Hi Field Day is not that far away and you can get those extra points if you are operating with solar power. I have two solar controller kits that will keep your battery charged with solar power.
My new low power solar controller uses the same circuit and PC board as my high power kit but replaces the more expensive 75 amp power FET and two 8 amp shottkey diodes with a less expensive 12 amp power FET and a 3 amp shottkey diode. This version also does not need the heat sink on the FET as well. I include 6 pages of instructions, schematic, check out, circuit description, application notes and information on proper sizing of panels and batteries. There is a page of notes on using the controller with a K2, K1 or KX1. The low power controller and a small 2.8 amp hour gel cell battery can be built into a EC1 box that will match the K1 or K2. A 5 watt solar panel is fine for a K1 or KX1 and the QRP K2 needs about 10-15 watts The new low power version will work with solar panels from 3 watts to 35 watts (I include information on increasing this to 70 watts) It can charge SLA batteries from 1 amp/hour to over 100 amp/hour ratings with proper sizing of the solar panel. The price for this new low power version is $20 or $35 for two kits with one set of documentation. Cash check or money order. I have also been supplying the high power version of the Solar Charge Controller Kit for several years. This controller will keep a SLA or LA 12 volt battery charged from solar panels of 3 to about 200 watts. Batteries of 2 amp hour to 110 amp/hour have been used with these controllers. This kit includes the above documentation and the high power FET, diodes and heat sink. The kit is $30 or $55 for two kits with one set of documentation. Cash check or money order. For a K2/100 a 35 amp hour battery and about a 50-80 watt solar panel will be required if full power operation is required. The kits include a 2x3 inch silk screened and solder masked FR4 fiberglass circuit board, all the parts and documentation required to build the controller, less a box to mount it into. There is also a 6 volt version available upon request. These controllers use a precision regulator IC in an analog design that does not generate RF noise. There are no adjustments required and the assembly and check out time should be under one hour. order from: Don Brown KD5NDB 19132 Falls Creek Drive Flint, Texas 75762 The price includes US first class postage. For Canada, UK and Europe add $5 Thanks Don _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
