[Milsurplus] Vehicle Power in the Field

[Facility 406]

On 10/6/2025 09:45, B. Smith via Milsurplus wrote:
> My solution to maintaining a charged battery (24 volt)  during display ops.
> Panels can provide over 4 amps.

Nice!

In the mid-90's, I had 6m, 2m, and 440 in a 1986 Toyota Celica ST.

I had a habit of leaving the radios on while roaming around where I was, 
and with a weak battery, voltage would often drop below 10V causing 
problems with starting, and radios to shut off.

I fixed this by placing a solar panel in the center of the hood. 
Nothing big, about 5W, which allowed me to leave the radios on, and 
start the car with no dropouts.

A lot of comments while I was out and about, of course, but the best was 
heard when I pulled into McDonald's at Tonopah, Nevada.

Several kids had their faces pressed against the windows checking out my 
little sports car bristling with antennas, and as I went inside, I heard 
one comment, "I wonder what that is?"  His buddy swatted him, and said, 
"You dummy!  Don't you know anything??  That's one of those new electric 
cars!"

Kurt