[450] Gel cell batteries for primary station use?
David McKenzie
kb1fsy at vhfwiki.com
Tue Mar 24 17:56:51 EDT 2009
Well, I took the plunge and ordered a new VS-70M from Universal Radio, along
with a powerpole plug strip and some extra connectors. I plan on reselling
the VS-50M and a 21 amp linear to recoup costs. I don't think I'd sell it to
anyone on the list though because I've had issues with both of them.
On Tue, Mar 24, 2009 at 12:24 AM, Vinnie Grosso <vinnie at vinnievision.com>wrote:
> David,
>
> Very cool stuff, I'm a cheap skate and use a Rat Shack digital meter and a
> bunch of strip terminals. It's a rat's nest all right. This is much better
>
> Vinnie
>
> On 23 Mar 2009 at 22:31, David McKenzie wrote:
>
> >
> > You may like these then Vinnie, I'm seriously considering a no-meter
> > option and one of these (will
> > break even vs metered):
> >
> > http://www.powerwerx.com/product.asp?ProdID=34676&CtgID=3575
> >
> > Or one of the other two they have. I think I'm going to take the
> > anderson powerpoll plunge to
> > standardize all the DC in the shack and hopefully clean things up
> > considerably. Working on
> > getting an MFJ strip with a number of PPs and a couple of binding
> > posts.
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 10:17 PM, Vinnie Grosso
> > <vinnie at vinnievision.com> wrote:
> > David,
> >
> > I find the volt meter on the Astrons to be useless anyway.
> >
> > Vinnie
> >
> >
> > On 23 Mar 2009 at 17:28, David McKenzie wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Ya, not sure what I am going to do. I think it will be too
> > expensive
> > > to switch to batteries at this
> > > point, I'd rather supplement later. Right now I can sell my
> > VS-50M
> > > for 150 or so and get a new
> > > 70A model for 300ish shipped, or get the one with out meters for
> > > considerably less and pick up a
> > > digital in-line current meter.
> > >
> > > On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM, Rich <t41 at optonline.net> wrote:
> > > Seems like a good plan, if you are going to spend the money
> > why
> > > not have
> > > less noise and emergency power as added benefits? You may be
> > > able to
> > > find
> > > sealed heavy duty GEL Cells used for cheap. There was someone
> > > selling
> > > nice
> > > ones at the Newtown hamfest a few years back, remember Bob?
> > >
> > > Just wanted to say how nice it was to see everybody yesterday!
> > > Looking
> > > forward to New Hampshire in May!
> > >
> > > Rich
> > > --
> > > -------+++++--------
> > > Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but
> > on
> > > balance life
> > > is suffering,
> > > and only the very young or very foolish imagine otherwise. -
> > > George Orwell
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Vinnie Grosso" <vinnie at vinnievision.com>
> > > To: "144.450 Mailing List" <450 at lists.vhfwiki.com>; "David
> > > McKenzie"
> > > <kb1fsy at vhfwiki.com>
> > >
> > > Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 3:02 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [450] Gel cell batteries for primary station use?
> > >
> > >
> > > > Dave,
> > > >
> > > > Great to hear about the large gel cells at 70 amp. that may
> > be
> > > the answer
> > > >
> > > > Vinnie
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 23 Mar 2009 at 13:07, David McKenzie wrote:
> > > >
> > > >>
> > > >> Vinnie,
> > > >>
> > > >> From what I understand, the gel cells are functionally the
> > > same to
> > > >> deep cycle batteries except
> > > >> that they are sealed, exhaust no vapors while charging
> > (deep
> > > cycle
> > > >> puts out some sort of toxic
> > > >> gasses i think) and cost a bit more. It is good news that a
> > > lot of
> > > >> hams are using batteries to power
> > > >> their stuff, that means there is a wealth of information
> > out
> > > there,
> > > >> assuming I can find it. A 70Ah gel
> > > >> cell battery appears to be about a little less than half
> > the
> > > price
> > > >> of a 70 amp ICS supply. Looks like
> > > >> you are saying that I need a float charger from the linear
> > to
> > > the
> > > >> battery and then a voltage
> > > >> regulator between the battery and the equipment. Sounds
> > > reasonable,
> > > >> I'll look more into it.
> > > >>
> > > >> On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 12:37 PM, Vinnie Grosso
> > > >> <vinnie at vinnievision.com> wrote:
> > > >> David,
> > > >>
> > > >> I think the better answer could be use a 70 Amp deep
> > > cycle
> > > >> battery. I
> > > >> believe
> > > >> you need to have at last 2X times the reserve in the
> > > battery, or
> > > >> you will get
> > > >> reverse EMF back to the radio. You will also need to build
> > > a
> > > >> zener based
> > > >> regulator to make sure nothing ever gets over voltage.
> > Good
> > > news
> > > >> is that
> > > >> many hams do this, and the Green movement now has much
> > data
> > > on
> > > >> home
> > > >> controllers that will have some info as well.
> > > >>
> > > >> Dam good idea -- even though you do not think you will
> > need
> > > it
> > > >> to power the
> > > >> radios -- you will at some point.
> > > >>
> > > >> Also I was running my 746Pro on car batteries, and the
> > > noise
> > > >> floor almost
> > > >> diappeared -- it's amazing how good 80M and 20M got with
> > > the
> > > >> lower noise
> > > >> floor.
> > > >>
> > > >> Vinnie
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> On 23 Mar 2009 at 11:28, David McKenzie wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Instead of buying a 70 amp supply or a second 50 amp
> > supply
> > > to
> > > >> > parallel, I am considering picking up a large gel cell
> > > battery
> > > >> and
> > > >> > fast/float charger to run the amp all the time and the
> > > radios
> > > >> during a
> > > >> > power outage. I don't know very much about batteries.
> > > Here's what
> > > >> I do
> > > >> > know:
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Rated in ampere-hour, which pretty much means how many
> > amps
> > > can
> > > >> be
> > > >> > drawn until dead over a specific time (20 hours
> > supposedly
> > > is
> > > >> > standard). Charging rate should always be 10% or less of
> > > Ah
> > > >> rating.
> > > >> > Float chargers exist relatively cheaply that allow the
> > > battery to
> > > >> be
> > > >> > connected to a constant voltage supply (existing astron
> > > supply)
> > > >> > indefinitely.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > My questions are really as follows:
> > > >> >
> > > >> > What size battery would I need to "buffer" a 60-70 amp
> > low
> > > duty
> > > >> cycle
> > > >> > load to power the amplifier? I'd assume the amp would
> > > connect to
> > > >> the
> > > >> > battery directly and then the battery to a charging
> > circuit
> > > with
> > > >> > protections for when AC is removed from the CVS.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Since my goal is not long term battery backup but to run
> > > high
> > > >> current
> > > >> > devices for short periods, would a smaller battery on a
> > > constant
> > > >> > supply be the best bet? Do you need to match the Ah
> > rating
> > > to
> > > >> the
> > > >> > instantaneous maximum current draw?
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Is this just a dumb idea, and I should buy more power
> > > supplies?
> > > >> >
> > > >> > -Dave
> > > >> >
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> The best way to predict the future....is to invent it
> > > >> Carl Mangold
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> 450 mailing list
> > > >> 450 at lists.vhfwiki.com
> > > >> http://lists.vhfwiki.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/450
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Vincent Grosso
> > > > Vontage and Cell 917-546-6661
> > > > The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Invent it
> > > > Carl Mangold
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > 450 mailing list
> > > > 450 at lists.vhfwiki.com
> > > > http://lists.vhfwiki.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/450
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > 450 mailing list
> > > 450 at lists.vhfwiki.com
> > > http://lists.vhfwiki.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/450
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > Vincent Grosso
> > Vontage and Cell 917-546-6661
> > The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Invent it
> > Carl Mangold
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> Vincent Grosso
> Vontage and Cell 917-546-6661
> The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Invent it
> Carl Mangold
> _______________________________________________
> 450 mailing list
> 450 at lists.vhfwiki.com
> http://lists.vhfwiki.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/450
>
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