[Elecraft] Fool proof kill switch = deadman timer?

[Phil Kane]

On 5/29/2017 8:45 AM, Rick WA6NHC wrote:

> Since Comcast provides VoIP phone service, they are typically required
> to keep the hardware in their lines running (on battery typically, so
> the phones [for 911 at least] don't fail) so even if the power is out in
> your area, there should be service on your coax.

Experience:  Major 12-hour power outage April 7 2017.

Both my (personally owned) Cable Modem and Router run on a UPS whose 8
AH battery has been upgraded to 27 AH for extended time -  not a problem
when the UPS is operating at 10% of rated load.

Comcast Internet and VoIP lasted about 2 hours and died before the UPS
shut down.  Those of us "in the business" have been after the cable and
mobile phone carriers to put in more robust battery supplies and backup
generators but it falls on deaf ears.

The station back-up power system here - 12 V / 170 AH - ran at about 10
A nominal load for all 12 hours (the K2 and the VHF/UHF gear in
receive/standby modes) and the bus voltage dropped only 0.3 V !   Then
again, my mentor in designing the system 20 years ago was my late
colleague Tom Croda KA6KBI (SK) who was until his passing considered
-the- national expert on battery-backup power systems for critical
communication sites.

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

VP - General Counsel & Engineering Manager
CSI Telecommunications, Inc. - Consulting Engineers
San Francisco, CA - Beaverton, OR