[HCRA] Home emerg power setups?

[Kevin F. Berrien]

With winter comming, and a general resurgent interest in emerg 
communications I've decided its time to get some emergency power in the 
shack, and perhaps something portable to bring along with a go kit.

I'm thinking along the car battery, and a trickle type charger line.  I 
could put the battery in the work shop on the other side of the wall 
from the shack (do modern batts really expell gases? in vicinity to a 
gas furnace) to keep it away from the kids and animals, and xyl!

What kind of solutions have other club members had success with?

Thanks, Kevin N1VMJ