Batteries and Generators and Inverters…Oh My! A Discussion of Backup Power for Handhelds and BaseStations

I wish… Unfortunately, this doesn’t exist.

I wish… Unfortunately, this doesn’t exist. In 1985, plutonium was not available at the corner drugstore.

I wish… Unfortunately, this doesn’t exist. In 1985, plutonium was not available at the corner drugstore. In 2016, plutonium is still a little hard to come by.

Handheld Radio Power Rechargeable Packs – Radio usually comes with one, but consider purchasing another.

Handheld Radio Power Rechargeable Packs – Radio usually comes with one, but consider purchasing another. AA Batteries – Convenient, but may not provide as much power as the rechargeable packs. – Radio may have lower output power.

Handheld Radio Power Rechargeable Packs – Radio usually comes with one, but consider purchasing another. AA Batteries – Convenient, but may not provide as much power as the rechargeable packs. – Radio may have lower output power. External Power – Power/charge from a DC source

Handheld Radio Power External power for the Icom 92AD

External Power Sources Portable Jumpstarter – Many have a lighter-style receptacle

External Power Sources Portable Jumpstarter – Many have a lighter-style receptacle – Not a deep-cycle battery

External Power Sources Portable Jumpstarter – Many have a lighter-style receptacle – Not a deep-cycle battery Car lighter socket – Car batteries are not typically deep-cycle

External Power Sources Portable Jumpstarter – Many have a lighter-style receptacle – Not a deep-cycle battery Car lighter socket – Car batteries are not typically deep-cycle – Running engine will extend battery life (has its own issues)

Base Station Power Batteries

Base Station Power Batteries Generator

Base Station Power Batteries Generator Uninterruptible Power Supply and Inverters

Base Station Power Lead Acid Batteries – Wet (Flooded) Can vent hydrogen Can spill acid – Gell or AGM Vents hydrogen only if severely overcharged Cannot spill – Voltage drops continuously as battery is discharged

Base Station Power Lead Acid Batteries – SLI ‘Car Battery’ (Starter, Lighting Ignition) 20% Rule

Base Station Power Lead Acid Batteries – SLI ‘Car Battery’ (Starter, Lighting Ignition) 20% Rule – Deep Cycle Multiple deep discharges

Base Station Power Li-Ion and NiMH Batteries – High power density – Cannot discharge completely – Must be properly charged – Low self-discharge – Expensive (compared to Lead Acid) – Hold voltage until nearly depleted

Base Station Power How Much Battery Do I Need – Amp / Hours

Base Station Power How Much Battery Do I Need – Amp / Hours – Discharge Rate Ah usually specified at rate of 1A /hour, but not always. Lower discharge rate increases effecting Ah, higher rate decreases. Not linear.

Base Station Power How Much Battery Do I Need – Amp / Hours – Discharge Rate Ah usually specified at rate of 1A /hour, but not always. Lower discharge rate increases effecting Ah, higher rate decreases. Not linear. – Duty Cycle

Base Station Power How Much Battery Do I Need – Duty Cycle Avg Current = (% TX * TX Current) + (% RX * RX Current)

Base Station Power How Much Battery Do I Need – Duty Cycle Avg Current = (% TX * TX Current) + (% RX * RX Current) – For the Icom 2820, with 25% duty cycle: (0.25 * 13) + (0.75 * 1.2) = 4.15 A

Base Station Power Batteries – Hooking it up PowerGate keeps the battery charged, and automatically switches to the battery if AC power fails. 12 VDC Power Supply AC Power Battery PowerGateRadio

Base Station Power Batteries – Another hookup method Charger keeps the battery charged, radio is powered directly from the battery. Possible to damage the charger and/or radio if battery power gets too low. Smart Battery Charger AC Power Battery Radio

Base Station Power Battery Booster – Radio may misbehave if battery voltage gets too low Booster provides a consistent voltage to radio as battery voltage drops. Booster will shut off when battery voltage drops too far. BatteryRadioBooster

Voltage Drop Proper wire size Wires have resistance Ohms Law

Voltage Drop 16 Gauge Wire – Max Amps = 22A, R=0.004 Ω / foot

Voltage Drop 16 Gauge Wire – Max Amps = 22A, R=0.004Ω / foot Assume: – Battery is 25 cable-feet away: – Length is 50 feet (25 feet each way)

Voltage Drop 16 Gauge Wire – Max Amps = 22A, R=0.004Ω / foot Assume: – Battery is 25 cable-feet away: – Length is 50 feet (25 feet each way) Therefore – Resistance of the wire is 50 * = 0.2Ω

Voltage Drop Icom IC-2820 consumes 13A at high power – Voltage drop on the wire is V = (I * R) = (13 * 0.2) = 2.6 Volts – Voltage supplied to the radio is 13 – 2.6 = 10.4 volts Might not be enough to properly operate the radio.

Voltage Drop 12 Gauge Wire – Max Amps = 41A, R= Ω / foot – Resistance of the wire is 50 * = 0.08Ω – Voltage drop on the wire is V = (I * R) = (13 * 0.08) = 1.04 Volts – Voltage at the radio is 13 – 1.04 = volts

Voltage Drop Non-intuitive… – Larger wire has lower resistance!

Fuses Use Fuses! Always use the proper rating. Always use the proper physical size. Never bypass or ‘work around’. Radios come with proper wiring and fusing.

Generators Safety – CO gas

Generators Safety – CO gas – Fuel Storage

Generators Safety – CO gas – Fuel Storage Installation

Generators Safety – CO gas – Fuel Storage Installation – Portable ($)

Generators Safety – CO gas – Fuel Storage Installation – Portable ($) – Permanent ($$$$)

Generators Fuel Type – Gasoline

Generators Fuel Type – Gasoline – Diesel

Generators Fuel Type – Gasoline – Diesel – Propane

Generators Fuel Type – Gasoline – Diesel – Propane – Natural Gas

Generators Fuel Type – Gasoline – Diesel – Propane – Natural Gas Noise

Generators Fuel Type – Gasoline – Diesel – Propane – Natural Gas Noise Theft

UPS and Inverters Easy and convenient. UPS batteries are not deep-cycle. Modified sine wave vs true sine wave

UPS and Inverters Easy and convenient. UPS batteries are not deep-cycle. Modified sine wave vs true sine wave

UPS and Inverters Easy and convenient. UPS batteries are not deep-cycle. Modified sine wave vs true sine wave

UPS and Inverters Easy and convenient. UPS batteries are not deep-cycle. Modified sine wave vs true sine wave Efficiency – up to 25% energy loss.

UPS Inverter converts DC to AC, power supply converts AC back to DC. Very inefficient! One advantage – voltage drop on the AC side is very low. BatteryInverter 12 VDC Power Supply Radio DC AC DC Uninterruptible Power Supply

Cell Phone Chargers Some are capable of charging a phone several times. Just a battery with one or more USB ports. Will not charge a ham radio handheld.

Important Keep batteries charged! Most packs will hold a charge for several months. Rotate multiple battery packs. Use minimum transmit power. A good antenna will reduce required transmit power.

Resources Emergency Power for Radio Communications Amazon Amazon ARRL article on batteries Powergate and other cool stuff Goal Zero

Resources Wire Ratings Aftermarket radio batteries Lithium ion battery tips you-should-care-for-and-maintain-your-lithium-ion-batteries you-should-care-for-and-maintain-your-lithium-ion-batteries Sine wave information

Resources Prius Power house-during-snow-storm house-prius-power house-during-snow-storm house-prius-power