[Elecraft] Field Day Question

Tue Mar 5 17:33:00 2002

Dan,

I had a similar question and ran it by the ARRL. Here's
a synopsis of what I determined.

If you operate battery and want the multiplier for alternate
energy source, you must charge the battery that way. HOWEVER,
you may charge the battery ahead of time.

If you are using a laptop for contest logging, it does NOT need
to run off the solar charged battery unless it is also used to
control the radio.

Your other, non-radio, pieces of equipment do NOT need to run off 
of solar charged batteries to keep the multiplier.

I'm sure if I got it wrong someone will correct me. ;)

PS: I'm intending to do the same thing out west in the Sierra Nevada
mountains. Where, exactly, I haven't figured out yet. There are a lot
of choices.

Also - consider using light sticks instead of battery lanterns. They're
good for 8 to 12 hours, cheap, and not prone to failure.

Jeff KG6IND

--- Dan Barker <[email protected]> wrote:
> Sirs:
> 
> I'm considering operating in the 2002 Field Day as a 1B GA or 2B GA
> station, using my K2 at 5 watts. If I use a solar array, wind turbine or
> HPG (Human Powered Generator - Bicycle in a stand) charging source and some
> Lead-Acid batteries, what are the rules concerning the charge state of the
> batteries at the beginning of the contest?
> 
> For example, if a 100 mW Solar array charges a 25 AH marine battery, and
> the sun never shines, but I start the weekend with the battery fully
> charged, I'll make it through just fine. I'll even have enough juice for a
> desk lamp and a laptop for logging. But is it legal? 
> 
> If I must start with a fully discharged battery, I'd need charging
> capability adequate to get me through the night with only 6 hours of
> sunlight.
> 
> This answer will greatly affect my engineering of the alternate power, as
> you might infer. Also, I might need a second operator if we find we need
> that HPG!
> 
> Dan Barker, WG4S, portable Dade County Georgia - The Top of Lookout
> Mountain.
> 
> PS: Elecraft list - Ideas? Assistance? Comments?
> 
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