POWER BACK-UP POLE

[JCR]

HOW MANY HAVE POWER BACK-UP PLANS FOR RADIO?  THIS IS JUST FO FUN.....

[tweiss3]

The term "backup" has many stages, and isn't quite limited to just one method. I have enough batteries for my primary to last about a week, I have a small fleet of radios that could last about a week with limited usage, and that's just the handhelds. I also have the vehicular radios, then there are options for HF radio as well.

[jgillaspy]

After last years power outage here in SATX I got a gas/propane negerator (10KW) and 2 x 100# propane tanks. Couple that with a manual transfer switch I can keep everything except the stove and HVAC running.

JG

[mbrun]

My shack radios are connected full-time to a 100AH deep cycle AGM battery. Battery is on continuous float supplied by a 30A capacity power supply.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

[JeepCrawler98]

300ah full time battery operations for the home shack, servers, and repeaters; batteries are topped off by commercial power but will run off solar to keep them topped off. An LVD prevents the batteries from getting nuked in case they're drawn to empty.

[FranktheTank]

I voted "Other" to question 2 because I have battery backup for short term outages and home generator solution for longer term outage like what we experienced in San Antonino last year when Snowmegedden hit. 

 

[DownEastNC]

The plan is for solar fed batteries being the full time source. I'm building a workshop and intentionally facing one half of the roof in a southerly direction to mount the solar panels on. I want the future repeater and other radios to be able to survive a prolonged utility outage.

[gortex2]

Stanby Generator on house with a 1000 gallon propane tank (Furnace, Stove, Generator). All radios are powered via 48V DC plant that will run everything for most likely 4-5 days. Also have many battery packs and portable generators along with a 35' MH with another 7K generator on board....

[WREC588]

My battery system will hold me over for a few days, longer if I fire up the generator here and there. 

[Lscott]

On 1/6/2022 at 11:09 AM, JCR said:

HOW MANY HAVE POWER BACK-UP PLANS FOR RADIO?  THIS IS JUST FO FUN.....

I general I have several different sized LFP, Lithium Iron Phosphate, battery packs, solar panels and MPPT charge controllers. Then to connect everything up I have pre-made cables and adapters using Anderson Power poles all stored away. Most of my equipment are handhelds so I keep several battery packs charged up and on standby. The NiMH packs I have to rotate through the chargers somewhat frequently due to their higher self discharge rates. The Lithium Ion type packs can last for months without losing to much of their charge. I also have a few mobile power adapters for the handheld radios.

For the higher power mobile type radios I can power them off a large 40AH LFP battery pack. That one using a large Anderson Power Pole adapter. That's wired to a terminal block where I can branch off using the smaller adapters.

I keep several 12VDC LED strips, about 3 to 5 watts, around for emergency lights too.

The solar panels are typically anywhere from 5 watts, 10 watts, 20 watts, 30 watts and 50 watts each. They're small enough to store easily and setup. The smaller panels are perfect for keeping the handheld radios going.

Most of the Kenwood charger bases need 15VDC to work at about 1 amp. For those I have some DC to DC converters that will take 9.8VDC to 36VDC input and provide a regulated 15VDC output at up to 1 amp for the chargers. Perfect for battery operation.