point by not making the 259B case a
couple of mm larger to accommodate a standard gell cell.
--
73, Cecil *http://www.w5dxp.com

I have my gel cell rigged up in a pack I can put on my belt. I also
have an additional 5 and 3 volt regulator circuit so I can use the
pack with my digital cameras. Even used it to inflate an air mattress.
My wife wants me rig up a connection for her cellphone. I am
intentionally dragging my feet on that one.


Jimmie

Here's what I did to solve the rechargable battery issue with the
MFJ-269B antenna analyzer.

The charge rate is way too slow using the internal charge circuit, so
to speed up the charging process using intenral AA NiMH internal
batteries, in the factory battery holder, I installed a power barrel
jack on the bottom of the meter. To charge, I plug in an external
charger into this new jack, and when plugged in this disconnects the
batteries and charger from the unit. You can NOT simply plug a charger
into the factory ext. power jack, so now my analyzer has two jacks, of
DIFFERENT sizes so I do not accidently plug the wrong thing into the
wrong jack. I inserted a 0.5amp fuse inside the charger, in series
with the + battery wire so that if your external charger is set for
too fast a charge rate the fuse will blow (e.g. I have a charger which
can be set for various charge rates, for AAA to D size batteries,
NiMH, etc., up to 50w total).

73,
Dick N7EMW
www.repdesign.us


On May 6, 2:27*pm, Cecil Moore wrote:
Andy wrote:
How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long will
they run for?

IMO, Ni-Cads are a royal pain in the neck. Instead,
I use a YUASA gell cell NP1.2-12 at ~$20. I Velcro
it to the MFJ-259B as it has almost the same form
factor. It is easily recharged using an Astron 12v
(13.8v) power supply, i.e. no "battery charger"
required. After using the NP1.2-12 to power the
MFJ-259B, I would NEVER go back to standard batteries.

If one removes the battery holder, the NP1.2-12 will
almost fit inside the MFJ-259B. When I get time, I am
going to modify the MFJ to accomplish that feat. MFJ
missed a selling point by not making the 259B case a
couple of mm larger to accommodate a standard gell cell.
--
73, Cecil *http://www.w5dxp.com

Andy wrote:
How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long will
they run for?
================================================== ====
I use my MFJ-259B with an 'outboard' small 12V-0.8Ah SLA battery; never
even considered internal batteries.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

If I used the 12 volt external socket to supply power to the unit from a
external gel battery, would it damage the unit if there were no Ni-Cads in
the unit?

73 Andy


"Highland Ham" wrote in message
...
Andy wrote:
How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long
will they run for?
================================================== ====
I use my MFJ-259B with an 'outboard' small 12V-0.8Ah SLA battery; never
even considered internal batteries.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Andy,
I own an MFJ269 Pro, and us an external SLA battery without any internal
batteries fitted , and no problems at all.

I have the SLA in a small shoulder bag and connected to the external DC
socket, makes the unit very protable and lasts for hours.

73
John
VK2KCE

"Andy" wrote in message
...
If I used the 12 volt external socket to supply power to the unit from a
external gel battery, would it damage the unit if there were no Ni-Cads in
the unit?

73 Andy


"Highland Ham" wrote in message
...
Andy wrote:
How long does the Ni-Cads take to charge in the MFJ-259B and how long
will they run for?
================================================== ====
I use my MFJ-259B with an 'outboard' small 12V-0.8Ah SLA battery; never
even considered internal batteries.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Andy wrote:
If I used the 12 volt external socket to supply power to the unit from a
external gel battery, would it damage the unit if there were no Ni-Cads in
the unit?

No, no problems whatsoever. After trying internal
batteries, everyone I know has gone to an external
gell cell.
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com