Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and solar panels
I've got a setup where I hook my KX3 up to a Sunload.de M60, which in turn is hooked up to a 20W Powerfilm folding solar panel. On a field day in April one of the CW guys in our club had a blast with this setup. Despite the low sun and that I had not angled the solar panel perfectly, the M60 indicated a higher charge at the end of the day than at the beginning. I call that a success story :) The Sunload M60 is a pretty cool device. It's a Li-ion battery hooked up to a charge controller that takes solar (MPPT) as well as ~12V from a car or wallwart. The output is taken pretty much directly from the Li-ion battery, so there's no noise. Haven't noticed any noise when using solar, but I haven't looked much for it either. The wallwart does produce some noise, but nothing I can't live with, and there's no problem in driving it from your noise-free 13.8V ham supply. Another neat detail is two USB plugs for charging your phone etc, though because of the many non-compatible charging schemes it doesn't necessarily work with all phones (amazing how manufacturers can complicate a simple 5V DC exchange). -- Jesper Henriksen On Mon, Nov 25, 2013 at 12:42:25PM -0700, Gene Ruff wrote: I am looking for information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and solar panels
Howdy Gene, I am Scott AK6Q (email is old call sign) I have been using the A123 systems lithium nano phospate 12v 4.6aH battery with a US military 65W folding solar panel and a chinese charge controler (DC to DC). Pictured is my system. I got all of the parts from Ebay. A123 is about $129, the Solar Panel is $199 and the charge controler is about $29. I put it in my new bug out bag with a dipole 20M and an EndFed Half Wave antenna, throw line, KX3, Mic and Paddles, and note taking stuff and a small parts bag all for less than 17lbs. From: Gene Ruff [via Elecraft] ml-node+s365791n7581153...@n2.nabble.com To: KD6QZX kd6...@sbcglobal.net Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:43 AM Subject: KX3 and solar panels I am looking for information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-and-solar-panels-tp7581153.html To unsubscribe from Elecraft, click here. NAML IMG_1008[1].JPG (2M) http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/attachment/7581278/0/IMG_1008%5B1%5D.JPG - K3 #348 KX3 #2499 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-and-solar-panels-tp7581153p7581278.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and solar panels
Just received my Instapark Mercury27W solar panel from Amazon for $119. It included a standard power plug for 12VDC, BUT it is unregulated and open circuit is 18.58 VDC It also has 2 USB ports for charging external devices. I will install a post regulator for 14.1 VDC and leave the rest alone. It has 4 panels and folds up into a oversize 8.5 x 11 x 2 inch package. So far, it powers the Battery fine. Mel, K6KBE On Saturday, November 30, 2013 2:56 PM, KD6QZX kd6...@sbcglobal.net wrote: Howdy Gene, I am Scott AK6Q (email is old call sign) I have been using the A123 systems lithium nano phospate 12v 4.6aH battery with a US military 65W folding solar panel and a chinese charge controler (DC to DC). Pictured is my system. I got all of the parts from Ebay. A123 is about $129, the Solar Panel is $199 and the charge controler is about $29. I put it in my new bug out bag with a dipole 20M and an EndFed Half Wave antenna, throw line, KX3, Mic and Paddles, and note taking stuff and a small parts bag all for less than 17lbs. From: Gene Ruff [via Elecraft] ml-node+s365791n7581153...@n2.nabble.com To: KD6QZX kd6...@sbcglobal.net Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 11:43 AM Subject: KX3 and solar panels I am looking for information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below:http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-and-solar-panels-tp7581153.html To unsubscribe from Elecraft, click here. NAML IMG_1008[1].JPG (2M) http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/attachment/7581278/0/IMG_1008%5B1%5D.JPG - K3 #348 KX3 #2499 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-and-solar-panels-tp7581153p7581278.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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 __ 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
[Elecraft] KX3 and solar panels
I am looking for information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and solar panels
On 11/25/2013 11:42 AM, Gene Ruff wrote: I am looking for information on using folding solar panels with my KX3 . success stories or sad ones. Thanks G. R. The best response to this is to simply read up on how solar panels are used to charge batteries. There's plenty of good stuff on the internet about it. The key thing is to get current into the battery without overcharging it. There are boxes that do this -- they are called charge controllers and they vary in cost from a little to a lot. The most efficient ones regulate the charging current by generating square waves and modifying their width. The problem with that approach is that unless the designer is VERY careful, the square waves generate lots of RF trash. Another approach is to simply use your brain and a simple volt-ammeter, monitor charging current and voltage, and disconnect the charger when the battery is fully charged. I use a real cute little inline volt-ammeter called Watts Up. About $50 with power pole connectors. One simple charge regulator that does not make square waves is the 7A Sun Force unit. About $15. It's designed to work with 12V batteries and panels that put out up to about 20V open circuit. It simply senses battery voltage, and functions as a simple on/off switch to allow charging if the battery voltage is below 14.2 volts, and cuts off above that. Someone turned me on to a really nice and more efficient MPPT charger made by Genasun. Kansas Wind and Power is selling one for $125. I bought one, and it's RF quiet. Hookup is quite simple. Solar panel feeds the battery, either through a controller or directly, and the battery feeds the radio. Our FD group runs QRP battery, using a 50W solar panel and a big battery for each radio. We don't use charge regulators, because we're not charging the batteries hard enough or long enough. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
