[Elecraft] ... and solar power

[Ray Sills]

For QRP operation and portable operation, there's a lot to be said for  
solar power.  For QRO, gasoline is probably more practical.  But, in  
the long run, humans will run out of gasoline way before they run out  
of sunlight.  Of course, that assumes that there still will be humans.

For the record, I have a couple of small solar panels, but I am  
looking at possibly getting a panel with 20 watts or so capacity.   
And, I do have a very small gasoline generator (a Honda unit, good for  
300 watts max, 150 watts economy setting) which is fairly quiet (less  
than 55 dBA).  I'd rather use solar/battery for portable operating.


On Nov 30, 2013, at 7:11 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT wrote:

> It really depends on what you're trying to do.
>
> A lot of us like to operate portable.  For some of us, that's the  
> only way to get an antenna up.
>
> A small generator weighs a bit over 30 pounds, plus about six pounds  
> for every gallon of gas.
>
> A 65w solar panel weights about four pounds.
>
> It's a lot quieter too.
>
> How far do you want to carry that generator?
>
> -- Lynn
>
> On 11/30/2013 3:33 PM, WILLIS COOKE wrote:
>> All this talk about solar panels makes Green such an ugly color and  
>> the smell of gasoline and the roar of an engine seem so much more  
>> practical.
>>  Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
>> K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart
>>
>>
>>