Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
It seems like it would be cheaper and easier to do away with the solar panels and charger. Use the money to buy a few more batteries. Charge them before FD and you're good to go. Think about this. It may even rain on FD! The solar panels would only be good as an ad hoc umbrella or tent during the rain. 73 de Brian/K3KO John R. Lonigro wrote: Andrew: This is exactly what we do at Field Day every year. We search and pounce, so our transmit duty cycle is relatively low, but after operating all afternoon, the 7 Ahr battery used with the QRP K2 is almost fully charged (assuming sunny weather, of course). We use two 5 Watt solar panels in parallel, each costing less than $40, hooked up to an inexpensive gelcell charger, to keep the battery from overcharging (probably not necessary with these solar panels). 73's, John AA0VE Paul wrote: Andrew, When reading the other posts and seeing those large Solar Panel wattages, I think they are using a K2 but with the 100W option. I can't imagine needing a 33W solar panel to power the base K2 model. On a nice day, I guessing you could hook up a 7 Ahr gel cell and have it charged with a 5-10 Watt panel and work for a long time. The battery supplies the TX power when you need it and during the RX cycle the Solar Panel is catching it for power used. You might try posting your question on the Yahoo QRPSolarPower newsgroup. 73, Paul ___ 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 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
Andrew: This is exactly what we do at Field Day every year. We search and pounce, so our transmit duty cycle is relatively low, but after operating all afternoon, the 7 Ahr battery used with the QRP K2 is almost fully charged (assuming sunny weather, of course). We use two 5 Watt solar panels in parallel, each costing less than $40, hooked up to an inexpensive gelcell charger, to keep the battery from overcharging (probably not necessary with these solar panels). 73's, John AA0VE Paul wrote: Andrew, When reading the other posts and seeing those large Solar Panel wattages, I think they are using a K2 but with the 100W option. I can't imagine needing a 33W solar panel to power the base K2 model. On a nice day, I guessing you could hook up a 7 Ahr gel cell and have it charged with a 5-10 Watt panel and work for a long time. The battery supplies the TX power when you need it and during the RX cycle the Solar Panel is catching it for power used. You might try posting your question on the Yahoo QRPSolarPower newsgroup. 73, Paul ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
Brian: We have plenty of gel cells for Field Day, and, as you noted, don't really need to use the solar panels at all. However, we get 100 bonus points when we make QSOs using a battery charged via solar energy. You can't forget bonus points! 73's, John AA0VE Brian Alsop wrote: It seems like it would be cheaper and easier to do away with the solar panels and charger. Use the money to buy a few more batteries. Charge them before FD and you're good to go. Think about this. It may even rain on FD! The solar panels would only be good as an ad hoc umbrella or tent during the rain. 73 de Brian/K3KO John R. Lonigro wrote: Andrew: This is exactly what we do at Field Day every year. We search and pounce, so our transmit duty cycle is relatively low, but after operating all afternoon, the 7 Ahr battery used with the QRP K2 is almost fully charged (assuming sunny weather, of course). We use two 5 Watt solar panels in parallel, each costing less than $40, hooked up to an inexpensive gelcell charger, to keep the battery from overcharging (probably not necessary with these solar panels). 73's, John AA0VE Paul wrote: Andrew, When reading the other posts and seeing those large Solar Panel wattages, I think they are using a K2 but with the 100W option. I can't imagine needing a 33W solar panel to power the base K2 model. On a nice day, I guessing you could hook up a 7 Ahr gel cell and have it charged with a 5-10 Watt panel and work for a long time. The battery supplies the TX power when you need it and during the RX cycle the Solar Panel is catching it for power used. You might try posting your question on the Yahoo QRPSolarPower newsgroup. 73, Paul ___ 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 ___ 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 ___ 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
[Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
I got into some wrong notes this morning. 600 MA is the amount adding the KPA-100 adds to the K3 during key down or transmit conditions. My earlier measurements were the right ones. I have the larger solar controller from Don Brown KD5NDB and it works well with an AC power supply I use to keep my battery charged. I have been using this for 6 years and now wonder if any advances have been made in solar cells so a ham can use them. I looked up a 70 watt solar panel on the internet and it was $500. I can't justify that and don't have any idea if it is even small enough to take car camping. Does anyone have any suggestions for solar power or do I just need to buy a second large battery? Thanks and 73 Ken W0CZ ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
I'm very interested in hearing responses to solar setups for use with the K2 and would appreciate seeing replies shared on the list, if it's not considered too off-topic. Thanks, --Andrew On Tue, Mar 18, 2008 at 3:32 PM, Kenneth A. Christiansen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I got into some wrong notes this morning. 600 MA is the amount adding the KPA-100 adds to the K3 during key down or transmit conditions. My earlier measurements were the right ones. I have the larger solar controller from Don Brown KD5NDB and it works well with an AC power supply I use to keep my battery charged. I have been using this for 6 years and now wonder if any advances have been made in solar cells so a ham can use them. I looked up a 70 watt solar panel on the internet and it was $500. I can't justify that and don't have any idea if it is even small enough to take car camping. Does anyone have any suggestions for solar power or do I just need to buy a second large battery? Thanks and 73 Ken W0CZ ___ 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 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
Ken Look up Northern Tools. I've bought several 15w solar panels from them, all under $90. Some I even got during a promotion where they paid shipping :-) 73, Bob N6WG - Original Message - From: Kenneth A. Christiansen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:32 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2 I got into some wrong notes this morning. 600 MA is the amount adding the KPA-100 adds to the K3 during key down or transmit conditions. My earlier measurements were the right ones. I have the larger solar controller from Don Brown KD5NDB and it works well with an AC power supply I use to keep my battery charged. I have been using this for 6 years and now wonder if any advances have been made in solar cells so a ham can use them. I looked up a 70 watt solar panel on the internet and it was $500. I can't justify that and don't have any idea if it is even small enough to take car camping. Does anyone have any suggestions for solar power or do I just need to buy a second large battery? Thanks and 73 Ken W0CZ ___ 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 ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
Ken, I show a 33 watt solar charger in Northern Tools that is $299.99 and 38X11-3/4x1 and 13 lbs. Doable in a car, but a bit big for back packing. Also pricey. It does not include a controller at that price. --- Kenneth A. Christiansen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I got into some wrong notes this morning. 600 MA is the amount adding the KPA-100 adds to the K3 during key down or transmit conditions. My earlier measurements were the right ones. I have the larger solar controller from Don Brown KD5NDB and it works well with an AC power supply I use to keep my battery charged. I have been using this for 6 years and now wonder if any advances have been made in solar cells so a ham can use them. I looked up a 70 watt solar panel on the internet and it was $500. I can't justify that and don't have any idea if it is even small enough to take car camping. Does anyone have any suggestions for solar power or do I just need to buy a second large battery? Thanks and 73 Ken W0CZ ___ 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 Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Solar power for the K2
Andrew, When reading the other posts and seeing those large Solar Panel wattages, I think they are using a K2 but with the 100W option. I can't imagine needing a 33W solar panel to power the base K2 model. On a nice day, I guessing you could hook up a 7 Ahr gel cell and have it charged with a 5-10 Watt panel and work for a long time. The battery supplies the TX power when you need it and during the RX cycle the Solar Panel is catching it for power used. You might try posting your question on the Yahoo QRPSolarPower newsgroup. 73, Paul ___ 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
