Why no backup power?

So, in the last month I have heard 2 net control stations disappear in the middle of an ARES net. The first instance another station was keeping a log and was able to jump in without missing a beat. The other night we lost the NC for the local public service weekly net, one of the rotating NCS's was able to jump in and run the net quite well for not keeping a log. In both instances it was due to a localized power outage. It is absolutely amazing to me that so many ARES groups are not using stations that have some sort of backup power. It does not make sense to me, that you are EMCOMM oriented and not even prepared for the most basic loss of services. I mean how many guys in ARES or RACES think their primary emergency rig is their mobile or HT?

Because of this and the recent Go Box threads I have decided to do some revisions on my box. I eliminated the accessory panel switch, the battery charger and switch. I originally had a switch that would turn power off to the rigs an change the power source to either the battery or power supply. Today I added a Low Loss power gate made by KI0BK, it takes care of the float charge on the battery, and instantly switches to the battery backup when power goes out. Previously I would only be off air for a matter of seconds, but now I could be in the middle of transmitting without missing a beat. It also allows me to use the previous battery input and switch to add a larger battery bank to be switched to manually.

I am also working on getting a UPS for the shack computer, giving me time to shutdown the desktop without loosing data. The battery bank will come next, I already have extra batteries for the laptop on the way. There is nothing like hearing something like an NCS off the air, to motivate you to not be THAT GUY.

Storm season is coming quickly, and with the recent training I am now certified to be an NCS for Skywarn, time to make sure I will be on the air many hours after the power is out.

^^^^^^^^^^^ Home brew contest????? ^^^^^^^^^^^



In other news, I was scanning around 2 meters yesterday and heard "spotter number XXXXX" I thought oh boy its some peeping toms on the radio this will be good! but instead it was just sky warn. The thing that I was wondering is with all the hurricanes in NC why would you only use repeaters? I was talking to a Navy Commander the other day who is a fellow ham and he told me he would love to do simplex but there is no one to talk to. Since then we have chatted each morning on simplex and with his horizontal 2m loop and my HT we can talk all over town and soon we will try some farther QSOs and getting him a vertical up. Its not like we are in the mountains. Yes a repeater gets better range but I think our rag chew nets could be held on simplex based off the people I have heard check in.

My uncle has 4 repeaters in his county (2) 2m (1) x band (1) 1.25 and all of them run on grid power but have battery backup. Last time I was home on leave we tested them out, one ran the whole 2 weeks with normal use and the other a little over a week (the 220 and x band weren't up) the "29" repeater is solar with a deep freeze battery bank so I think it could run just about as long as we would ever need. the "73" has (6) 2v batteries from an old phone company. They are the coolest batteries I have ever seen. the case is tinted and you can see in it to the acid and huge plates.

I switched off my power supply last night as a test and everything kept going on battery via the PWRgate, but I did notice that the voltage dropped much lower than I liked when I transmitted. Everything stayed up and worked, but I need to look at my wire length and sizes, and everything in general.

Homebrew contest..... So does rebuilding a year old homebrew project count?

The local NWS office has a radio desk with a bunch of equipment, with many of the normal storms repeaters are the primary. When hurricanes and bad winter weather (Ice Storms) we have certified "Responders" that will go in a man the radio desk 24/7. The radio desk has a bunch of 2 meter, 70cm, and packet radio's, 2 50 foot towers, one of the towers is being replace this week with a 75 foot tower. Stacked Yagi's with rotators and one vert antenna, the other tower also has more beams, vert, and an multiband doublet for 80-15 meter. The HF radio is used to take hurricane and ice storm reports for stations that cannot get through the repeaters, and also for communications directly with the NHC in Florida.

The tower that is being replaced is rusted badly, and the new Head Forecast Meteorologist just transferred in to run the office, he is a ham. The first week he had a new bigger tower on order, but was given the bad news that the tower was no problem, but no funds to install until next year! So he made a call to the lead Skywarn coordinator to setup a bunch of NCS training classes, and asked if he could get some help installing the tower, he has an army coming from all over the state to help. Now that is a FED employee that knows how to get shit done!

So does rebuilding a year old homebrew project count?

I noticed the same running the digital net via battery. MFJ makes a battery booster that up-converts the battery
to a regulated 13.8V. I think there are other booster suppliers as well. It does make a big difference on TX power,
but it's also a parasitic load when on battery.

I haven't noticed a power difference on my IC-706 while on battery power. I worked Japan on SSB on battery power. I am sure even if there was a 25w drop in output power from 100w the station on the other end would not be able to tell the difference. The battery conditioner would work great on a battery bank, where you have an ample reserve. I could only imagine it creating problems with my 17ah and 35ah battery's though.

The 17ah SLA seems to hold around 12.8 volts on key down with 50 watts fm, and around 12.7-12.6 on 100w SSB on voice peaks. One thing about the SLA is the power curve seems to hold for a while, then you notice the fall off quickly. Of course it is time to recharge at that point.

ETA: I am using 10awg hookup wire, and all of the lengths are under 12 inches, so that may make a difference.

Interesting.

My plan revolves around building a purely battery powered setup (I'm talking HF) occasionally recharged from wall power.


Essentially the opposite of what most people seem to do but then again the unit I'm considering is the Yaesu 857 which can be run at lower wattages like 25w, 5w, etc and putting my attention into antenna details.

Most radios don't work when the power drops below 11.73 volts. At this voltage, an AGM battery is approximately 40% depleted as a general rule assuming a very light duty cycle of the radio. So when you buy that 50ah battery, remember that you will probably only be able to get 30 out of it. My info right now is guesswork based on info from here. I own a CBA, I should actually try measuring these things

NC does not really get THAT many hurricanes, just more than most states


When I lived on the coast, it was in Brunswick County in the 90s. The Skywarn repeater (146.880) had very wide coverage as it was located on a TV tower so you not only had coverage far above what you could ever get on simplex, you also had a tougher than usual environment and emergency power. The NWS office in Wilmington could reach out to many areas more than they could come close to doing if they were operating on simplex.


I lived on the coast from 91-99, but the hardest hit I ever got was 1989, NW of Charlotte (thanks Hugo )

There is no doubt repeaters cover more area, i can hit 5 with no gain from my house including willmington. The Onslow repeater will cover the whole county even using an HT. But all you have to do is look at AFMs picture of the towers after katrina, not much left. Im not saying get away from them but you should at least train simplex.

We have our main repeater (linked 2m/70cm) about 700' or so AGL on a tv tower with battery backup. Only one or two other repeaters within 50 miles. I can hit all of them from home with a roll-up j-pole @~40' and 30w. We do a nightly repeater net and a simplex net on .420 on Sundays to stay in practice. We do a bit of relaying since the simplex is covering 5 counties, but it is really good practice and is worth adding to a groups skillset.

All the battery backup in the world on the repeater will not make any difference if your station does not have power.

Which area of VA are you in? I was a storm spotter before I moved to Blacksburg from the St. Louis area.
I'm planning to check in on the local ARES net for the first time this Thurs night.
thx,
N3MDG

I am in Hampton,

If you like I can find out the information for the Blacksburg skywarn. You will be covered Blacksburg WFO, I am covered here by the Wakefield WFO. We should get up one night on 40meter, it seems at night I have a strait path the the Blacksburg and Roanoke sections of the state. Stay safe today, I am not sure if you are still getting severe weather but it looks like we are going to get some decent storms here.

I'm probably not going to be talking on 40M until shortly after Thanksgiving when I'm hoping that an IC-7200 purchase will be part of my birthday party.
Though I am hoping to get on the air this field day if someone will give me some time.

Looks like the severe storm warnings have moved from our area & west to your area & south. I've just met a skywarn net control so I think I'm going to get hooked up.
Stay grounded.

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