Transcript Batteries and Generators and Inverters*Oh My!

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
AC
Power
12 VDC
Power Supply
PowerGate
Battery
PowerGate keeps the battery charged, and
automatically switches to the battery if AC power fails.
Radio
Base Station Power
• Batteries
– Another hookup method
AC
Power
Smart
Battery Charger
Battery
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.
Radio
Base Station Power
• Battery Booster
– Radio may misbehave if
battery voltage gets too low
Battery
Booster
Booster provides a consistent voltage to radio as battery voltage drops.
Booster will shut off when battery voltage drops too far.
Radio
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 * 0.004 = 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=0.00159Ω / foot
– Resistance of the wire is
50 * 0.00159 = 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 = 11.96 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
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Battery
DC
Inverter
AC
12 VDC
Power Supply
DC
Radio
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.
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
• ARRL article on batteries
http://www.arrl.org/batteries
• Powergate and other cool stuff
http://www.westmountainradio.com/
• Goal Zero
www.goalzero.com
Resources
• Wire Ratings
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
• Aftermarket radio batteries
http://www.batteriesamerica.com/hamradio.htm
http://www.batterystation.com/amateur.htm
• Lithium ion battery tips
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/m/lithium-vs-lithium-ion-batteries/six-waysyou-should-care-for-and-maintain-your-lithium-ion-batteries
• Sine wave information
http://www.xantrex.com/documents/tech-doctor/universal/tech1-universal.pdf
Resources
• Prius Power
http://jalopnik.com/5118297/tech-savvy-prius-owner-uses-hybrid-to-powerhouse-during-snow-storm
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/automobiles/02POWER.html
http://www.converdant.biz/plug-out/
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/guest-blogs/running-ourhouse-prius-power