[SixClub] Odd Rig Behavior on 6M

[Roger (K8RI) on Six]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kd4e" <kd4e at verizon.net>
To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 7:47 PM
Subject: Re: [SixClub] Odd Rig Behavior on 6M


>>>> I have a West Mountain Radio PWRgate PG40 handling
>>>> the battery-powerstrip-power supply interface and
>>>> am using a Rigrunner 4010S power strip.
>>
>> This works how?
>>
>> Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
>> N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
>
> The Astron VS-50M Power Supply connects to one side
> of the PWRgate PG40 and the large deep-cycle battery
> to the other.
>
> From the third connector on the PWRgate PG40 a cable
> runs to the Rigrunner 4010S power strip.
>
> All of my 12v gear and accessories connect to the
> Rigrunner 4010S power strip.

This is beginning to make more sense as the rig itself should not be able to 
drag the battery voltage down when meansured at the rig.

If you can for a test, disconnect the battery and rig from the rest of the 
equipment. Hook the 897D directly to the battery (with fused leads) and see 
if you have the same problem.

>
> The PWRgate PG40 provides a 1A trickle charge to
> the deep-cycle battery to keep it topped off and
> the Astron VS-50M keeps the power level up if the
> battery sags.
>
> http://www.westmountainradio.com/PWRgate.htm
> <http://www.westmountainradio.com/PWRgate.htm>
>
> The battery serves two functions, it buffers any
> odd bumps and dips from the Astron VS-50M and it
> provides power when we lose AC service to the
> Astron VS-50M.


Based on this my best SWAG  and the fact the rig is getting it's power from 
the PG40 rathter than driectly from battery, would be 50 MHz RF getting into 
the PG40 causing it to limit the current, or voltage  out to the 4010S power 
strip. However does the voltage drop low on anything else on the power strip 
while the 897D is trying to run full power on 50 MHz. If it doesn't I'd then 
looks at the 4010S, but "I think" (which means I don't know for sure) the 
4010S is just a pair of heavy leads internally with terminals hooked to 
them.

IF this turns out to be the case I'd try some clamp on ferrites over the 
leads into and out of the PG40.

When it come to powering my rigs I "try" to keep the wiring as simple as 
possible.

Many years ago when I lived out in the country near Breckenridge MI with a 
contest style station (seperate rigs and antennas with a KW on each band and 
I could switch rigs between antennas) I decided to "neaten up" all that mess 
of cables behind the station console. It took me a couple of days to neatly 
harness all the coax, rotator, and control cables, but when done it looked 
really nice. Unfortunately I had RF getting into almost everything. It 
basically put me off HF.  It took me a good two weeks to get the mess back 
to where everything worked again<:-))

Good Luck,

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com