Transcript Standard Deep Cycle Flooded?

By,
Russ Kruse
KD0EIA
Is Solar For Me?
Are You A Ham?
You probably wouldn’t be here if you weren’t!
Will I Need It?
Haiti
How Much Battery Power
Do I need?
The only way to really be sure is to sum the
current requirements multiplied by the
operating duty cycle for each accessory and
piece of equipment.
But reality is that most people will not take
time to do the math.
How Much Battery Power
Do I need?
If you want a “quick & dirty” rule which will keep
you out of trouble “most of the time,” use the
Amp-Hour per Watt Rule.
Ensure one amp-hour of battery capacity for
each watt of transmitter output, for each rig, for
each 12-hour operational period.
How Much Battery Power
Do I need?
Here is an Example
For a single radio running 100 watts barefoot:
100 watts = 100 amp hours = 12 hours
That is a 100 amp hour battery MINUMUM!
How Much Battery Power
Do I need?
Experience in search & rescue, wildfires and
floods has validated this simple rule in practice.
12 hours represents the MINIMUM which every
operator should have available all of the time.
But... I used all my power yesterday!
Now what???
Plug Your Radio
Into the Sun!
A solar electric module works like a car
battery charger….
Except instead of
plugging it into the wall,
you plug into the Sun!
Solar Panels
Short Review of Photovoltaic or PV Panels
There are three major types of Panels
Monocrystalline - made from a single large crystal, cut from ingots. Most efficient, but also
the most expensive. Somewhat better in low light conditions.
Solar Panels
Short Review of Photovoltaic or PV Panels
Polycrystalline – Like my 135 watt Kyocera, basically cast blocks of silicon which may
contain many small crystals. This is probably the most common type right now. Slightly less
efficient than single crystal, but once set into a frame with 35 or so other cells, the actual
difference in watts per square foot is not much.
Solar Panels
Short Review of Photovoltaic or PV Panels
Amorphous - "thin film", Like my 23.3 watt portable Sunsei. Here the silicon is spread
directly on large plates, usually of something like stainless steel. Cheaper to produce, but
often much less efficient, which means larger panels for the same power.
Solar Panels
Even though thin film panels are often
cheaper per watt, in my opinion thin film
solar panels are often less efficient and will
take up more room for the same power.
In some reviews that I have read, these
solar panels such as the ones available at
some discount stores loose 40% of their
efficiency in the first 12 months.
Solar Panels
12 Volt Panels Are 17 Volts, Why Is That?
The obvious question then comes up - "why aren't panels just
made to put out 12 volts".
Solar Panels
The reason is that if you do that, the panels will provide
power only when cool, under perfect conditions, and full
sun. The panels need to provide some extra voltage so that
when the sun is low in the sky, cloud cover, or high
temperatures, you still get some output from the panel.
A fully charged battery is around 12.7 volts at rest and
around 13.6 under charge, so the panel has to put out at
least that much under worst case conditions.
Solar Panels
Contrary to intuition, solar panels
work best at cooler temperatures.
Roughly, a panel rated at 100 watts
at room temperature will produce
83 watts at 110 degrees.
Solar Panels
How do I control that voltage to
keep from overcharging my
batteries?
This is where you will need a
“charger controller” between
your panels and battery.
My present charge controller is
this Sunsei 10 amp controller.
Now, You Know More About Panels
and Controllers But, Which Battery To
Store All That Electricity?
Standard Deep Cycle Flooded?
Gel?
AGM “absorbed glass mat”?
Batteries, what type?
 Standard Deep Cycle Flooded Batteries
Most common, cheaper, higher maintenance, must be careful with
sulphuric acid burns especially in a portable power unit. In my opinion
you sacrifice price for performance.
Batteries, what type?
 Standard Deep Cycle Flooded Batteries
Most common, cheaper, higher maintenance, must be careful with
sulphuric acid burns especially in a portable power unit. In my opinion
you sacrifice price for performance.
 Gel cell
More expensive than standard deep cycle, great performance but,
some sources say Gel batteries have the tendency to create voids in
the gel from fast charging so, you must be sensitive to charging
voltages.
Batteries, what type?
 Standard Deep Cycle Flooded Batteries
Most common, cheaper, higher maintenance, must be careful with
sulphuric acid burns especially in a portable power unit. In my opinion
you sacrifice price for performance.
 Gel cell
More expensive than standard deep cycle, great performance but,
some sources say Gel batteries have the tendency to create voids in
the gel from fast charging so, you must be sensitive to charging
voltages.
 AGM
Pricy like the Gel cell, but in my estimation, well worth it. Safe, great
performance in both hot and cold conditions, no equalization charges,
no electrolyte to replenish, no spills, handles higher charging rates
when needed and long lasting.
Before you get excited, how
long to charge?
To calculate your total charge time, a good
rule of thumb is to take the amp hour
rating of the battery and divide by the
charge rating (amps) and then add about
10% for the extra time to totally top off the
battery.
Example using the 100 amp hour battery mentioned
earlier…..
How long to charge?
So that 100 amp battery divided by say 5 amps equals 20 hours plus 10% =
22 hours!
When going portable, my system has a 205 amp hour
battery with a 1.5 amp solar charger. You can see that
if my battery was drained by half it would take me
about 75 hours to completely charge my battery!
And, I would have to do that on about 6 hours of
direct sunlight a day!!!
Using my system at home with my 7.5 amp solar
charger, we can do the same job in 15 hours.
How long to charge?
You can see by these calculations you need to not only
carefully plan your system but, plan your talk time.
In a dire emergency, you have to learn to
conserve.
Lower wattage in transmission is one choice.
How about separate battery powered
flashlights, manual logging and notes without
a computer!
Choosing Your Power Needs
Now armed with this information you decide what is good
for you and what you can truly afford.
Here is what about
$1000 got me
One Amorphous Thin Film
PANEL MODEL #: SE 1500
23.3 Watts, 1.5 Amps
$200 with Charge Controller
Here is what about $1000 got me.
My Cabela’s AGM Battery
$219.00
Group
Size
Deep Cycle
or Cranking
Marine
Cranking
Amps
Cold
Cranking
Amps
30
Both
1525
1205
Reserve
Capacity
205
Amps
Weight
(Ibs.)
L"x W"x H"
84
13.0 x 6.88
x 9.56
One Little Hiccup!
Other than the Elecraft HF radios which
operate on 11-15 volts, most portable HF
radios need more than 12 volts to operate,
usually 13.5 to 15 volts
(I have no clue why they do this)
I solved the problem as follows…
Here is what about $1000 got me.
My single 12 volt AGM battery is then boosted with the
Boost Regulator by Tim Gerdeen
This unit has a variable boost from
12 - 15 volt DC.
It will boost and regulate an Input as
low as 9 volts DC and will Output
an adjustable voltage as high as
15volts DC. It is amazing!!
$265.00
with gauges at right.
I highly recommend this booster for quality and customer service Tim provides.
Here is what about $1000 got me.
Home Depot Box
$30.00
Wagon with
custom polished
aluminum deck
plate, $150.00
Here is what about $1000 got me.
Solar Charger and other miscellaneous hardware, fuses
and parts for assembly
$200.00
And There Is Always,
Labor And
TIME ! ! !
Questions?
A few good resources.
Backwoods Solar, Sandpoint, ID
TGE Electronics, Houghton, MI
208-263-4290
www.backwoodssolar.com
Tim Gerdeen, 906-487-9063
[email protected]
West Marine or local marine supply
GateWay Electronics, St. Louis
1-800-669-5810
www.westmarine.com
Cabela’s, Hazelwood, MO
www.gatewaycatalog.com
www.cabelas.com
Home Depot & Lowe’s Stores
Produced and Copyright 2010 by Russ Kruse KD0EIA
St. Charles, MO [email protected]