Re: [Elecraft] Solar Panels
I have seen that setup in the HF store and wondered if you get 3 12 V
panels that you wire in parallel or 3 4V panels that you wire in
series. Lots of extra options if they are 3 12V panels. No clue on
the box, IIRC.
Are they 12V or 4V?
Jerry W4UK
At 06:25 AM 3/19/2008, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Harbor Freight ('Arbor Fright for our VK readers...HI!) has a 3 panel
setup which comes with a controller and 2, 12 volt compact flourescent
lamps. Claimed power is 45 watts. Usual price is $249.
Got mine at the local Harbor Freight store on sale for $199 and was
able to use a 15% off cupon to reduce the cost to about $180 after
Pennsyslvania and county confiscatory sales taxes.
The stand for the panels is a fixed angle steel device sure to rust
quickly. I made one of aluminum angle stock with variable angle.
Measured peak power output in mid-summer for my installation is 3 amps
(about 39 watts.) The panels appear to have reverse current protection
diodes.
I regard it as a good value for @ $180. Were I to do a whole house
system, I'd go with Kyrocera and spend the extra dollars.
72,
Tim Colbert K3HX
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Re: [Elecraft] Solar Panels
Douglas, I purchased a 20 watt Rip Stop Nylon Protected Epoxy Solar Panel from Connecticut Solar 4 years ago and am very satisfied with them. It will put out 1200mA which is plenty and more for charging other cells while operating. Here is the link. They also sell a 10 watt version. http://www.ctsolar.com/Expedition20W.htm You will need a controller which I also purchased from them. Hope this helps. 73 john-n4dsp - Original Message - From: "Douglas Todd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 1:56 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Solar Panels I'm interested in using solar panels to power the K2 for emergency/field day operations and am wondering what sort of experience others have had. The panels seem expensive: about $100 for a 5 watt panel but with battery and a low power draw of the K2, they look like they can sustain operations for extended periods of time. How does this work in practice ? Is there enough 'juice' delivered to keep a station operational ? How about portability ? Thanks to everyone in advance for your responses. Douglas Todd (KE7GYQ) ___ 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 Panels
<> I'm interested in using solar panels to power the K2 for emergency/field
day
<> operations and am wondering what sort of experience others have had.
I have had very positive results using a solar panel, Douglas.
I also have a K2 and a solar panel with rechargeable battery is my main
power source for it. I am using a normal 7 AH sealed lead acid battery
which resides in the shack. I have a "10W" solar panel. It is a very nice
high quality unit made by BP which I bought over the internet for about
$125. This matches up nicely with the 7AH battery and the K2 current draw.
I use a Don Brown charge controller which I built from one of his kits. I
can highly recommend this also (no connection to either). If you search the
Elecraft reflector for "Don Brown" and/or "Charge controller" you should
come up with info about ordering the kit - as I recall it was only about
$25. It will allow charging from either a modest size solar panel or from a
power supply.
The solar panel puts out about 650 mA in full sun which is about the desired
upper limit of the charge rate for this sized battery. The wiring between
the panel and the battery is non-critical - I use AWG18 - since the current
is limited and you don't care about voltage drop since the open circuit
output voltage of the panel is over 16V.
I used this setup on Field Day this year but with the K2 turned down to 5W.
The battery kept me going all night and the solar panel took over and
refreshed things on Sunday. The setup does work - even for contests.
Let me know if you would like more info
73
Craig AC0DS
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Re: [Elecraft] Solar Panels
This doesn't help any of us now, but http://www.nanosolar.com/ looks like a company worth keeping an eye on in the coming year or so. Their products should offer solar energy at lower cost. Mike ab3ap Douglas Todd wrote: > I'm interested in using solar panels to power the K2 for > emergency/field day operations and am wondering what sort of > experience others have had. The panels seem expensive: about $100 > for a 5 watt panel but with battery and a low power draw of the K2, > they look like they can sustain operations for extended periods of > time. > > How does this work in practice ? Is there enough 'juice' delivered to > keep a station operational ? How about portability ? > > Thanks to everyone in advance for your responses. > > Douglas Todd (KE7GYQ) ___ 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 Panels
Hi
I sell the low power solar controller kits.
You can order them from me at
Don Brown
19132 Falls Creek Drive
Flint Texas 75762
cash check or money order only
The low power version will handle from 1 to 35 watts and the price is $20 or
$35 for two with one set of documentation
The kit includes the circuit board and all parts required to build the
controller. You will need to supply a box or
build it into your battery box or radio.
I also have a high power version that will handle up to 200 watts for $30 or
$55 for two
Thanks
Don
KD5NDB
I also have a K2 and a solar panel with rechargeable battery is my main
power source for it. I am using a normal 7 AH sealed lead acid battery
which resides in the shack. I have a "10W" solar panel. It is a very nice
high quality unit made by BP which I bought over the internet for about
$125. This matches up nicely with the 7AH battery and the K2 current draw.
I use a Don Brown charge controller which I built from one of his kits. I
can highly recommend this also (no connection to either). If you search the
Elecraft reflector for "Don Brown" and/or "Charge controller" you should
come up with info about ordering the kit - as I recall it was only about
$25. It will allow charging from either a modest size solar panel or from a
power supply.
The solar panel puts out about 650 mA in full sun which is about the desired
upper limit of the charge rate for this sized battery. The wiring between
the panel and the battery is non-critical - I use AWG18 - since the current
is limited and you don't care about voltage drop since the open circuit
output voltage of the panel is over 16V.
I used this setup on Field Day this year but with the K2 turned down to 5W.
The battery kept me going all night and the solar panel took over and
refreshed things on Sunday. The setup does work - even for contests.
Let me know if you would like more info
73
Craig AC0DS
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Re: [Elecraft] Solar Panels
Douglas Todd wrote: I'm interested in using solar panels to power the K2 for emergency/field day operations and am wondering what sort of experience others have had. I operate a K1 with a 7ah gel cell and a 5 watt solar panel (about $50 from Harbor Freight) with Don Brown's controller. With good sunshine I can operate all day and go home with a fully charged battery. Bob Baxter aa7eq ___ 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 Panels
I use 5 watt solar panels from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41144). They go for $50.-. Once and a while they are on sale for about $35.-. They seem to be well made. They have an aluminium frame and an o-ring type seal. At the moment I have 3 on my roof for a total of 15 watts. They are not roll up panels but they are priced right. If you go to their main web page and enter solar for a search item you'll see a lot of solar panels for sale. Roger, W1EM -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Douglas Todd Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 1:56 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Solar Panels I'm interested in using solar panels to power the K2 for emergency/field day operations and am wondering what sort of experience others have had. The panels seem expensive: about $100 for a 5 watt panel but with battery and a low power draw of the K2, they look like they can sustain operations for extended periods of time. How does this work in practice ? Is there enough 'juice' delivered to keep a station operational ? How about portability ? Thanks to everyone in advance for your responses. Douglas Todd (KE7GYQ) ___ 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 Panels
On Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:38:59 -0500 "Don Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >I sell the low power solar controller kits. Just want to add a testimonial for Don's solar charge controller kits. We used one at Field Day to run a 12 A-hr battery (RS Jump Starter) with a 15 watt panel for the K2, and also with a set of three 15 watt panels and a 100 A-hr marine battery to run the inverter for the logging computer - gotta figure out a better, more QRP friendly logger - maybe cellulose fiber graphic panels coupled with a manually vectored graphite character generator - I'm told they support the full ASCII set and have integrated error correction. Anyway, Don's kit are great - good parts, good boards, and good instructions, at a good price... The usual disclaimer... no pecuniary interest, etc... 72 Jim N5IB ___ 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 Panels
I just got a copy of the ARRL book Emergency Power and I am impressed! That stuff may be old hat to some of you, but I'm a real noob at this and it looks very good for getting up to speed. Lots of basic stuff like Don't let shadows fall across your panel and more advanced stuff like charge controller theory and schematics. Let me get my k1 done then I may well build or at least buy a no- frills K2. 73 de Alex NS6Y. On Jul 3, 2006, at 3:23 PM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:38:59 -0500 "Don Brown" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: I sell the low power solar controller kits. Just want to add a testimonial for Don's solar charge controller kits. We used one at Field Day to run a 12 A-hr battery (RS Jump Starter) with a 15 watt panel for the K2, and also with a set of three 15 watt panels and a 100 A-hr marine battery to run the inverter for the logging computer - gotta figure out a better, more QRP friendly logger - maybe cellulose fiber graphic panels coupled with a manually vectored graphite character generator - I'm told they support the full ASCII set and have integrated error correction. Anyway, Don's kit are great - good parts, good boards, and good instructions, at a good price... ___ 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 Panels
I use some of the panels from Harbor Freight. They are okay - have a bunch of 5 watt panels and a few months ago I hooked up some of their 15W panels. Not sure how the 15s are gonna do yet, but after 5 years outside in the Kansas City weather, the 5 watters are working - but they need some work. Lots of rust in places I dont want rust, and some sort of mold/fungus is starting to grow inside the panels. I don't think these panels are meant to be continuous outdoor panels. For a solar controller, I use one of the CirKits controllers: http://cirkits.com/. They work very well and can handle up to 20A. Not bad for $50. My whole station, minus the computers, is solar powered, including my HTs. I will point out that unless you have plenty of panels - somewhere on the order of 2X the power you use - you want to really keep an eye on your power management. No sense having the batteries in there if there if they are constantly empty. $100 seems really high to me for a 5W panel. Especially since all it will do to a K2 is let it be a receiver. You might want to also check out Home Power magazine: http://www.homepower.com. You can always download the last issue for free there and check panel prices that way. I also got to thinking about something - some states give rebates on solar systems (mine is not one of them). Depending on the rules, you may be able to really cut your solar price that way, though I doubt having something that you only use to go on FD would count. On 7/3/06, Douglas Todd <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I'm interested in using solar panels to power the K2 for emergency/field day operations ___ 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 panels and RFI
Hi Dick, How close are your antennas to the solar system and its wiring? What does the S-meter read on band noise? Do you live in city/suburbs/small town, or out in the boonies with no neighbors? 73, Jim K9YC On Thu,7/21/2016 4:59 PM, Dick wrote: I have 28 panels installed on my garage roof, the company that installed the panels is VIVINT. I have not incurred an problems as of yet and it has been over 15 months. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
