Small, Cheap 12v Li-ion Battery for QRP Radios

The 3000mAh TalentCell lithium-ion battery provides a 12v DC jack that can be used to power QRP radios in the field (or shack). It comes with a charger and a cable that can be used by most QRP radios. AND IT'S ONLY $25!
Note: There is a general lack of truth about the true voltage of these three-cell battery packs. And the performance varies, based on the quality of the Li-ion cells used to build the pack. The Li-ion internal battery I purchased from Elecraft for my KX2 has 3 Li-ion cells, just like the battery shown in the video. It has a TENERGY-brand sticker and the label says, "Li-ion 10.8V 2600mAh". These batteries all have an initial voltage that are close to 12v but they quickly (minutes) settle down to 11v. These cells are typically the Li-ion 18650 cells that are 3.7v each. So, it's a stretch to market them as a three-cell 12v battery pack! But, it's still good enough for my trail-friendly QRP radios. The 8AA NMH battery pack I've been using for my MTR-5B has lower voltage than this $25 Li-ion battery, was a PITA to charge, and weighs 60%+ more. So, this Li-ion battery pack isn't perfect but I still think it's a good solution for anyone who wants to power a trail-friendly QRP rig. - Cliff
Battery: www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7Z9Z1N/...
If you have a radio like a Mountain Topper or Yaesu FT-817, you'll need an adapter because those radios use a 4.0 x 1.7 DC jack...
Adapter for FT-817, MTR-5B: Learn more: www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPYC55S/...
Adapter with a different style: Learn more: www.amazon.com/dp/B07F9SX671/...

[@mikekrieger8171]

I purchased this to power my QRP Labs QCX QRP xcvr. and it works nicely. Thanks for the tip.

[@LRafdan]

Thank you!

[@14IF949]

Thank you for the advice for my part I have jn walkie talkie albrecht AE 2990 asf, a great little radio transmitter. See you soon Cliff can be on 11 m.73/51 station 14 IF 949 QRP sud FRance Jean-Marc

[@garymiller2382]

Wow! What a concise, professional, video. Excellent advice, especially for this ham who has two left hands when trying to build small circuits in DIY battery systems. Thanks!

[@JennyEverywhere]

I've got a couple of the higher-power Talentcells. I had one out to the park on Wednesday to do some QRP operating! I swear by the things. I got hefty one with 6a max output that'll run BOTH my KX3 and PX3 at the same time on a Y adapter. That splitter has another feature. One end on the radio, one on the battery -- and the CHARGER on the socket! It'll charge while it's in use! (That's in the manual.)

[@KX4UL]

I have got to have one of these battery packs. Thanks for the heads up Cliff!

[@w8aarradio683]

Thanks for passing this along. Went ahead and ordered one to use with my MTR5B. Looks like it's about the perfect size to match the radio and will be less cumbersome than dealing with a rechargeable AA case or keeping spare 9v batteries around in case one dies.

[@Ronbob59]

Hey, Cliff... Thanks for the heads-up. I bought one. And welcome to LICW. Ron

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Ron! -Cliff

[@jediosu]

Getting one for my QCX, thank you!

[@OnTerraFirma]

I have been running my QCX off of one of these for a few months. Couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw these. Killer price for all of the features.

[@tommycheshire5508]

I have just found you and subscribed. You are a blessing to what I am a rookie in. N4KBM

[@RobMacKendrick]

Brilliant! Thanks, Cliff!

[@RandyUpchurch]

Thanks. I just ordered one.

[@ke6mt]

Yes! These things are great. I've had one for a few years - still going strong. I have the larger, 6Ah version that worked well for my FT-817. I still use it when I need longer run time for my small QRP rigs. 73, Rex KE6MT

[@n1kkri]

Are you getting the high power on the FT-817 to work with this battery. Anything less that 12v and no 5 watt high power.

[@ke6mt]

Ken - you have to tell it to go to 5w, and it’ll blink, but it’s doing 5w.

[@willgilliam9053]

Wow, Thx guys. Been looking for a battery for a QRP radio and a raspberry pi. Some of the selling points they say is solar charging via the right addon... and even better.. you can charge the battery and draw power at the same time!

[@bobsullivan5714]

Cliff...., If this MOST EXCELLENT video doesn't get you in with the Cool Kids, I don't know what will! I have spent hours researching this and you have brought home the bacon. I am buying the 11000 mAh model......BUT I WILL use your Amazon link to order it......As a matter of fact, I am copying your link for ALL OF MY FUTURE AMAZON PURCHASES AND I BUY A LOT OF STUFF FROM AMAZON! Update: Update your link...This link doesn't work.................................................. dang!

[@QRPSchool]

I’m sorry the link is no longer valid. FYI - I don’t monetize my channel and I don’t include affiliate links so I will make no money from my content or links. That’s how I want it to be. -Cliff

[@bobsullivan5714]

@@QRPSchool fair 'nuff........

[@alanread6596]

These talentcells are very good I have the 3000mah and the 6000mah both work incredibly well with my radios. 73's Alan in the UK

[@Roanokekidstech]

I should be there at Hamvention. I hope that I will see you around

[@chessplayer1000]

nice watch

[@yanickch]

Thanks Cliff, that will be perfect for my QCX and uBitx out in the field... Yanick 73, de VE2YCF

[@daviddietrich9449]

Thanks for the info, Cliff! I have been a ham since 2003, mostly CW, 60/40 QRP/100 W respectively. I've been mostly off the air due to some family issues for the better part of 7 years, but I have committed to getting back into the hobby this year. I'll be mostly field QRP CW. I've been a subscriber since 2017 I think. ANYway, I like the idea of this battery as I just ordered a Mtr4b V2 Mountain Topper last week and am looking at a battery pack that would play nice with the radio's circuitry and finals. I'm gonna have to give these batteries a looksee. I have a 12V 18Ah gel cell, but I am leery of using it after reading the manual as it provides about 13.2V at a full charge... That works well for ALL my other radios (FT-891 included), but not the Mountain Topper. So, thank you. DE KC9EHQ

[@de_w8tam]

Thanks for the video Cliff! If you're up for it, my wife and I are hosting the Parks on the Air forum. I know you love getting out to parks and doing radio, and if any of the parks you visit are state or national parks (or forests, or preserves), you might already have logs we'd take! Anyway, it's at Hamvention, Friday morning at 9:15am at forum room 5. 73 de w8tam

[@spizzed]

Thanks!!!

[@BlessedLaymanNC]

I've been looking at several of these batteries. I have the FT-818ND which draws a maximum of 2.7A which means I cannot use high power (6w) with most of these similar battery packs. Some of these packs are only rated for 1w, but there are some that are rated for more. For the money, they are a great deal! But, just make sure when you are buying one, that it will operate your radio, or if you buy one, make sure your radio power is limited to keep from drawing too much current from one of these packs.

[@MichaelLloyd]

I've built a few different LiFePo4 packs over the last year. The biggest one is a 30Ah beast that is intended to be for long term, solar powered, QRO operation, sometimes with a PC. On the way up to the 30Ah pack I also built a 15Ah pack and it's pretty heavy. My smallest, most pack-able, battery pack is a little 26650 5Ah LiFePO4 pack that better suited for backpacking. None of these cost $25.00 :o) $25.00 for a pack, charger, and cables of that size is a deal! 73 NE5U Mike

[@jonathanjenkins8630]

Just what I've been looking for! Thanks. GW4LJW.

[@skatethebluesaway7768]

I've just taken a look at that battery on Amazon UK, where it's being sold for the equivalent of US$64. (Even allowing for the three year interval since thisvideo was posted, that's quite a price difference!). What would concern me in using it for QRP operation is this bit in the description: "Voltage range of the 12V output port is 12.6-9V, it is not constant, compatible with most 12 volt devices". I think that I'd be concerned that the voltage might drop below the cut-off point for some transceivers.

[@ValenteEspinosa]

I wonder if those Lion produce noise due the bucket converter they all have to regulate constant voltage output

[@dogfishheadcase3954]

Thank you so much for your videos. Newbie here, and I appreciate the breakdowns on anything and everything. The devil is in the details, and I appreciate the break downs on "how to". Be it, do you run a ground with QRP? How? How much? etc. I've been considering getting a Bioeno for my HB-1B. Over the weekend I used my HB-1B and when the internal battery started to go, I started using an external power source that I borrowed; Audew Portable Inverter/ Portable Battery Generator. I found this created too much electrical noise in the transceiver. I suppose it's due to the internal fan etc. Is there any noise concern with the unit mentioned in your video? 73

[@crooner2007]

No blanket RFI interference? That's great. I tried a cellphone power bank on my 4.5V DC radio and it was unusable!

[@wadepatton2433]

Nice name there Gwen. I have an 817 and a uBitX to feed, seems low power to me! tnx OM 73 de W1ADE

[@KenSchumacher]

When you describe the splitter cable, you mention 1 male and 2 female connectors. That's backward. There is one female and two male connectors. See the description on the Amazon product page which says the same thing. Thanks for the tip. This does look like a really good deal.

[@QRPSchool]

You are right, Ken. I wish I had caught that while editing. Thanks. - Cliff

[@vaamorais]

Greeting from UK. Great video and very useful info. Came across that pack last week on Amazon UK. Is it RF quiet? That was my only concern. Thanks for sharing.

[@RobertVinet]

Cool shirt.

[@donsilva4441]

I laughed so hard when that tuxedo popped up on you ! Nice find btw, and thanks for sharing.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks, Don. I thought you were going to say that you laughed when you saw me beating the dead horse! :-)

[@donsilva4441]

@@QRPSchool well actually that too...but the tuxedo caught me by surprise more I guess.

[@mirmbloatbust4783]

And here I just yesterday built a 4 x 18650 battery pack with a BMS. This would have filled my requirements well enough :)

[@nvrumi]

@Mirm There are still good reasons to build your own pack. ;)

[@mirmbloatbust4783]

@@nvrumi That is true. Any DIY project such as that is a source of precious experience to a newcomer like me.

[@ElektroLUDIKITS]

I own two of this kind of batteries (the blue ones, sold as « CCTV batteries » on eBay, with two leads coming out). I must say that they look seducing, but they don't really delivers 12 volts for a very long time, they quickly fall around 10 volts and they do not have half the capacity they claim to have.

[@QRPSchool]

Thanks. There is a general lack of truth about voltage being put on these three-cell battery packs, for sure. And the performance varies, based on the quality of the Li-ion cells used to build the pack. The Li-ion internal battery I purchased from Elecraft for my KX2 has 3 Li-ion cells, just like the battery shown in the video. It has a TENERGY-brand sticker and the label says, "Li-ion 10.8V 2600mAh". These batteries all have an initial voltage that are close to 12v but they quickly (minutes) settle down to 11v. These cells are typically the Li-ion 18650 cells that are 3.7v each. So, it's a stretch to market them as a three-cell 12v battery pack! But, it's still good enough for my trail-friendly QRP radios. The 8AA NMH battery pack I've been using for my MTR-5B has lower voltage than this $25 Li-ion battery, was a PITA to charge, and weighs 60%+ more. So, this Li-ion battery pack isn't perfect but I still think it's a reasonable solution for anyone who wants to power a trail-friendly QRP rig. - Cliff

[@ElektroLUDIKITS]

So I am probably wrong thinking they are of the same "kind". Judging by the weight of my blue bricks, there is no way they can contain three 18650 cells. I am pretty sure my « CCTV batteries », even if they are advertised as Li-Ion, are, in fact, Li-Po in disguise (that would explain the weight, the voltage and why stickers are so insistant on not to open nor puncture the blue heat shrink wrapping).

[@nvrumi]

@@ElektroLUDIKITS When (not if) I get to it (too many projects already in the queue), I will build a couple of power packs based on LiFePO4 chemistry with an integrated BMS. I'll start out small, initially, with enough energy to run my QRP rigs. But my intent is to develop the skill to build something capable of powering my QRO rig in the field and to have enough solar in the SUV to recharge the pack(s). For one thing I just want to learn how to do this. But the other component is that I can customize the configuration to supply voltage, current, and energy for my rigs. Cliff (I think) had an excellent lesson on estimating the amount of energy needed to run portable and off-grid. I learned a lot from that lesson. (Hat tip to Cliff for that instruction.)

[@gurudattapanda]

have you measured the voltage drop when drawing current in Tx mode? I am interested to purchase this for my uBitx and some of the VHF 25 watt base stations, and want to make sure it can supply enough current without dropping the voltage like the Lead-Acid do. Thanks in Advance. VU3GDP

[@porkyfedwell]

The 3ah version would not work with a 25w station. But there are higher ah versions available.

[@gurudattapanda]

@@porkyfedwell what is the charge/discharge rating of these batteries? As in case we have 10C for Lead acid battery, and LiPo has more so the load can draw more current at a time.

[@porkyfedwell]

@@gurudattapandathe listing on Amazon says you can draw 3A maximum.

[@TheOpenAirGarage]

LOL, I wish I saw this before I bought the Bioeno I could of saved myself $45.00

[@ukrainehamradio]

I confirm. I use a similar blue battery inside my PFR-5 www.us7ign.com/?p=628

[@n1kkri]

Is this really a 11.1v battery? On amazon they show 3 Lithium Ion batteries inside. 3.7v is the voltage for each battery in series.

[@thingswedo461]

How would you rate this against a Anker power bank for a QCX mini for QRP

[@QRPSchool]

I don't know about that but I can tell you that I borrowed a friend's computer-based battery analyzer and this $25 battery compared favorably to my Elecraft KX2 battery pack that costs $59.95. (The Elecraft battery says it's 11v 2.6Ah)

[@johnc3403]

You're one of the cool guys alright and that's a cool t-shirt. That face could do with a beard though! ..and that battery pack is very cool indeed..

[@QRPSchool]

John, I'm afraid the face is beyond fixing. A beard will likely reappear this fall, though! :-)

[@guitardzan5641]

Is this plug-and-play for the Xiegu X-5150?

[@QRPSchool]

The X5150 accepts a standard 2.1 x 5.5 DC plug so it should work. However, the external battery may try to charge the internal battery so I’m not sure if this would be a good solution. I don’t have an X5150 to try it with, unfortunately. -Cliff

[@guitardzan5641]

@@QRPSchool Thanks Cliff....That really helps...I don't see a downside to the external battery charging the internal.....Either way, the radio gets something to munch on...LOL

[@guyhornbeck8940]

Through the software settings on the 5105 you can choose between the external battery/power source running the transceiver directly OR to serve as a charger fir the internal batteries. Cool little radio.

[@Chungustav]

Talent cell has a 6000 mAh on Amazon for $29.99. Might as well get that one for a couple dollars more

[@QRPSchool]

Silkworm That makes total sense from an economic standpoint. But, most of the time, I would prefer to pack the 3000mAh version on an outing because it’s smaller and 1/2 the weight. But, that’s just me being a gram-weenie! :-)

[@Chungustav]

@@QRPSchool totally get it. But I always remember an interview with Lance Armstrong where he says that her knew a racer that spent $5000 to have all his parts made out of carbon fiber to shave 8 ounces. Lance said in the interview that it's easier just to loose a few pounds in body weight :) always made me thing about my weight differently. I have since lost 40lbs.

[@ElektroLUDIKITS]

I doubt they really have this much capacity... (even if you meant mAh ;))

[@porkyfedwell]

@@Chungustav Cliff is the Lance Armstrong of QRP

[@guitardzan5641]

@@Chungustav 40 lbs ain't nuthin'....My ex wife lost 240 lbs. of ugly fat....Yep, she divorced me......

[@qvatch]

looks like it's 12v only when fully charged, and goes down to about 9v before it dies. At least that suggests there won't be any switchmode noise?

[@QRPSchool]

If they are using the standard 18650 lithium-ion cells, they are 3.7 volts each... so, x3 and you’ve got a little over 11 volts after the voltage settles down after a full charge. Lithium-ion batteries have a fairly flat discharge curve so it will hold the voltage until shortly before it dies.

[@billryland6199]

This is just Li-Ion. You need a LiFePo4 to actually get 12V. 3 Li-Ion cells is only 10-11 volts which is NOT enough for most 12V devices.

[@QRPSchool]

My KX2 battery pack that I purchased from Elecraft has a Tenergy (brand) label that says it's 10.8 volts. I address this in the description of the video, above.

[@MyTube4Utoo]

I like my batteries the way I like my women - *Small and Cheap!* :-)

[@decoeric]

Nice shirt! de K0EAP