[FieldDay] Generators

[Phil Lefever]

>   Make it easier on the GENSET use it to charge batteries and run
>everything directly off of the DC system. (GEN+BAT)
>   You will need lights, fans & misc. in addition to the radio & computer.
>The fans are required if you are setup in a pavilion in a park etc. to
>keep the mosquitoes off of your legs etc.

Using a buffer battery will help regulate the load imposed on the
generator. Considering the relatively small load the radios actually
are most decent generators can easily handle the load variations
though. The biggest advantage is that the battery will keep the radio
on the air should the generator run out of fuel preserving your run
frequency! I have never used a batteries in this manner due to the
additional complexity and the fact that wet electrolyte batteries
can be messy.

>   Our best field days have been lately where we have a trailer mounted
>10 kW diesel GENSET, (with a 50 gallon tank) we can operate in campers
>with air conditioning and we can brew a pot of coffee without worrying
>about taking everything down, or materially reducing the run time of
>the fuel tank.

The power system we use for out 3A effort uses two smaller generators.
This gives up some redundancy as well as eliminating several hundred
feet of power distribution cable. We use a 6.5Kw Honda on the North
side of our field and a 3.5Kw for the south side. The larger generator
runs the main CW station and it's air conditioner ;) as well as the
5band VHF/UHF station and the Novice/Tech+ (GOTA) station. The smaller
generator runs two full time HF stations and provides all power for
what we call the "F Zero OD" (F0OD) station. Last year there was an
additional air conditioner running on the 3.5Kw generator too! We do
run a Bunn coffee maker for the event duration as well as electric
fry pans for pancakes in the morning with no problems.

As for run time when both generators are fully fueled they will run
for about 6 hours. The 6.5Kw runs off a 5 gallon marine outboard style
tank making refueling safe and convenient. The smaller generator has
a 3 gallon tank. Against better judgement we do refuel the generators
with them running to avoid having to shut them down. The refueling team
consists of at least two people, one to manage the fuel and one with a
CO2 fire extinguisher in hand ;)

73

Phil


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Phil Lefever, KB=D8NES            Field day Chairman
Twin Cities Repeater Club               http://www.tcrc.org
Burnsville, Minnesota