[NLRS] Re: battery booster

[tosca005]

>> Chris (NØJCF) asked:
>> What is the actual mechanism used in these battery boosters?
>> Are they a switching converter that accepts say, 10 to 14v
>> input and yields a regulated 13.8v output? or is there some
>> other kind of magic at work?
>>
> Jon (WØZQ) replied:
>
> Other magic.   The booster provides the necessary power above
> the battery voltage to assure 13.8 vdc at its output.    For
> example, if the battery voltage is 12.0 vdc, the booster
> provides an additional 1.8 vdc so that the (battery + booster)
> system output is 13.8 vdc.    The advantage of this design is
> that not ALL the supplied current runs through the booster;
> only that that is needed to assure 13.8 vdc.    As such, the
> device is physically smaller and is more efficent.

It is a switching regulator, working in a buck/boost mode.  If
the voltage is higher than target, it "bucks" it down.  If the
voltage is lower than target, it "boosts" it up.  (A Google 
search for "buck boost switching regulator" would probably be
productive.)

> I use one for my 10 GHz work..... for those who have seen it
> I have the booster strapped to the side of a large deep cycle
> battery and it connects to my systems via a PowerPole. I've
> used the same power system for field testing and other work
> from time to time.    Works well.

I, too, use one on my 10 GHz system.  It uses an Icom IC706 as
the IF rig (yeah, I know, it's a power hog), and that radio
doesn't like low voltage.  My booster is mounted on the dish
support stand, next to a RigRunner (PowerPole distribution block)
so the booster is still in-circuit even if I swap batteries.
And I'm gettin' too feeble to carry around a "large deep cycle
battery" like Jon, I use a 31 amp-hour gel cell.  The W4RRY
booster has an adjustment for the output voltage, and I added
a dirt cheap LCD digital voltage monitor so I could watch my
voltage closely.  I concur with Jon that it works well.

Usual disclaimers apply (no commercial interest, just a satisfied
customer, your mileage may vary, yada, yada...)

73 de W0JT