[K6BW] Emergency Power at Hamilton & QSO

Thu Jul 15 11:51:26 EDT 2004

Bill,
Does that controller have connections for locigal inputs? Most do, and the 
controller can then be told to make a change when power fails. Just use a 
wall-wart transformer and a relay. That's what I did, works great. If you cna 
find a relay with low current draw and put a large cap[acitor across it, then 
it won't drop out on momentary failures. 

OR

Something like a burst tone board wired to the repeater would work. Have it 
switched on when power fails, and there will be a tone on each keyup of the 
repeater.

Just some ideas to conserve the batteries and notify of the need of startign 
the generator.

Josh

On Wednesday 14 July 2004 11:04 pm, you wrote:
> Might be interesting, Josh.  The UPS and batteries are in the generator
> room, and the repeater is located at the other side of the building in the
> meeting room.  We'd have to run a control cable.  Still don't have a
> maintenance book on the repeater, either, so not sure what would have to be
> connected to control power output.
>
> We originally thought about placing a battery in the repeater, but
> disparaging comments on the GE newsgroup regarding the repeater battery
> circuitry suggested the present configuration.
>
> It can't be very efficient, but if it works... also we can put small light
> bulbs in the lamp sockets and perhaps run a small HF transceiver if
> necessary.  With a quick cable change we can obtain power from a gas
> generator.
>
> Hope you are doing well, glad to hear from you.  Don't make yourself
> scarce.
>
> 73 de Bill, AB6MT
> billsmith at ispwest.com
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Josh Heide (Mobile)
> To: Members of the Hamilton Wireless Assn.
> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 10:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [K6BW] Emergency Power at Hamilton & QSO
>
>
> Bill,
>
> I know this complicates things, but can you make the station reduce
> transmit power during a power failure? This is what we do on the sites that
> do not have generator power. The repeaters are still very useable, be it
> they might not be full quieting.
>
> Also, on our old county radio system a tone was sent over the local govt
> repeater to indicate generator power. It wouldlite a lamp in our shop. In
> taking this further, on our business system there is an announcement of
> power failure along with quick call tones to set off my pager. It also adds
> a courtsety beep to idicate to users to keep it short.
>
> Just a couple of ideas....
>
> Josh  KD6KML from Napa...
> I am a patriot, the government is the terrorist!
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Smith" <billsmith at ispwest.com>
> To: "HWA QTH Reflector" <k6bw at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 9:49 PM
> Subject: [K6BW] Emergency Power at Hamilton & QSO
>
> > The K6BW repeater and the HWA Packet Node are now hardened with battery
>
> power, and all the red-painted plugs in the building have UPS power. 
> Thanks to Wayne, WA6MET, our long lost member who has moved to Benicia, we
> obtained a 800VA power supply that generates 110VAC from two 12V
> rechargeable batteries.  The original batteries, well decomposed, are now
> safely at the recycling center, and two 600CCA 12V deep cycle monsters,
> supplied by Jerry, WA6BXV courtesy of the Independent Journal are now
> hooked up and floating on the supply.
>
> > Who knows how long the station will run under battery power?  The
>
> batteries are not new and have had a rough life in the generator room over
> the last year or so, but they both happily took a charge and are now
> topping off due to the charger built into the UPS.  The repeater consumes
> about 140 VA (watts) standby and twice that during transmit.  The packet
> node takes much less.  Throwing around rough numbers, if the batteries were
> fully up to rating, we might see 3-1/2 or more days of operation.  That
> should be plenty of time to locate a generator (or fire our rather clunky
> one up if we need to).  Only time will tell what we can expect, we'll have
> to test the configuration once the batteries are fully charged.
>
> > In between searching for dropped washers and screws, and a trip under one
>
> of the operating tables to fire up the Heathkit CW keyer, a short K6BW QSO
> with Bill, KF6RMK was held Wednesday evening.  Tim, KG6SPV and Rem, K6BBQ
> have expressed interest in CW practice.  Tests this afternoon verified 40
> meters provides good propagation for local contacts.  Tracy, we need you!
>
> :-)  If all goes according to plan we will be meeting on-air almost nightly
>
> about 7:00PM for CW practice with short, slow-speed QSOs.  Can't make it?
> Leave a note when you might have time.
>
> > We are starting from scratch, expected frustration and stumbles won't
>
> matter.  Keep an eye on the reflector, exact time and frequencies are
> posted here.  Also keep a background ear on the K6BW repeater.  Don't
> hesitate to post a message if you are at the ready and can't find any local
> activity. Send the message to k6bw at mailman.qth.net.
>
> > 73 de Bill, AB6MT
> > billsmith at ispwest.com
> > _______________________________________________
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> > K6BW at mailman.qth.net
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k6bw
>
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