[Elecraft] Battery power for the shack?

[Don Wilhelm]

John and all,

If you are looking for a larger solar installation, one might consider a
full blown solar power system consisting of large PV panels, high capacity
batteries, and an inverter so you can run stuff like your freezer and
refridgerator during a power outage.  Yes, it is getting into the biger
bucks, but if you want to consider something of that nature, check out
www.hompower.com for a wealth of resource material and links to lots of
other solar related stuff too.

73,

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Clifford" <johnclif@ix.netcom.com>
To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 12:50 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Battery power for the shack?


> Greetings fellow Elecrafters,
>
> I've been pondering how to have a complete battery backup system for my
> shack... including my K2, my Omni VI, a laptop computer, LDG AT-11 antenna
> tuner, and MFJ keyer.  After a neighborhood-wide power outage on Saturday
> due to a drunk driver running over the area's ground-mounted power
> transformer, I decided that it's time to act.  Hence this post, because I
> know that there are many of you who know a lot more about this stuff than
I
> do.
>
> I currently have ne of the MFJ deluxe multiple power outlet strips with
the
> banana jacks.  I feed it via an Alinco DM-330MV 32A switching power
supply.
> I also have a Radio Shack 3-amp power supply that I originally purchased
for
> my K2, that has been altered to put out 14.5 volts.  I use the RS supply
> with a kit-built Micro-M+ charge controller to charge my K2 (added a
> direct-to-battery charging jack on the back) as well as several 7 AH
> gel-cells.  I also have a 5w solar panel and am toying with the idea of
> picking up a 20w panel.
>
> I followed the link posted a day or two ago and ordered two of the Yaesu
> 40AH batteries.  My plan is as follows:
>
>  * get the small Rigrunner (4005 5-connector model) and use that as my
> 'battery buss'.
>
>  * hook the RS 3A charger to the Rigrunner thru the Micro-M+, set up
cables
> for the batteries, and also run one cable from the Rigrunner to my MFJ
buss
> ('radio buss').  Plug the RS charger into the wall thru one of those cheap
> lamp timers so that it is on from 11 pm to 6 am or so (when power is the
> cheapest here), and the batteries can be topped off every night.
>
>  * continue to power the MFJ radio buss from the Alinco 32A power supply,
at
> 13.8v, which will only be on when the Omni VI or K2/100 is on and
operating
> QRO.
>
>  * eventually have the option of plugging in a solar panel to the battery
> buss, for solar charging
>
> My questions:
>
> 1) Do I need to protect my Alinco power supply by putting a large diode
> (Shottkey?) in the power lead from it to the radio buss?  I've heard that
> some power supplies can be damaged if they are off and there is voltage
> applied to their terminals.
>
> 2) Will the fuses in the two power strips be sufficient protection or
should
> I put inline fuses between each battery and the battery buss, and between
> the two busses?
>
> 3) Can anyone think of a better way to do this?
>
> 4) Has anyone ever taken a typical computer UPS, and added battery
> terminals/powerpole receptor to the back so that the internal gel-cell
could
> be augmented by a much larger external battery?  That way I could run my
> large desktop computer/DSL modem during power outages, too.
>
> Thanks for any advice...
>
>  - jgc
>
> John Clifford KD7KGX
>
> Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9
> Elecraft K2 #1678 /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2
>                   ...waiting _eagerly_ for KPA2!
> Ten-Tec Omni VI/Opt1
>
> email: kd7kgx@arrl.net
>
>
>
>
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