[HCRA] Home emerg power setups?

[HARVEY BROVERMAN]

I have had a deep-cycle battery in the shack for about five years with no problems.  I keep the 2 meter rig permanantly wired to it, along with an automatic charger.  
 
Modern "low-maintainance" batteries do not give out gases, as long as they are not severely overcharged.  My battery is about the size of a car battery and it sits on the floor of the shack (a room in the house) next to a steel file cabinet.  There is no odor and no corrosion.  The battery is always fully charged and no switching or wiring changes are required in the event of a power failure.
 
If you use a battery like this, make sure the terminals are protected from an inadvertant short circuit.
 
Harv, K1PZS