[Elecraft] Field Day Rules

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/8/06 2:37:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
f.belliveau at comcast.net writes:


> I have been wrestling with the desire for a new FD operating class that
> required 100% renewable energy be used.  I think that this would need a
> restriction something like no more that 0.5 Amp Hours per transmissted watt
> of pre-stored energy.
> 
> This would be to encourage those interested in developing a means to work a
> long-term emergency where even gasoline is not available.
> 
> Anybode else think this class would be interesting?
> 

It would be very interesting, but the pre-stored business wouldn't be needed.

All it would take is for the rules to require that the primary power system 
be adequate to run the station long-term. IOW, if the primary source were 
solar, with battery backup, the panel output would have to be enough so that the 
state of battery charge at the end of the FD period would be the same or greater 
than at the beginning. This could be shown by a simple analysis of the system 
components.

For example, suppose a K2 at 5 watts draws 280 mills on receive and 1 A on 
transmit, and we assume transmit duty cycle of 25% (key down time).  In one 
hour's time, the rig will use .210 AH while receiving and .250 AH while 
transmitting - total load .460 AH. Round up to 0.5 AH.

If the contest lasts 24 hours, you need 12 AH of battery. To put back that 
much energy would require a panel of 2 A capacity, if we assume 8 hours of full 
daylight and 66% charger/battery efficiency.

These are just WAEG numbers, of course. Point is, there would be practical 
educational value in figuring it all out.

73 de Jim, N2EY