‰  NOW 35 WPM  ‰  TEXT IS FROM SEPTEMBER 2018 QST  PAGE 41‰

USING THE YETI 400 LITHIUM I FIRST CHARGED THE BATTERY USING THE WALL
CHARGER.  IT TAKES ABOUT 7 HOURS TO FULLY CHARGE A DEPLETED BATTERY.  THEN
I RAN A TEST WITH MY WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO CBA IV BATTERY ANALYZER, WHICH IS
NOT CALIBRATED, BUT IT GIVES A BASIC IDEA OF THE PERFORMANCE AND CAPACITY
OF THE BATTERY.  FOR MY TEST, I HAD PURCHASED A 6 FOOT CABLE WITH A
CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG ON ONE END AND ANDERSON POWERPOLES ON THE OTHER.  I
SELECTED A 10 A LOAD ON THE CBA IV, AND IT TOOK ALMOST 4 HOURS FOR THE
BATTERY TO DISCHARGE TO THE CUTOFF VOLTAGE.  THAT INDICATES A 38R4 AH
CAPACITY, VERY CLOSE TO GOAL ZEROS RATING OF 39R6 AH.  NEXT, I PUT THE
BATTERY TO PRACTICAL USE WITH MY ICOM IC 7300 TRANSCEIVER, NOTING THAT THE
RADIO IS RATED TO WORK WITH A MINIMUM OF 11R8 V DC 13R8 V 15.  I ALSO KEPT
IN MIND THAT THE MAXIMUM LOAD RATING OF THE BATTERY AND CABLE IS 10 A AT 12
V.  THE IC 7300 DRAWS 17 A OR MORE AT FULL RATED RF POWER OUTPUT OF 100 W,
SO I OPERATED IT AT REDUCED POWER.  I MONITORED THE VALUES ON THE YETI 400S
FRONT PANEL METER AND ON MY OWN INLINE VOLT/AMMETERS TO ENSURE THAT I DIDNT
EXCEED THE SPECIFIED LIMITATIONS.  THE BATTERY PERFORMED WELL WITH MY
RADIO.  THE RADIO SHUT OFF WHEN THE BATTERY OUTPUT VOLTAGE DROPPED TO 11R4
V.  FINALLY, I PLUGGED A FLOOR FAN INTO THE 120 V AC OUTLET.  ACCORDING TO
THE METERING, THE FAN REQUIRED 223 W WELL WITHIN THE 300 W RATING.  WITH A
‰  END OF 35 WPM TEXT  ‰  QST DE W1AW  ƒ