[K3PZN-List] Field Day Battery Charging

[Heath, Rob]

John, 

Yes, rule 6.9 does apply to batteries charged during field day whether
or not they are connected to a radio.  I agree that it does not apply to
dry cells or prohibit the use of batteries that have been charged on
commercial mains prior to field day.  However, once field day commences
batteries cannot be recharged from the generator and still claim a
multiplier of 5.  Therefore, the stations are going to need a sufficient
supply of batteries or some other means to recharge them.  Floating a
charge from a solar panel is certainly acceptable, but I am not sure
everyone can do that.  I did verify this rule with the ARRL.  N1ND's
reply is below:

Rob:

If the batteries are charged during the Field Day period they can not be
charged using commercial power or from a motor driven generator and
still be eligible for the multiplier of 5.  It includes batteries being
taken off line and charged as well as batteries in use while being
"floated" across the charging source. Rules 4.2. and 4.4. go hand in
hand with 6.9. on this issue. Also the stations must all be running 5W
or less to qualify for the 5 multiplier.

Good luck with Field Day 2006.

73
Dan Henderson, N1ND
ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist

-----Original Message-----
From: k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:k3pzn-list-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of W. J. J. Hoge
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 9:54 AM
To: k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [K3PZN-List] Field Day Battery Charging

Rule 6.9 applies to batteries that are charged "while in use."  It does
not
apply to batteries charged before Field Day or to batteries charged
during Field
Day while not connected to a radio.  It does not prohibit using dry
cells either.

I normally keep my batteries on floating charge from a solar array.
This
qualifies for the 100-point bonus for Alternate Power under Rule 7.3.8.

Other stations may want to use the generator to charge batteries OFFLINE
FROM
THE RADIO.

Note that Rule 4.3 requires that all contacts must be made using battery
power.
 That means that the logging computers and lights may be run from the
genset. 
However, any computer that are used to key the transmitter for CW or
process
signals for PSK31 or RTTY must run from battery power. K3KWO may need
that
400-Ah battery to keep his PSK31 computer up for 24 h.

73 de W3JJH
John


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